“Great start,” Hasselbeck said. “But that’s just the start of the game. You’ve got to finish it.”

On Green Bay’s first play, Grant caught a pass and fumbled. Then on Seattle’s first play, Shaun Alexander plunged in from the 1.

Grant didn’t do any better a minute later, when another fumble set up Hasselbeck’s 11-yard TD strike to Bobby Engram.

“I thought, ’Oh boy, this ain’t too good,”’ Favre said. “This is the exact game I didn’t want to be in.”

At that point, it seemed as if only a Lambeau leap of faith would bring back Green Bay. But when the snow started to pile up, so did the points for the Packers.

Favre joined Joe Montana as the lone players to pass for more than 5,000 yards in the postseason. Earlier this week, Favre admitted he was disappointed that he hadn’t performed better in some playoff games — in fact, he had lost four of his previous five, throwing 13 interceptions in that span.

Coach Mike McCarthy won in his first postseason game, leading the NFL’s youngest team to the next round.

The Seahawks fell to 0-8 in postseason road games since their only win, in 1983 when they beat Dan Marino and Miami in the AFC playoffs. The losing streak includes a loss in the Super Bowl two years ago.

Mike Roemer / AP Brett Favre reacts to a Green Bay touchdown during the first half.

It remains to be seen whether Seattle coach Mike Holmgren will return. At 59, the man who once guided Favre and the Packers to the Super Bowl title has recently dropped hints he might retire.

If he does, his final game will have come just a block or two from Holmgren Way, the street the city named in his honor.

Green Bay played its first postseason game in three seasons and it was classicly Lambeau.

During a coach’s challenge in the first quarter, sweepers ran out to clear the yardlines. That eventually became futile, and a snowplow tried to do the job.

“That’s kind of what you grow up doing. There’s a snowstorm, there’s no school, you’re out there in the front yard playing with your best friends,” Hasselbeck said.

Notes: Favre improved to 43-5 at Green Bay when the gametime temperature was 34 degrees or colder. It was 31 at kickoff. ... Grant lost one fumble all season before giving it away twice in the first 70 seconds. ... Former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch’s return to the field lasted only a few plays for Seattle. He hurt his left knee and did not return. “It’s a pretty good injury,” Holmgren said. Branch had not played since Dec. 26 because of a strained right calf.

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