MINNEAPOLIS – Ray Lewis will stare across the line of scrimmage today at Minnesota Vikings legendary quarterback Brett Favre, peering into his eyes to try to gain a hint of his true intentions to deduce where the rocket-armed veteran is going to deliver the football.

And Favre will have his head on a swivel with Lewis shadowing him just a few feet away, fully aware of the Baltimore Ravens’ intimidating All-Pro middle linebacker’s supreme instincts, striking power and aggressiveness.

Beyond the gamesmanship afoot today at the Metrodome as the Ravens (3-2) try to halt a two-game losing streak against the undefeated Vikings (5-0), there’s another intriguing element at play here.

This encounter marks a rare meeting between two of the NFL’s top luminaries whose mutual passion for the game is also rivaled by their shared longevity and unwillingness to walk away from a sport they still play with a child’s love.

The last time Lewis and Favre were together it was for a somber occasion: former NFL quarterback Steve McNair’s July funeral in Hattiesburg, Miss.

“Just straight respect,” Lewis said. “When I see Brett, he’ll say the same thing. When we were at Steve’s funeral, the same thing, ‘Way to fight, warrior.’ It’s a certain level of respect that you carry for people who’ve done it year in and year out. It’s a great brotherhood.”

Their admiration and appreciation goes deeper than a Favre bomb for two leaders who have defined the modern NFL era at their respective positions.

Both command a ton of respect, and both continue to perform at an extremely high level.

And this meeting marks just the third time they’ve faced each other with Favre winning two of those games.

Favre, 40, has been in the league five years longer than Lewis, 34, and both are earmarked as locks for future Hall of Fame induction.

“To be mentioned with a guy like Ray in the same breath, I’m honored by that,” Favre said. “Because I have played longer or whatever, that has never affected me. Ray’s one of those that backs up what he is saying. There are a lot of guys that talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk. He is one of them that walks it.”

Their shared intensity and love for the game has forged a bond between them, creating an understanding from Lewis’ standpoint on why the Favre has stubbornly refused to stay retired.

Hey, why quit when you’re still having fun?

“Absolutely, yeah, because when it’s done it’s done,” Lewis said. “That’s what a lot of people don’t realize. This is probably the one profession truly that when you’re done like really done, there’s no coming back. There’s no getting this fountain of youth and finding your way back.

“You’ve got to respect that because he understands. The game of football will never change. He’s learned it from a child and has great success and is still having great success. I commend a man that goes to war no matter what anybody says.”

Favre’s high-profile decision to join the archrival Vikings after reaching icon status with the Green Bay Packers and spending one awkward year last season with the New York Jets has been borne out.

Favre is rejuvenated after an offseason of waffling back and forth on whether to play again.

Now, the former NFL Most Valuable Player ranks fourth in the league with a 104.1 passer rating with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Favre has completed 69 percent of his throws for 1,069 yards, making sound decisions while managing the offense intelligently and avoiding the foolhardy risks that marred some of his last few seasons in Green Bay.

His health and his ability to throw on the move have returned.

“Patience,” Lewis said when asked how he plans to defend Favre. “Favre is the true, true professional, the true warrior anytime he steps on the football field. He’s very unpredictable with the football.

“Sometimes, you might think he’s down and he underhands the ball. Sometimes, it gets him in trouble, but a lot of the time it gets him out of trouble, too. You have to be really, really patient with him.”

And Lewis, who was retained by the Ravens with a new contract after getting the cold shoulder during free agency from prospective suitors that never materialized, leads Baltimore with 49 tackles.

He preserved the Ravens’ victory over the San Diego Chargers with a dramatic fourth-down tackle on elusive running back Darren Sproles earlier this season, a signature moment for the 10-time Pro Bowl selection.

What’s remarkable about both players goes beyond their stellar production.

It’s how they’ve performed at such a high level for such a long time despite the brutal nature of the NFL.

“You do not see many linebackers play 14 years, especially middle linebackers,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “How many quarterbacks have been able to play for as long as Brett has and at the level that he is at? The passion, the fire, the leadership, the things that these guys stand for on opposite sides of the ball, there are probably a lot of similarities there.”

From his standpoint, Favre is hoping that he isn’t victimized by Lewis’ rough treatment today as he’s looking to avoid any physical confrontation with the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

He would rather swap war stories with Lewis than gain a new scar or bruise to remember him by.

“I don’t necessarily like going up against him,” Favre said. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for competition and all that stuff, but I’d like an easy week for a change. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for him. The guy is a winner, he’s a competitor.

“I love his passion. He’d be a great guy to play with and not a guy you really want to go up against. He sure makes life a lot tougher. The way he rallies the troops, I’ve seen all of the footage and of course watched him play. What a leader, just a great leader.”

Favre could just as easily be talking about himself.

Described as aloof a year ago in the Jets’ locker room, he has drawn praise this year from his younger teammates for putting in overtime studying video of opponents constantly looking for an edge.

Favre was voted a team captain by his teammates, who have jokingly nicknamed the Wrangler jeans pitchman as “The Silver Fox.”

And Lewis, who was fined $25,000 Friday for a pair of infractions against the Cincinnati Bengals, hasn’t lost any of his trademark intensity. He described himself as a human missile this week, stating emphatically that he won’t change his rugged approach.

Lewis figures to be hungry after having his pride stung a week ago when the Ravens lost 17-14 to Cincinnati as Cedric Benson became the first running back to eclipse the 100-yard mark in 40 games against Baltimore.

The fire stills burns in Lewis, and Favre.

“Trust me, to have passion like he does, like I like to think I do,” Favre said. “Do you have bad games? Sure. Do you have bad days at practice where you don’t feel like talking to anybody? Absolutely.

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.