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GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre went home to Mississippi on Tuesday, hours after playing one of his best games ever while still struggling with the heartache of his father's unexpected death.
Packers coach Mike Sherman juggled his schedule so that he, too, could attend Irvin Favre's funeral today at St. Paul Catholic Church in Pass Christian, Miss.
Favre passed for 399 yards and four touchdowns Monday night, moving into second place in NFL history for career TD passes while leading the Packers to a 41-7 victory over the Raiders.
Mr. Favre died Sunday of a heart attack, and after speaking at an emotional team meeting hours later, Brett decided to stay for the game.
"I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play," he said. "I didn't expect this kind of performance, but I know he was watching tonight."
Teammates weren't surprised by the performance by one of the league's most inspirational leaders.
"I've never seen a leader or a player like Brett in my career, and I'm pretty sure that nobody else in this locker room has," said Wesley Walls. "I think we wanted to make him proud. ... Just getting up in front of the team at such a horrible and difficult time in his life really showed he cared about us. That was something I'll never forget."
"I do not wish this on anyone," Favre said after the game. "My dad has been to every game from fifth grade, and he coached me in high school. You never expect it to happen like that. I'm going to miss him. He was so instrumental not only in football, but in life."
CHARGERS: Marty Schottenheimer will return as coach next year despite presiding over a spectacular free-fall in which San Diego (3-12) has lost 19 of its last 24 games. "I need to get him more players and we need to attack this thing together," said general manager A.J. Smith.
MNF RATINGS: Monday Night Football ratings rose for the first time since 1994, although they still tied for the second-lowest in 34 seasons. ABC said its 17 broadcasts were watched in an average 11.5 percent of the 108.4-million U.S. homes with television sets, about one percent higher than last year's record low. Monday night's final game drew 11.1 percent.