Pocket Presence: Favre to Stafford

by Mario "The Game" Granata

In the latest edition of the Pocket Presence series, see how the two 'madmen' of the NFL played the quarterback position as Brett Favre and Matt Stafford have some remarkable similarities. 

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If you happened to check out the previous “Pocket Presence” blogs that have been posted, you are starting to notice a trend with the quarterbacks that are being compared: not only are their stats compatible, but they have remarkable similarities in the way that they play the game as well.  That trend continues in this week’s installment, as the comparison is between Brett Favre and Matt Stafford.  When you hear their names back-to-back a few choice words comes to mind.  Gunslinger.  Care Free. Unpredictable. 

These are just a few of the monikers that have been attached two these two largely talented players, and while Favre made a name for himself as an Iron Man, Stafford was a bit injury prone, but is starting to shake off that tag having completed three full seasons.  This is where the comparisons start.  I took a look in the Hashtag Vault to see how both of these players stacked up statistically, and once again, I was amazed at the numbers. 

Brett Favre

48

29-19

1674

1040

62.1

11,598

90

51

5

7

First 3 Full Seasons

Games Started

Record

Attempts

Completions

Completion %

Yards

Touchdowns

Interceptions

4th Quarter Comebacks

Game Winning Drives

Matt Stafford

48

21-27

2024

1227

61.0

14,655

90

52

8

10

While the wins and the losses leave much to be desired when making this comparison, I don’t think that anyone can deny the way that these two play the game.  Early in Favre’s career, he was still trying to gain a hold on the West Coast Offense, which Mike Holmgren was trying to implement, while Matt Stafford, playing with arguably the best receiver in the game today, thinks like many of us do: throw it up and let Megatron get it. 

Style and numbers aside, Favre and Stafford have amazing arms, and while Favre was able to put together a run of MVP’s and 2 Super Bowl appearances, winning one of them, no one knows how the career of Stafford will play out.  Jim Caldwell took a Peyton Manning led team to the Super Bowl, and won another as an Offensive Coordinator for Joe Flacco, so maybe there is hope for Stafford.