What If Brett Favre Does Not Play In 2010?

The vast majority of Vikings fans assume Brett Favre is returning to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2010 season.   There are some eternal pessimists out there that always assume the absolute worst, and a lot of us writers, both professional and amateur, try to seem impartial by saying things like “if Favre plays” and stuff like that, but most of us expect number 4 to be under center in New Orleans on September 9th.

But what happens if we are all wrong?  What happens to the Minnesota Vikings if Brett Favre is not their quarterback in 2010?

Most fans’ first thought would be “there goes the season”.

It is probably my first thought.

But trying to look at the situation more logically, is that the case?

In 2008 the Vikings split their quarterback time between Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte.  The Vikings finished 10-6 that year, even after starting the season 1-3.  Their worst loss of the year was a 13 point loss to the Tennessee Titans, who finished that season at 13-3.  They beat the Panthers who were 12-4.  The beat the Cardinals who were the NFC Champions.

If Brett Favre doesn’t play this year, besides him, the only significant starters that the Vikings would not have from that 2008 season are Darren Sharper and Matt Birk.  Every other position would either be the same, or improved (like Loadholt over Ryan Cook).  Sidney Rice has improved significantly since that season, and the Vikings did not have Percy Harvin that year.

The big question would be Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback.  While it’s very true that none of us really want to see that after getting to watch Favre last year, it’s hard to imaging Tarvaris Jackson got worse after playing behind one of the all-time greats for a season.

The downside to all of this is that the Vikings have a very tough schedule this season.  Because of the schedule rotation, the Vikings are stuck playing arguably the two toughest divisions that they could be matched up against in the AFC East (Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, and Bills) and the NFC East (Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Giants).

But because of that, the Vikings might not be as good as they were last year even WITH Brett Favre.  I’m not taking anything away from last year’s Vikings team, but keep in mind that the did have a schedule that featured the Rams, Seahawks, 49ers, and Browns.

I think the big problem that the Vikings would face without Brett Favre would come in the playoffs.  Last year the NFC playoffs featured teams that had great quarterbacks:  Brett Favre, Tony Romo, Aaron Rogers, Kurt Warner, Drew Brees, and Donovan McNabb.

Tarvaris Jackson is not in that class of quarterbacks.  While I do think that he could get the Vikings to the playoffs, I really have my doubts that he could get them very far.

All in all, I do expect Brett Favre to come back.  But if by chance he was wrong, I don’t think that Vikings fans are looking at having to endure a losing season with Tarvaris Jackson under center.