GREEN BAY, Wisc. — During a rookie season that has exceeded even his own expectations, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane has learned from some the game’s greats.
He found out first-hand that San Francisco offensive lineman Larry Allen is a big, strong man. He had to adjust to the pounding, cutback style of St. Louis running back Steven Jackson and the shiftiness of Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook.
On Saturday, while going against one of the greatest players in the history of the game, Mebane learned another lesson the hard way.
Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre doesn’t go down easy.
“He just slipped out,” a shocked Mebane said Saturday in the visiting locker room after a 42-20 loss to the Packers, while reliving one of the game’s most memorable plays. “I thought I pulled him down.”
Plenty of NFL defenders — young and old — have thought the same thing.
The 38-year-old Favre showed that he’s still got a few old tricks when he escaped Mebane’s grasp and completed a key third-down pass late in the second quarter Sunday.
With his team leading 21-17 and just over a minute left on the clock, Favre converted a third-and-8 by slipping out of Mebane’s arms and completing an 11-yard pass to Donald Lee. Not only was Favre falling down when he threw the pass, he also made the throw underhanded.
“That looked bad,” Favre said afterward. “Thank God I got it off and got it completed because it was one of those that I’m sure, watching it, it looked slow and unathletic. … I’m not quite as nimble as I once was.”
Favre was just nimble enough, again, to make another memorable play in a career filled with memories. After the improbable completion to Lee, he stood up and waved his arms in the air in celebration.
Ryan Grant ran in for a touchdown on the next play, giving Green Bay a 28-17 halftime lead on the way to the route.
While Grant carried most of the load with 201 rushing yards, Favre rebounded from recent playoff struggles by turning in a solid performance that brought back memories of his heyday. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns to post the best postseason passer rating (137.6) of his NFL career.
“It was amazing,” Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney said. “He’s that much harder to handle if they have their running game going. Obviously, they had their running game going (Saturday). If you’re playing 50-50, or worse, ball against him, he’s going to be that much more effective.”
Favre’s underhand throw wasn’t the only thing about the veteran’s game that impressed Mebane. The Seahawks’ rookie was also thrown off by a more subtle part of Favre’s repertoire.
“He had a different hard count, something I’ve never heard before,” Mebane said, referring to the cadence on Favre’s snap count. “It gets you jumping.”
On a typically snowy day at Lambeau Field, Favre had the home crowd jumping for joy.
Again.
“That’s Brett Favre,” Seahawks safety Brian Russell said. “That’s what he’s good at. That wasn’t a secret; it’s not like we hadn’t seen that on film. He did some special things.”
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