Not our fairy tale

I knew it was a high risk proposition but we decided to go to yesterday's Packer-Vikings game. It was one of those things that could have gone better.

Brett Favre has certainly got his validation in that he is still an outstanding quarterback. But Aaron Rodgers showed that - today - he is just as good, if not a little better. Favre is making better decisions than he ever did as a Packer but there were very few years (if any) in which he had the supporting cast that he has now. Rodgers could, I suppose, make some decisions more quickly but he matched Favre blow for below without the advantage of a hall of fame running back and a competent offensive line.

But that brings us to Ted Thompson's real sins. It was criminal to go into this season with that offensive line. They played better in the second half (and Rodges may have been making better reads) but they cannot run block and are porous against the pass rush. You cannot build a team today while almost completely abjuring free agency. Give Rodgers time to throw and there are few teams he couldn't pick apart.

But there is more than personnel at work here. Much of offensive line play is coaching. Avoiding penalties is coaching. I think it remains an open question whether moving to the 3-4 was wise with the players this team has.

Whatever the truth of the latter point, I would love to see stats on how long Favre had to throw as compared to Rodgers. I am not sure that Favre was hit until the fourth quarter. He had forever to throw and boulevards for passing lanes. Rodgers was sacked six times and avoided at least that many with his mobility.

The difference in this came was not Brett Favre. It was the offensive lines and Percy Harvin. But Favre is playing at a Pro Bowl level.