by # Brett Favre’s 5 Favorite Matchups
Brett Favre had one of the most storied careers of any quarterback in NFL history. From 1991 to 2010, he started an incredible 321 consecutive games and led his teams to 4 division titles, 2 conference championships, and 1 Super Bowl victory. Along the way, he amassed countless memorable individual performances and developed fierce rivalries against many of the league’s top defenses. While Favre never publicly named his absolute favorite regular season matchups, we can analyze his career statistics and comments to identify some of the contenders for the top of his list. Here are the potential top 5:
## 1. Detroit Lions
No team brought out Favre’s competitive fire more than the Detroit Lions. In 29 career games against Detroit, Favre racked up an impressive 20-8 record. He threw for an astounding 14,227 yards and 103 touchdowns against the Lions defense, both the highest totals he achieved against any single opponent in his career. Favre clearly enjoyed the challenge of facing Detroit, as evidenced by some of his comments over the years.
“I love playing against the Lions,” Favre said. “Their fans are passionate and their team always plays us tough. It’s a rivalry I looked forward to every year.”
Some of Favre’s most memorable performances came at the expense of the Lions. In 1997, he threw for 4 touchdowns and led the Packers to a comeback win in the fourth quarter. The next season, Favre tossed 5 touchdowns in another Packers victory at Lambeau Field. And who could forget his record-setting 6 touchdown game against Detroit in 2003, demonstrating his ability to absolutely dominate the Lions time and time again. With more wins, yards, and touchdowns than any other matchup, it’s easy to understand why Favre held the Lions in such high regard.
## 2. Chicago Bears
As with Detroit, Favre’s NFC North rivalry with the Chicago Bears was one of the most intense of his career. In 32 games against Chicago, Favre finished with an impressive 18-14 record while throwing for 12,429 yards and 80 touchdowns. Only the Lions received more prolific passing numbers from the legendary gunslinger. Two performances stand out as being particularly memorable for Favre against the Bears.
The first came in 2003, dubbed the “Monday Night Miracle.” Trailing 26-10 in the 4th quarter, Favre led three straight touchdown drives, including the game-winner with just over a minute left, to steal an improbable 30-26 victory. Favre threw for 4 touchdowns and 309 yards in one of the greatest comebacks of his career. The other iconic performance occurred during the 2013 season, Favre’s final year in the NFL at age 40. Despite playing for the Minnesota Vikings, he torched the Bears defense for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns in a narrow overtime loss, reminding everyone he could still sling it against even the toughest opponents. With so many clutch performances in his history against Chicago, it’s no surprise Favre relished these divisional showdowns.
## 3. Minnesota Vikings
After spending 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Favre was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2009. This created an intense new rivalry, as he now faced his original team twice a year. In 11 career games against the Packers as a Viking, Favre compiled a solid 4-7 record. More importantly, these matchups allowed him to stick it to the franchise that had moved on from him.
In his first game against Green Bay, Favre threw for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 30-23 Vikings victory. He followed that up with a solid performance in the playoffs, leading Minnesota to an overtime win. While Favre’s record against the Packers as a Viking was below .500, the emotional weight of these games clearly made them special. Getting the chance to prove Green Bay wrong by succeeding with their biggest rival must have brought Favre a great deal of satisfaction.
Beyond facing his old team, Favre simply enjoyed the challenge of leading the Vikings offense. He holds franchise records in passing touchdowns (307) and passing yards (39,187) accrued mostly during his brief 2-year stint. Playing at a high level for a new contender showed Favre’s competitive fire still burned bright later in his career. Between the storylines and stats he accumulated, it’s no surprise Favre’s Vikings matchups ranked among his favorites.
## 4. New Orleans Saints
In 12 career games against the New Orleans Saints, Favre compiled an impressive 8-4 record. He threw for 3,403 yards and 23 touchdowns against their defenses, providing several iconic performances. None was bigger than their 2009 NFC Championship matchup, where Favre willed the Vikings to victory with an incredible game-winning drive in overtime. Completing clutch passes to Greg Lewis and Sidney Rice, Favre led Minnesota into the Super Bowl after a 31-28 thriller.
This performance showcased why, at age 40, Favre was still one of the NFL’s most fearsome competitors. Going toe-to-toe with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees and making plays when it mattered most solidified the game as one Favre surely rewatched with fondness. He also threw for 3 touchdowns against the Saints earlier that season, a key performance that helped Minnesota earn a first-round bye. With so many clutch late-career moments against New Orleans, it’s no surprise Favre held these matchups in high regard.
## 5. Oakland Raiders
In 9 career games versus the Oakland Raiders, Favre compiled a solid 5-4 record. However, it was the sheer fireworks he created offensively that made these matchups so memorable. Favre threw for an astounding 7,228 yards and 46 touchdowns against various Raider defenses over the years. None was more explosive than their 2004 shootout, where Favre tossed for 399 yards and 4 scores in a wild 59-41 Packers victory.
Games against the Raiders always featured high-scoring, back-and-forth battles that allowed Favre’s big play ability to shine. He tossed 6 touchdowns against them in 1997 and followed that up with 4 more scores in 2002. Favre clearly relished the opportunity to light up the scoreboard against Oakland, as evidenced by some of his comments over the years. “They had playmakers all over and you knew it would be a fun challenge offensively,” Favre said. “I loved those games for the chance to just let it rip and see what happened.” With gaudy career stats and memories of epic shootouts, Oakland was surely one of Favre’s favorite opponents to face off against.
## Additional Notes
While Favre’s statistics against the Packers were more modest due to facing his former team’s top-ranked defenses in practice for years, the 4-6 record in 10 games against Green Bay does not fully capture how meaningful these matchups were. As Favre’s original team, facing off against the Packers twice a year created high drama and intensity that was unmatched against any other opponent.
Favre also enjoyed great success against several other teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3 record), Atlanta Falcons (10-5), and San Francisco 49ers (5-2). But the five opponents outlined above – Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota, New Orleans, and Oakland – stand out based on a combination of his win-loss record, gaudy career stats, and the magnitude of his most memorable performances against their defenses. Wherever Favre lined up, these five rivalries consistently brought out his very best efforts.
In the end, only Favre himself knows definitively which matchups he treasured the most. But through nearly 20 seasons of NFL warfare, these five opponents gave Favre performances and victories he surely replayed in his mind with tremendous fondness and pride. They were defining elements of one of the greatest quarterback careers in league history.
