They were 10-1, Brett Favre and the offense were clicking, and this team was thinking Super Bowl.

But then, as so many Favre-haters had predicted, the previously unbeatable Favre began his “late-season fade” and had his worst game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals.

That game prompted articles galore against Favre, suggesting it was “merely the beginning,” and that the end would be near.

Three weeks after the dismal performance in Arizona, it’d be hard to argue that the end may be near for the team, although logic and reason would dare you to look a little closer before assuming Favre is “once again” bringing his team down with him.

Just ask Trent Dilfer. Ask the guys in the Monday night booth. Ask anyone with some common sense and a good head on his shoulders.

The pass protection isn’t there. That awesome running game that Adrian Peterson was supposed to provide isn’t there.

And that playoff-level defense, well, without middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (lost for the season), is nonexistent.

But those Favre-bashers out there aren’t worried about the specifics. All they want is the team’s record, the numbers, and the bad plays.

They’re not concerned with the lack of support by the rest of the offense—the poor pass protection, the countless fumbles, or the drops from his offensive weapons.

Going into Monday night’s matchup with the Chicago Bears, Favre had a measly three touchdowns to four interceptions in his last three games, and owned a 1-2 record with his only win coming at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He didn’t do much to prove his doubters wrong in the first half (nor did the rest of the Vikings), as he went just 5-for-9 for under 40 yards, as the Vikings trailed the 5-9 Bears 16-0 at the break.

What followed, however, should show us all (especially the haters) that, regardless of wins or losses, the legend of Brett Favre cannot and will not die in the cold weather of Chicago or the twilight of another NFL season.

Favre proceeded to throw for just under 270 yards and led Minnesota to four scoring drives, including the game-tying touchdown pass to Sidney Rice on 4th-and-goal with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

But, of course, tying isn’t winning, and playing a remarkable second half isn’t quite as good as playing a flawless entire four quarters.

No, not quite.

But these moral victories need to be warranted when so many skeptics continue to push at the Jenga pieces that are Favre’s legend and seemingly hope and pray for the future Hall of Famer to fall apart as the season goes on.

When asked if the cold weather had anything to do with it, Favre shrugged, saying he’d played in worse. It was cold, but that was a bogus excuse.

And then he made a comment about all the writers and analysts who suggest the “old man” can’t come through in cold games, referencing that he still couldn’t win the winter games, despite playing at a high level and having nothing to do with the final outcome in overtime.

Favre watched on with the rest of his offensive teammates after Adrian Peterson lost yet another fumble, and then as the Bears scored on the ensuing play.

Favre will be the first to admit the Vikings aren’t peaking; they have issues, and that they aren’t exactly going in the right direction.

But his play during the game and comments after should limit any writer’s fuel to pen up a column against Favre after this loss, as the legendary quarterback played at an elite level, despite not having the chance to come out on top.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of writers across the nation will eagerly jump at writing another article that damns Favre and these Minnesota Vikings after their third loss in the month of December.

And with the Vikings being in relative shambles, they’d have every reason to opt for that perspective. But if we’re being reasonable, if we’re being logical, and if we’re really looking at everything, there’s no way we can continue to point the finger at Favre.

He was brought here to excite, deliver some clutch drives and performances, and get this team to the playoffs (and beyond). So far, he’s done all of it, and on Monday night, he almost did even more.

But just because Favre can’t play defense and special teams, or will the ball to stay into his receivers’ (or Adrian Peterson’s) hands, doesn’t mean he should continue to be the nation’s punching bag for why the Vikings are falling apart.

It’s official. Brett Favre is human, and as much as you may despise him, he’s apparently pretty honest, too.

He admitted he wasn’t at the top of his game during the Jets’ five-game slide to end 2008. But he also said he would have gladly hit the bench, and probably even for good.

He’s even declaring 2009 as his “the streak may end” campaign, and regardless of your opinion on him as a player, his personality, or his supposed hidden agendas, that’s damn respectable.

He’s a sure-fire Hall of Famer, and for all intents and purposes, he’s still “got it.”

But he’s not an idiot. He may talk as if he were one. He may wear dirty, crusty red hats that only under-paid (are they under-paid?) fat truckers would wear.

But damn me if I’m wrong; this guy is honest.

Maybe to a fault, but still. You have to admire Favre’s recklessness. His love for the game.

Because no matter which side you’re on: Green Bay’s, Minnesota’s, or hate the NFL altogether, this is still a remarkable story.

Oh, and the best part? We’re just getting started.

Favre was done, people. He truly was. ESPN’s “Skip” Bayless had it right. Favre was done after retiring from New York, and he wasn’t kidding around when he shot-down the Vike’s before training camp, either.

Call him an OCD gambler, but the guy just couldn’t kick the habit. He simply couldn’t pass up the chance at going out on top. Or at least coming close.

But the best part in this entire “Favre Saga”, as many journalists so eloquently put it, is Favre’s calm demeanor and realistic outlook on everything.

He’s not coming back for revenge. Not completely, anyways. That would be foolish, and even he admits it.

He’s not shy about hating Ted Thompson or feeling spurned by the Packers. That stuff is true. But to come back and risk it all for two lousy games that he might even lose? It’s not worth it.

It has nothing to do with the stats, his legend, or (now that we’ve heard from the horse’s mouth) that remarkable streak he started 16 years ago.

Love him or hate him, it’s time to open your mind to the possibility that Favre may actually have something left to give the NFL.

Even if it’s for less than 16 games.