{image1} The way the Packers won their first round playoff game Sunday, people were asking the question again. Is somebody up there watching over the Pack?

We're not talking about the fans in the upper luxury boxes at Lambeau Field here, or the pilots of the Blackhawk helicopters that were part of the pre-game fly-over.

Ever since Irv Favre, Brett's dad, died, the Packers seem to have somebody upstairs looking over them. First, Brett played that inspired game one day after Irv had passed away.

Then, the Packers got into the playoffs thanks to a remarkable comeback win by the Arizona Cardinals over the Minnesota Vikings. Finally, the Packers beat Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks, 33-27, in overtime Sunday on Al Harris' 52-yard interception return. Is Big Irv doing some heavy duty lobbying up in heaven?

"The way we won today, and the things that have happened the last few weeks, I know that will be the story line this week," said guard Mike Wahle. "I don't blame you guys (in the media). It does make you wonder."

Even coach Mike Sherman seems to have softened on the possibility of some "divine intervention." "I guess because I know how hard we have worked, and the chemistry of our football team, I have not put much into any outside intervention playing a role," he said. "But, we'll take wins any way we can get them. We'll accept any help we can get."

Whether Big Irv is playing any role from the after life or not, the Packers have been on an emotional roller coaster. "It could be draining," Wahle said. "But, I think we just have to ride it. This is an emotional high today, but we can't spend a lot of time thinking about it. Reality is we have a chance to win another playoff game next week at Philadelphia and move on."

Brett Favre probably has been on the wildest emotional ride of all. "Maybe I handle things differently than other people," he said. " Not that I don't grieve. There haven't been too many games that I've lost here that a tear hasn't come out of my eyes, because it means so much to me. Just about everything I do in life means a lot to me. I take things hard and I also appreciate things. I realize how difficult it is to achieve some things.

"Maybe one of the few things I've taken for granted up until two weeks ago was life. I was always one of those people who said I hope that doesn't happen to me, but it did. You know, it's over now. I miss my dad, but my obligation is to this team. I want to be there for them.

"It's tough. It's a tough position to be in. They pay you a lot of money to do what you do. I like to think I do it as best as I can. People like that and appreciate that. Unfortunately, I had to deal with those feelings of a couple weeks ago. That won't change, but what makes you feel a lot better is to be around guys who give their best.

"I don't know what will happen from here on, but the way this team has played and practiced I would love to win the Super Bowl. The way we are going right now anything can happen. Something does seem to be going on here."

Players of the Game

Al Harris has to get the main honor after picking off a Matt Hasselbeck pass and returning it 52 yards for the game winner.

"We practiced for that," Harris said. "We hoped he would be rushed and have to get rid of it quickly. I was praying he would come to my side. We were ready for it."

Harris was not alone for the Packers. On defense, Darren Sharper was in on 11 tackles.

After a slow start, Ahman Green gained 66 yards rushing and 44 more receiving and scored two touchdowns. Donald Driver had six receptions for 66 yards, and Javon Walker had five catches for 111 yards.

Favre completed 26 of 38 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown. He drew the praise of his current and former coaches. "I thought Brett played his best game today, even better than the Monday Night game," Sherman said. "He made several key plays and provided the leadership we needed to pull this game out."

Holmgren, who helped develop Favre in his early years, said, "He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, who is remarkable in big games as a rule. He had a real fine football game today. He made some great plays. He is just so poised now in how he handles things, and is a tough guy to beat at home."

For the Seahawks, Hasselbeck completed 25 of 45 for 305 yards.

Plays of the Game

Of course, Harris' TD has to be tops, but there were numerous others. Two that stand out were fourth down and one plays in which the Packers got first downs in the fourth quarter.

"Those are the type of calls the team really needs," Green said. "When a coach makes those calls, he shows he has confidence in you. It makes you want to play even harder for him."

Holmgren disputed one of the plays, claiming Green fumbled. "I thought on the play he went in there, kept his legs going, came back and fumbled the ball," Holmgren said. "And, I don't think where the fumble was, in fact, I know where the fumble was it was not a first down."

Referee Bernie Kukar said Green's forward progress had been stopped and the play was not challengeable. "That's what we were explaining to coach Holmgren," Kukar said.

After Harris' big interception return, it was a wild scene on the chilled field. Players, accompanied by Don Majkowski, Santana Dotson, LeRoy Butler, Sean Jones and other former players, left the field to wild cheers from the fans. Harris ran around the stadium, exchanging High 5s with fans.

"That was great," Harris said. "I wanted to share it with the fans who have meant so much to us."

Goat of the Game

Just because of the interception, you probably have to give a set of horns to Hasselbeck, but overall the former Packer played a fine game.

"I know Matt is probably over there beating himself up over the interception, but he has nothing to feel ashamed of," Favre said. "Al Harris just made a great play."

Next Week

The Packers game at Philadelphia will have several angles. Coach Andy Reid is a former Packers' assistant. Al Harris played for the Eagles, and some other players have ties to both teams. The Packers also would like to avenge a heartbreaking defeat at Lambeau to the Eagles during the regular season.

"We owe those guys," said wide receiver Donald Driver. "Those guys beat us at home last time. It's payback."

But, more than anything, the winner next week moves to the NFC Championship game and the loser goes home. "I know Andy Reid very well and know his team will come into the game prepared," Sherman said. "So will we. We just have to go into every game prepared to win and move on."

Even if the Packers keep winning, they will not have any more playoff games at Lambeau. "We took care of business at home," Harris said. "Now we have to go on the road and do whatever we have to do to continue to win."

Gregg Hoffmann writes On The Pack after every Packers game, exclusively for OMC.