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About Packers is working on numerous articles chronicling the career of future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre leading up to his induction ceremony into the Green Bay Hall of Fame on July 18 at Lambeau Field.


This is the 20th article in a series that features what I consider to be Favre's 20 best and/or most memorable games during his 16-year career in Titletown. This installment, ranked No. 1, highlights Green Bay’s 41-7 thrashing of the Raiders in Oakland on Dec. 22, 2003, a day after Favre’s father, Irv, died of a heart attack at age 58 near the family’s home in Kiln, Miss.

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With a heavy heart and still taped broken right thumb, Favre completed 22 of 30 pass attempts for 399 yards, the second highest yardage total of his career in Green Bay. He tossed four touchdown aerials, one of 19 times he threw four or more in a game for the Packers.

Favre gave an emotional speech to the team before the game and then took out what was left on the Raiders, completing nine passes of 20 yards or more and five others of 10 or more yards.

And Favre was on fire from the beginning as the Packers roared to a 31-7 halftime lead, scoring all four TDs on passes from No. 4. He connected with veteran tight end Wesley Walls for a 22-yard play and from 23 yards out to Javon Walker four minutes later for a 14-0 advantage.

Oakland closed to within 14-7 before the end of the opening quarter, but after that it was all Favre and his receivers, who latched onto almost anything he threw in their zip code. After Ryan Longwell extended the cushion to 10 points early in the second quarter, Favre found Walker again, this time from 46 yards, and then hooked up with David Martin from 6 yards away in the final minute before the intermission.

Favre completed his first nine passes en route to going 15 of 18 for a career high first half total of 311 yards, also recording a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating. He especially came up big in third-down situations, converting six of eight for 154 yards and a score before the break, with five of those plays coming on third-and-8 or longer.

Green Bay coasted from there as it claimed the third of four straight dominating victories to finish 10-6.

Ahman Green chipped in 127 yards on 24 carries as the Packers accumulated 548 yards, the fifth highest offensive output in team history.

But the Monday night belonged to Favre and his skill position players. Favre completed passes to 12 receivers, Walker leading the way with four receptions for 124 yards and Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver each grabbing three balls for a combined 163 yards – they registered gains of 46, 47 and 41 yards, respectively, as Favre picked apart an Oakland secondary that included future Green Bay standout Charles Woodson.

Favre said it didn’t take him long to decide to stay on the West Coast and suit up.

“I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play,” Favre said. “I love him so much and I love this game. It’s meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I did not expect this kind of performance, but I know he was watching tonight.”

Favre also credited his teammates for their performance and their support.

“This is an extended family,” he said. “I know I would be lost without them. I’m just pleased I was able to play and give a great effort. When the guys give effort like they did and support me, I can’t help but be proud of that.”

It also helped propel the Packers to the NFC North championship a week later as they whipped a Denver team that held out several starters, 31-3, at Lambeau.

Meanwhile, more than 70,000 fans waited – and media watched in the press box – to see what happened in the Arizona desert. The 3-12 Cardinals upset Minnesota, 18-17, on Josh McCown’s 28-yard pass to a tiptoeing Nate Poole in the corner of the end zone with no time showing on the clock.

Then Al Harris returned an interception against former Packer Matt Hasselbeck 52 yards for a TD and 33-27 overtime victory in the first round of the playoffs, capping a magical three-game, two-week run that began with Favre’s performance at Oakland.