Arrowsmith's Eye on Football: One For the Future
By Larry Stone December 17, 2001

No matter how deep your two-toned blue runs...no matter how long you try to keep your journalistic shield up...no matter how hard you you hoped that this game would not end with one of his comebacks...you still had to stop and pay homage to number four Sunday.

Years from now, you can tell your grandkids that you watched the Titans defense...on a day when no one said they could do it...stifle the great Brett Favre.

At age 32, Favre ranks as the senior statesman among NFL quarterbacks. Yet, he gambles with the sort of immaturity found in those 15 years younger. This does not mean he's reckless and carefree. No, Favre tries to push the envelope just as far as it will go. Over his 11 NFL seasons, he's had a lot of success.

In this week's conference call with the Titans media corp, Favre said he likes the fact that his teammates have the confidence in him that he will make something happen, even when the odds seem against it. That's why every Titans fan in the house Sunday knew a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter would not be safe. With the former Southern Miss quarterback under center, the only safe lead in a game...the one of the scoreboard when the clock reads 00:00.

Most consecutive 3,000 passing seasons. Most 300-yard passing games among active players. Most consecutive starts by a quarterback. Perfect record in cold weather at Lambeau. More than 20 game winning comebacks. And on and on and on. However you judge an NFL Hall-of-Famer, Brett Favre would seem to be a sure-fire pick.

And we saw him upclose...as the Titans pulled off the win no one thought they could.

Now, imagine telling the grandkids about how the Titans beat a hall of fame quarterback named Favre and a receiver named Rice in back-to-back weeks...when no one said they could!