{image1} For those of you turning to this column strictly to find out how the Packers fared Monday night -- the Pack beat the Oakland Raiders 41-7 to keep their NFL playoff hopes alive.

The real story of the night, however, was the courage and devotion shown by Packers' quarterback Brett Favre, who played one day after his father, Irvin, died while driving near the family hometown of Kiln, Miss.

There are those who will say Favre's priorities are screwed up. His family should be more important than a football game, some will say. His consecutive game streak drove him to play on a night he should have been grieving, others might say.

But, Favre did what dad would have wanted him to do. Irv served as Brett's first coach and coached high school football for more than 25 years.

Football is a way of life in the Favre family. Irv knew his son had grown into a legend in the NFL. Favre's extraordinary performance Monday night will only solidify that status. In many ways, Brett playing in the game served as the best tribute he could make to his dad.

"I knew my dad would want me to play," Favre said after the game. "I loved him so much. I love this game. I know he was watching tonight."

You could not have covered the Packers for the last decade without having some contact with Irv. He was a good old boy from the South. If you met Irv, you knew why Brett is so unassuming and unpretentious.

When the Packers played in the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Irv served as a host for a media tour to Kiln. He also showed people around the Big Easy. Irv also frequently visited Wisconsin and sometimes referred to it as his Northern Home.

This is not the first time this reporter has written about such an emotional event. Early in my career, when I covered prep sports, a basketball player for Delavan Darien High School played in a game against Burlington only a couple days after his father had dropped dead while playing in a pickup game with him.

I wrote then that the boy played in the game because that was exactly what his father would have wanted. I ended up receiving letters from the boy, and his mother, saying I had captured the family's emotions perfectly. I don't expect any letters from the Favre family, but suspect their emotions are quite similar to that boy's family.

People not involved in sports can't understand such deep devotion to a game. But, the families of that Delavan Darien boy, and the Favre family, obviously do.

Players of the Game

Favre not only played through the emotions of the night, but he starred. He completed his first nine passes, to seven different receivers, and had four touchdown passes and 311 yards in the first half. It was the best half of Favre's career and his highest quarterback rating in a single game.

In the process, Favre passed Fran Tarkenton to move into second place on the all-time touchdown pass list. It would have been an exceptional performance under any circumstances. Under the emotions of the night, it truly was a performance that legends are made of.

"Brett was as focused as I have ever seen him," Packers' coach Mike Sherman said. "Our receivers stepped up because they have a lot of love for their quarterback."

Wide receiver Robert Ferguson had some big plays and keeps getting better each week. Javon Walker also has become a dangerous deep threat.

Give special mention to the Packers' offensive linemen, who gave Favre great protection all night and opened holes for the running game. Ahman Green quietly went over 100 yards rushing Monday.

On the Oakland side, give some mention to veteran Jerry Rice, who reached double figures in receptions for the umpteenth time in his career. Rice, like Favre, is a great competitor.

Plays of the Game

Favre's first pass, a 46-yard bomb to Ferguson, was so perfect you knew he was in for an exceptional night.

His first two touchdown passes, to Wesley Walls and Walker, also were exceptional. Walker also made two spectacular catches later in the half.

Goats of the Week

Oakland cornerback Phillip Buchanan was toast all night. The Packers repeatedly picked on him for long gains.

The Raiders' quarterback, Rick Mirer, showed why the Packers' Darren Sharper didn't remember that he spent a year as a third string quarterback in Green Bay. The Raiders; defenders also deserve a collective set of horns after tackling poorly all game.

Next Week

The Packers just have to concentrate on the Denver Broncos Sunday and let the scenarios take care of themselves.

If the Vikings win at Arizona, the Packers cannot get into the post-season as the NFC North champs. But, they will still have wild card possibilities, depending on what happens with the Seattle Seahawks and others.

Gregg Hoffmann will write his next On The Pack on December 29, after the Packers' regular season finale against Denver.