Tom Olmscheid / AP

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre celebrates with Chester Taylor (29) after Favre threw a touchdown pass Monday against the Packers.

Signs of the young Favre first resurfaced in the closing moments against the 49ers two weeks ago, when he drove the Vikings 80 yards in 1:29 without a timeout, culminating in a 32-yard TD pass to Greg Lewis for the game winner.

He was even better against the Packers, tormenting the team that decided to move on with the younger Aaron Rodgers after Favre reneged on his first retirement announcement in 2008.

Utilizing the best pass protection he’s had all season, Favre went down the field early and often. Five of his 24 completions gained 24 yards or more.

There was pump faking, throwing across his body, rolling right and throwing left, zipping the ball into tight coverage and throwing it over the top of the defense.

“He’s still got it,” receiver Sidney Rice said. “I don’t care how old he is.”

To Dr. Ty Endean, a solo practitioner who performs the surgery at Sports Institute of Tucson, Ariz., Favre’s performance at his age is even more impressive than his recovery from the operation. “Guys come back from much bigger surgeries,” he said.

Favre said the most telling sign that his arm is fully back came on an incompletion. Favre used that familiar windup and put everything he had on a pass to Bernard Berrian with two Packers defensive backs converging on the play. The ball squeezed through the smallest of windows and hit Berrian right in the hands.

“That is a throw I wouldn’t have even come close to completing last year,” he said.

Romeo and Childress think the best is yet to come. Favre reported to the Vikings less than a month before the season opener, so he is still working his arm, and the rest of his body, back into playing shape.

“Brett Favre’s probably going to get stronger and stronger as the season goes on,” Romeo said. “The chances for this deteriorating are far less.”

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