via bleacherreport.com

Monday night was a gut-wrenching, vindicating, heartbreaking, on the edge game all rolled into one.

On one hand, you had future Hall of Famer Brett Favre. On the other, you had the Green Bay Packers.

Problem: I love them both, and of course there's the whole "he used to play for the Pack" thing, too.

The game lived up to its hype and then some. Favre was able to play up to the expectations of the Vikings’ brass and, for the second week in the row, proved the haters wrong. He seemed to do it with relative ease.

For Favre, it was just another game to win. For the thousands of Favre/Packers fans, just Favre fans, and just Green Bay fans, it was the biggest game in history. He is like a son, raised for 18 years, who has come back to challenge his father.

To make matters worse, my fantasy teams, one on Facebook and one on CBS Sportsline, were riding on this game. On Facebook, I had Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Lee, and Donald Driver from Green Bay and Bernard Berrian from Minnesota.

This wasn't so bad since it enabled me to still root for Favre and win this week’s game. These guys did enough for me to win this week, turning my score from 73-32 to a 79-73 victory.

CBS Sportsline, not so much.

I was very happy going into last night's game. As of Monday morning, I had a 56-55 lead and from the looks of it, my opponent was all done. All of his players had played and he had Matt Ryan starting at QB while he was in a bye week. So all Rodgers had to do was not throw any picks or fumble the ball, and he wouldn't have to gain a yard if he wanted to.

Well, I guess I should have checked his reserve players, and I swear the guy planned it this way. Who does he have starting by the start of MNF? Favre. So now, not only am I rooting for Green Bay to win and Favre to have a decent game, I have a big mess where he has to play well as far as Berrian is concerned, but suck too so I can win both leagues.

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH. Why, God? Why?

Needless to say, but every time Favre drove it down the field and scored (three passing TDs), I was like "YEEEEEEEESSS, NOOOOOO, NOOOO."

I ended up losing my week for CBS, 83-80. If it were not for the turnovers that Rodgers had, I would have won. So, in retrospect, it was my player’s mistakes that really lost me the game. But one less TD from Favre would have been nice, too.

Now, back to real life and the game at hand.

I wouldn't say Favre had the greatest game of his career, but given the circumstances, I'd say he had one of the best. With nothing to prove, according to him, Favre proved a lot last night with 24 completions, 271 yards, three TDs and no picks, which resulted in a 30-23 win over his former team.

Emotions ran high, but egos were held in check and for the most part it was proven there are more Favre supporters than originally thought. Overall, Packers fans seemed disappointed with the loss, but were genuinely happy for Favre and his performance.

The Packers should not regret their decisions in the off season of 2008. Rodgers had a heck of a game—despite two turnovers—passing for 384 yards and two TDs.

He was able to single-handedly bring the Pack back from a 16-point deficit to within seven of the Vikes. Because of Rodgers, this team still has a chance to make something happen this year and many years to come.

Favre not only proved that he still has it in him to stretch the field and win games, but also has the ability to carry a team on his shoulders when needed. Many key throws and plays were made by Favre on Monday night.

The biggest accomplishment he made, to me, was his ability to overcome the situation and play for the win—not for revenge. He also showed great humility in his post-game interview and press conference. He played like Favre of yesteryear and did it with a smile on his face.

The Vikings have proven two games in a row that the QB position was their weak spot, and signing Favre has at least temporarily solved this problem. My point has been proven twice in a row now that Favre is an important part of this team and, if needed, will carry this team on his back as he did so many times in Green Bay.

Though this is still Adrian Peterson's team, you could have been fooled last night as Favre pretty much took over the reins and led this team to victory with the help of great play by the defense.

I hate to say it, sorry Packers, but I really feel the Vikes are the team to beat in the NFC this year. They have the best running game, great defense, and a passing game to pick up the slack. They are not going to lose many games.

In retrospect, I'm not as mad as I thought I would be if the Vikings won. I'm kind of sad that the Pack lost and Favre was the one who caused it.

Two analogies fit this situation. For Favre—who to me seemed a little emotional after the game because he had to beat the team he loved and played with for 16 years—it was like having to put your dog to sleep. You love it to death, but you have no choice you have to do what you have to do.

For us Packers fans, it was said best by an ESPN reporter in the post-game review. "It’s like when your child does something you don't like. You are disappointed, but in the end you still love them."

WAR—MNF, Brett vs. The Pack, what a game.

WAR—The Pack beating the Vikes in Brett vs. The Pack II, Nov. 1.