Mike Holmgren will always be a legend at Lambeau Field. He has a street named after him just a couple blocks away. But, the Packers made it clear Sunday that their former coach no longer is King of the new Lambeau.

Holmgren brought his Seattle Seahawks into Green Bay with a 3-0 record. He had won the last time he came in as an opposing coach, in 1999. Of course, his Packers' teams were almost unbeatable at Lambeau.

Mike Sherman was the "Main Mike" Sunday, however, as the Packers shut out the Seahawks in the second half and posted a 35-13 win. All the principals involved denied Holmgren's return added any incentive.

"This was a great victory for the Green Bay Packers, not Mike Sherman," said the Packers' coach, who was an assistant under Holmgren with the Packers and Seahawks. "It didn't matter who was on the other sidelines. I have the utmost respect for what Mike has done, but we needed this win period."

Quarterback Brett Favre, who was developed in his early years by Holmgren, said, "I know what Mike means to me career, and will always mean to me. But, you have to move on.

"We needed this win for a lot of reasons. We wanted to go to 3-2. They were 3-0 coming in, so it was a good measuring rod for us. In '99, it (playing against Holmgren) might have meant something extra. Now, it was just an important game against a good team."

Holmgren admitted he does hate losing in Green Bay even more than losing elsewhere. "A loss is a loss. I have a lot of friends here, so I always like to do well in front of them. Today, I didn't do so well."

Ahman Green has another type of tie to Holmgren. He was traded from the Seahawks to the Packers. "At the time, it was business," said Green, who gained 118 yards and scored two touchdowns. "He thought I should play for another team. It turned out to be a blessing, because Coach Sherman and the Packers gave me an opportunity."

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck once was a backup to Favre in Green Bay. "I talked to him before the game and then after the game," said Hasselbeck, who completed 23 of 39 for 225 yards. "I told him he had a great game, which he did, and he looked like a three-time NFL MVP. He was awesome.

"We played against a Hall of Fame quarterback today that had a Hall of Fame game. Maybe the game would have been closer, but it is tough to win when Brett Favre is having a Brett Favre day."

Favre completed 19 of 25 for 185 yards and two touchdowns. The man whose defense failed to stop him was former Packer coach Ray Rhodes, now Holmgren's defensive coordinator.

Record setters

Green became the Lambeau Field all time rusher with 2,344 yards. He passed Dorsey Levens, who had 2,315 yards. Green also moved into fifth place on the Packers' all-time list of rushing touchdown leaders with 33. He passed Ted Fritsch, who had 31 rushing TDs.

Favre also recorded his 118th win, surpassing Joe Montana to move into fifth place on the all-time NFL winningest quarterback list.

Players of the Game

Green and Favre get the main honors for the performances mentioned above.

Also give a mention to Donald Driver, who caught seven passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, and rookie middle linebacker Nick Barnett, who was in on 12 tackles.

Plays of the Game

A fumble recovery by Marques Anderson on the Seahawks' first series set up the first Packers' touchdown and established an early tone.

Darren Sharper's interception in the third quarter set up a Packers' touchdown that made it 35-13. A pass interference penalty by Ken Lucas on that touchdown drive made the score much easier.

Goats of the Game

Lucas deserves a set of horns for that crucial pass interference penalty. Shaun Alexander gained 102 yards rushing for the Seahawks, but that early fumble hurt Seattle.

Next week

Favre said it best. "It doesn't get any easier," the star quarterback noted.

The Packers host the Kansas City Chiefs, and star Priest Holmes, at noon on Sunday. Green said he is looking forward to the matchup with Holmes, one of the top runners in the game.

"It's an honor really to have him in our stadium," Green said. "We do the same job. We get hit from all angles. He understands my pain, and I understand his. It should be a great game."

Gregg Hoffmann writes On The Pack after every Packers game and The State Sports Buzz on Thursdays, exclusively on OMC.