One of the items I alluded to in a Spin I wrote with the anticipation that Brett Favre would be back was that he'll have to get ready to go right away.

Last season, the Vikings had the luxury of keeping things relatively simple as he learned the Vikings' personnel, assimilated with the offense and got into playing shape. That's because the first two games were against the Browns and Lions, who went on to win a combined seven games in 2009.

This time around, there's no such luxury.

The opener, against the defending-champ Saints in New Orleans, is a huge game, obviously. And it's three days prior to when everyone else opens up. The clock has started. Three weeks from tomorrow, Favre will be playing the Saints. And in Week Two, in come the Dolphins, a team I think can challenge for the AFC East crown. That's two good football teams, two possible playoffs teams.

An 0-2 start would be crushing for the Vikings. Favre must be on his game. Right now, he's back in practice, but WR Sidney Rice is not. Favre and Rice were an amazing combo in 2009, and the Vikings need him out there. Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian are a quality twosome, but Rice battles with big corners and is a great red-zone threat. His hip injury is a real concern right now. Not having him early in the season, or having him at less than 100 percent, could really change things.

I'll have a few more thought son Favre in a bit, but I promise to move onto other topics soon. Promise. Really.