The heralded Brett Favre made another gutsy attempt to lead the Minnesota Vikings to victory Monday night against the Chicago Bears and once again was a part of history.
First, we may have seen the end of Favre’s career, as early in the 2nd quarter rookie defensive end, Corey Wooten, sacked and threw down Favre to the frozen field. Favre landed head first and laid motionless on the ground. They might as well have buried Favre right there on the field he loves so much. But like always, the old gunslinger walked off under his own power and witnessed more history.
At the start of the second half, Devin Hester came up short again of his 14th kick-return touchdown, getting tackled at the 6-yard line on Minnesota. But in the 3rd quarter, with the Vikings backed up in their own end, weren’t able to keep the punt away from Hester, setting the record scoring on a 64-yard punt return.
Monday night’s return may have been one of his easiest of his 14, that doesn’t include the 108-yard field goal attempt return for a touchdown and the opening kick off return in the Super Bowl.
Before the game, Hester shared the record with Brian Mitchell. But what took Mitchell 223 games and 1,070 returns to get 13 touchdowns, Hester needed only 74 games and 286 returns to reach 14.
It is amazing to see what Hester has done in such a short period of time. Every team plans for him, they try and kick it away, but nothing seems to keep him out of the end zone.
He will never be a top 10 wide receiver, but he will now always be known as the best kick-return specialist in NFL history.