Favre's mixed emotions

October 16, 11:30 AMNY Sports ExaminerGlenn Minnis

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Emotions will be high for Brett Favre

Oakland-Alameda County Stadium will always be a source of supreme emotions for Brett Favre.

The future Hall of Fame signal-caller will always remember it being the scene of where he was just before Christmas in 2003 when he got the dreaded news his 58-year-old father had died suddenly of an apparent heart attack. As any son might, Favre struggled mightily with the whole notion of life ever again being what it once was. The idea of taking the field to toss a football seemed utterly baseless.

But with playoff implications on the line for his Green Bay Packers, the grizzled veteran somehow found the strength to soldier on, by nightfall giving dramatic rise to the team's postseason push with a four-touchdown, 399-yard performance that's still revered as legendary among the abundant Monday Night Football brethren.

"I didn't know if I would play, but I knew my dad would want me to,” recalls Favre. “I mean, when I went out for pregame I'd forgotten everything I'd studied all week. One of the things I remember about that game in particular was Oakland fans are not the politest fans in the NFL, but I remember getting a standing ovation when I was introduced. It was a special game."

And his "I-am-legend"-like performance would soon more than justify the reaction he'd received. By the end of the first half alone, Favre had thrown for 311 yards and all four scores. The Packers went on to trounce the Raiders 44-7 that night and the legend of Brett Favre has never stood firmer.

When the Jets arrive in Oakland on Sunday, the stakes nor the emotion figure to be quite as high as they were back then. For sure, Favre and his now 3-2 mates will find themselves again casting an eye toward their playoff aspirations.  But that's pretty much where the similarities cease.

“Maybe going out onto that field at the start of the game will bring back some memories,” Favre allows. “But it's been a long time and a lot of games that have passed since.”

Then Favre paused for a moment, seemingly reflecting on the one thing that remains consistent through all the varying circumstances. “We need to win this game," he says.

Favre overcomes grief