Favre vs. Rodgers by the numbers

I would imagine it has to be killing Packers fans that Brett Favre did what he did Sunday afternoon at the Metrodome.

Winning in his home debut for the Vikings would have been bad. Adding to his Hall of Fame highlight reel with one of the greatest plays in Vikings' history, being mobbed by teammates and seeing more than 63,000 purple-clad fans hugging each other and jumping up and down had to be worse than a Cheesehead's worst nightmare.

I was there when Favre and the Packers beat the Vikings at the Dome on Christmas Eve in 2004. I was there when Favre set the NFL record for touchdown passes while beating the Vikings at the Dome in 2007. And to be there yesterday, well, I don't know that in more than 22 years of going to NFL stadiums I've seen a more geniunely delirious celebration than the one that took place at the Metrodome on Sunday.

If there's a Packers fan who says he or she isn't bothered by what took place, they aren't being truthful.

But they do have next Monday's game at the Metrodome to look forward to. They also have some comfort in the fact the Packers are in good hands with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Rodgers and Favre have similar numbers and, remember, Rodgers has a fourth-quarterback comeback as well this season. His 50-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with 1:11 left beat the Bears in Week 1.

Rodgers' completion percentage isn't as high as Favre's. But Rodgers has thrown deeper more consistently. Until Sunday, Favre and the Vikings had been more conservative. But after Sunday's game, we know Favre can still throw deep. His first touchdown pass traveled about 22 from the line of scrimmage to Sidney Rice. And the pass to Lewis was as good a deep throw and catch as you'll ever see. With Favre about eight yards behind the line of scrimmage and Lewis at the very back of the end zone, the pass traveled 50 yards in the air.

Rodgers ranks seventh in the NFL in passer ratiing (97.2). Favre is eighth at 94.5.

Here is a statistical breakdown of the two:

                       Att.   Comp.    Pct.   Yds.   Ave. Att.   TDs   INTs    20+    40+    Long     FDs    FD%  Sacks 

Rodgers        90         51    56.7   714           7.9        4          0      11         4          53       31    34.4         12

Favre              94         61    64.9   566           6.0        5          1        5         0          36       30    31.9           9