Talking Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb and Big Al With Some Guy in MN

This Sunday’s match-up of Vikings vs. Redskins featuring two evenly matched teams. The Vikes are struggling more than the ‘Skins at the moment, but Washington never met a Brett Favre team they could beat. We go to our Bloguin colleagues Purple Jesus Diaries and talk some Favre, McNabb, Haynesworth and yellow pants.

Redskins Hog Heaven: Thank you, Vikings, for taking the spotlight off Donovan McNabb, Mike Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth. Leslie Frazier says Brett Favre will remain as starting quarterback. How does firing Brad Childress help Brett and the offense?

Purple Jesus Diaries: You’re welcome, but to be fair, it does appear that the attention is on the Titans now as well, so we should probably both send them a nice holiday wreath to show our thanks. Brett Favre will remain the starting quarterback, but I’m not sure if this helps or doesn’t help. Favre is having one of the worst seasons of his career, and Childress is just the fall guy for him. I think with Childress gone you’ll see a lot more of how offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre had always wanted to run this offense since last year, with more audibles at the line and probably more stupid Favre interceptions. Hopefully, Frazier steps in and says “Uh, we have Adrian Peterson. Stop throwing interceptions and just give him the ball on hand offs and check downs, dammit. I’m trying to get a head coaching job here.”

RHH: If Favre is benched, what should concern us about Tavaris Jackson?

PJD: I would have zero concerns about TarVar. People like to think of him as a scrambling quarterback, as some guy with a big arm, but really, the only coach in the entire NFL who he had support from just walked out of the Viking facility doors. I think the TarVar era is going to end very quietly, largely because he now has no support, and because the team simply can’t bench Favre. He’s making too much money, he’s still, somehow, too popular amongst the fan base, and I think it’s one of those scenarios where you just go down with the burning ship, Favre at the helm for sure.

RHH: Mike Shanahan thinks that Childress’ dismissal will fire up the Vikings? Do you see evidence of that with player comments?

PJD: I don’t know if you see those in comments, necessarily, but it’s not uncommon to think. I mean, the players feel bad that their crappy play got this guy canned, but it’s not like there was a ton of support for Childress in the locker room anyway. No one is going out to “Win this one for Baldy!” or anything. I think you’ll see more inspired play for Frazier more than anything, but probably only for about a full half before the Vikings revert to the norm for the 2010 season.

RHH: What concerns you about the Washington Redskins going into this game?

PJD: Everything? I don’t know much about their defense, and I think both teams have a bit of Jekyll and Hyde syndrome. Who will show up? Will the offensive lines play well? Will Laron Landry trash talk one of OUR players early to guarantee a win? I think it will be an interesting game because there are so many unknowns.

RHH: How should the Redskins offense attack the Vikings offense?

PJD: You just got to pass on them. The defense is if nothing mediocre this year. Normally, you couldn’t run on the team so you would HAVE to pass, but this year it’s more that the Viking have Antoine Winfield in the backfield and that’s pretty much it for safety and cornerback play. Greg Jennings just went off for 150 yards and three touchdowns. We all got to see Aaron Rodgers do his stupid hop-skip celebration several times last Sunday. I remember in more recent years past when McNabb was in Philly he came into the Metrodome both regular season and post-season and mopped the Vikings good. He’s always done that. If he puts the ball in the air this weekend I don’t see anything different about what will happen.

RHH: We have this neat defensive lineman available for trade. Would the Vikings give up a third and sixth round pick for Albert Haynesworth? If not, would you give up a fourth round pick and a ham sandwich?

PJD: 4th and a ham sandwich sounds swell as long as there is Swiss cheese on it too and if you pick a new franchise QB in the draft and give us McNabb as well. You don’t really want him, right??

RHH: How will the Vikings-Redskins game play out and what is the final score?

PJD: The Vikings haven’t won on the road in like a year and a half, so any Vikings fan picking them to win now would be an idiot. I think it’ll be a pretty close game. The Vikings HAVE had some close games this year despite their embarrassing record, including opportunities for last minute winning drives against the Packers and the Jets on the road. I think the Redskins are playing all out of wack this season, too, so it’s hard to tell what they’ll bring on Sunday. Same with the Vikings, especially with a new coach and a weeks worth of questions and butt chewings. I anticipate a close one, but the Skins will win another low scorer in the end, something like 23-17.

Thank you, PJD, for your Vikings insights. We answered questions about the Redskins and this game for Purple Jesus Diaries. Find them at the link here. We’ll be here when you get back.