Favre versus Cheeseheads: Unimaginable but true

Many players have worn No. 4 for the Vikings, most of them kickers. Brett Favre most decidedly is not a kicker.

His presence in purple galls nearly everyone in Packers Nation, and the nausea level among Cheeseheads could be off the charts Monday night if Favre leads his latest team past the one he quarterbacked so successfully for so long - a true kick in the rear.

Even worse for Packers backers is that a Minnesota win would put the Vikings at 4-0 and Green Bay at 2-2. With Chicago also in the mix in the suddenly potent NFC North, the Packers could be chasing two archrivals the rest of the season.

The only way this matchup could grab more headlines is if it took place at Lambeau Field. That won't be until Nov. 1. Still, there's plenty of intrigue for a game that even ESPN can't overhype.

"This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular-season game, that I've ever been a part of," Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said.

Favre is the reason, of course. This is his chance to get back at an organization he epitomized for 16 seasons, but which he felt forced him to make a retirement decision before he was ready last year. That led to his whole jitterbug in and out of retirement.

"It doesn't even cross my mind," Favre said. "I'm the quarterback here, I think this team has accepted me, I feel good about where I am. I feel very good about what I did in Green Bay those 16 years. I was not going to play there forever and I've said that over and over. You can't take away 16 years I spent there and what I was fortunate to accomplish and the great teams I played on. Can't take that away. There is no afterthought really."

There remain plenty of afterthoughts among Cheeseheads.

On Sunday, it's Baltimore at New England, the New York Jets at New Orleans, San Diego at Pittsburgh, Dallas at Denver, the New York Giants at Kansas City, Seattle at Indianapolis, Detroit at Chicago, St. Louis at San Francisco, Tennessee at Jacksonville, Buffalo at Miami, Cincinnati at Cleveland, Oakland at Houston, and Tampa Bay at Washington.

Off this week are Atlanta, Arizona, Carolina and Philadelphia.

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Baltimore (3-0) at New England (2-1)

A shocking early season fact is the Ravens leading the AFC and ranking second overall in offense. They're gaining 430 yards a game, and because they allow a mere 282, they're unbeaten.

To remain spotless, Baltimore will need its three-headed monster at running back (Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain) to dominate time of possession, allowing the rapidly maturing Joe Flacco time to pick out receivers when he must throw.

Flacco has won 14 of his first 19 starts, just as Tom Brady did back in 2001. That season, the Patriots won their first Super Bowl. They haven't looked particularly sharp thus far, although their win over Atlanta last Sunday was the Pats' most impressive performance. Brady has been feeling defensive heat most of the season, and few teams can bring it like Baltimore.

N.Y. Jets (3-0) at New Orleans (3-0)

With 75 percent of the teams that started a season 3-0 making the playoffs since 1990, there's a good chance these two resurgent clubs will be busy in January. This is a juicy October matchup, with a superb attacking defense that has allowed just 33 points facing the most prolific offense in the league with 120 points. Not since Dallas in 1968 (132) has anyone scored so much so early.

Jets coach Rex Ryan might get even more aggressive trying to pressure Drew Brees, whose record-setting passing pace slowed a bit at Buffalo. Watch the battle between outstanding cornerback Darrelle Revis and Saints star receiver Marques Colston, although Revis is battling hamstring issues.

San Diego (2-1) at Pittsburgh (1-2)

The Steelers never have lost a regular-season home matchup with the Chargers, and beat them twice last year at Heinz Field on the way to the championship. But Pittsburgh's defense has folded late in its last two games, both losses.

"We need to finish football games better," coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's the mark of a champion, and that's not us at this point."

The Chargers hope to get back star running back LaDainian Tomlinson (ankle), who has missed the last two games.

Dallas (2-1) at Denver (3-0)

Denver has gone from a sieve on offense to the stingiest of teams, yielding a mere 16 points, easily the least in the league. That includes no TDs allowed in the last two weeks.

But the Broncos have played the Bengals, Browns and Raiders, hardly a murderer's row.

Still, they could get a big break against Dallas, which is hobbled at running back and might be down to Tashard Choice as its choice to tote the ball. The Cowboys generally struggled in their first two home games at the new stadium, so hitting the road might be a good idea.

N.Y. Giants (3-0) at Kansas City (0-3)

Even with a battered roster that had 10 players on the injured report, including such key starters as DE Justin Tuck and RT Kareem McKenzie, the Giants appear far too classy for the Chiefs. New York's young receivers, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, have responded to their increased roles.

The Chiefs, seeking Todd Haley's first win as a head coach, rank 30th in offense. New York knows how to get to the quarterback, so this could be painful for QB Matt Cassel.

Seattle (1-2) at Indianapolis (3-0)

Even with a healthy Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, it's difficult to see the injury-plagued Seahawks handling the inspired Colts. Hasselbeck figures to sit with a broken rib, and he'll watch the true master at work. Peyton Manning surely is an early contender for an unprecedented fourth MVP award, and he's winning with several raw receivers and a so-so defense. Indy has won 12 straight regular-season games, dating back to the 2008 season, longest string in the NFL.

Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (2-1)

OK, the Lions have their win. Jim Schwartz already has improved them. Time to build on success, as modest as it might be.

Against Chicago, which has found its passing game but remains mediocre while running the ball, Detroit needs to get more pressure on the quarterback. If not, Jay Cutler will continue his rise after a rough start.

St. Louis (0-3) at San Francisco (2-1)

Without RB Frank Gore, the Niners nearly won at Minnesota, falling in the final seconds after going to the prevent defense. Look for coach Mike Singletary to make sure San Francisco stays aggressive all day against a weak offense that has managed 24 points, worse than even Cleveland.

The Rams also have health concerns about their quarterback, Marc Bulger (right rotator cuff).

Tennessee (0-3) at Jacksonville (1-2)

That 0-3 sure looks weird next to Tennessee, which won its first 10 games a year ago and had the league's best record, 13-3. A loss to the Jaguars will just about kill any division title hopes for the Titans, who have faltered late in games on both sides of the ball.

Jacksonville got an uplifting victory at Houston last week. It won't inspire enough ticket sales to get anything close to a sellout.

Buffalo (1-2) at Miami (0-3)

That 0-3 doesn't look quite so strange next to Miami, but the Dolphins are in the same sinking boat as the Titans; a loss and their chances for defending a division crown become just about nil.

Miami has gone from Chad Pennington, out for the season with yet another shoulder injury, to Chad Henne at quarterback - the 14th QB to start since Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season. The focal point of the offense will remain the running game, with perhaps more emphasis on the wildcat.

If Terrell Owens isn't the focal point of Buffalo's offense after getting blanked last week, just watch for all those TV cameras and microphones by his locker afterward.

Cincinnati (2-1) at Cleveland (0-3)

Things have gotten so negative around the Browns that Clevelanders are turning to LeBron and the Cavs for comfort. And they don't even get started until the end of the month.

Cincinnati is off to a very nice start, including a rare home win over the Steelers. The Bengals are minus-2 in turnover differential, yet that's way better than the Browns' minus-7, worst in the AFC.

Oakland (1-2) at Houston (1-2)

The Texans never have had a winning record in their eight-plus seasons of existence. The Raiders prevented it in 2008 with a late-season upset. No team is more unpredictable than the Texans, who are 0-2 at home, yet won at Tennessee.

DL Richard Seymour has had a positive impact in Oakland, yet the Raiders are among the league's tailenders, indicating how many holes they still must fill.

Tampa Bay (0-3) at Washington (1-2)

Since 1990, 51 teams with losing records through three weeks made the playoffs. It's hard to believe either of these clubs will get into that category.

The outrage in Washington after falling to the Lions won't be smoothed all that much with a win over the woeful Bucs. But if the Redskins lose to a team that can't move the ball, can't stop anyone and is making a quarterback change, the roar will shake every building on the National Mall.