Brett Favre throws one pass in pre-season debut
This was not exactly the welcome back that Brett Favre expected. Favre’s highly anticipated first game back with the Minnesota Vikings lasted only four plays, as the Vikings loss 15-10 to San Francisco on Sunday.
The 40-year-old QB took the field after rejoining the Vikings five days ago and was pulled from the game by head coach Brad Childress after being sacked by linebacker Patrick Willis, which resulted in a 10-yard loss. After being tackled for the first time in over seven months, the Vikings opted to keep the three-time MVP on the bench and out of harm’s way. Favre would have liked to play more as the regular season nears and he will be the one under centre.
"There's no substitute for getting in a game, calling plays, having a 40-second clock that you have to pay attention to," said Favre, admittedly a little stiff afterward. "They blitzed on the last play. We technically could have picked it up, I could have made a call, but the mind wasn't working quick enough. ... That was obviously not a positive play, but it's what you do with it from here on. I'll look at the film. I would hate for that to happen the first game in real action against New Orleans."
Favre tossed only one pass, a 13-yard pass to running-back Adrian Peterson, on his first play from scrimmage. It would seem that Favre has lowered his standards from last season. "I didn't fumble a snap, completed a pass," Favre said. "That's a win for me."
Heading into Sunday’s game, Childress originally planned to give Favre 10 snaps. But that number is expected to double when Minnesota sets to face the Seattle Seahawks on Friday.
Favre's counterpart, Alex Smith saw more playing time and continued his pre-season brilliance, going nine for 13 and passing for 88 yards in the first half. Nate Davis got the start in the second half and equally had a solid performance, completing seven of 16 for 114 yards.
“It was nice to come out and have some quick success and then end it with a score. We've been doing it all summer in practice. It was nice just to finally go do it in a game scenario," Smith said.
The 49ers won their second pre-season contest once again without wide receiver Michael Crabtree and running back Frank Gore.
With Favre seeing limited action, Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Joe Webb saw additional playing time. Both back-up quarterbacks were effective and produced similar numbers. Jackson went seven for 11 for 43, while Webb went seven for 14 for 47 yards.
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