Vonnie Holliday broke into tears late in the Packers' 10-0 win over the Bills Sunday. They were tears of joy and sorrow.

Holliday had just set a Packers' single game sack record with five and had been the key player in the last regular season home game. That, and the fact the Pack stayed in the battle for home field advantage in the playoffs with the win, brought joy to Holliday.

But, on Saturday night, Holliday's second cousin, 16-year-old Marcus Warren, died from a congenital heart problem while playing a high school basketball game in South Carolina. That naturally brought sorrow.

"I had a late night with my family," Holliday said in the post-game press conference. "We really didn't get much sleep. My little cousin, the next superstar in the family, died tragically last night, and all of this was for him.

"God gave me the strength and no doubt he was there helping. I just have to believe that he was with me. When I was out there, everything was happening in slow motion."

Holliday had many relatives in Green Bay for the game. He had to tell them about Warren's death. "It was very difficult," he said. "I've known these kids for our whole lives."

Teammate Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila lost a parent earlier this season and has played inspired football since. "I talked to Kabeer today," Holliday said. "You want to be a good friend and teammate, but until you go through something you can't really identify. I told him how much I appreciate his effort the last few weeks, since now I know what he is going through."

Holliday has played much of the season with shoulder and knee problems. He felt good physically Sunday. "That was part of the emotions in the fourth quarter too," he said. "There were a lot of emotions that became overwhelming."

After the season, Holliday's contract also is up. He was asked if he thought his record performance would increase his negotiating power.

"I don't know what's going to happen with the contract," he said. "I don't really want to worry about it while we are still playing."

Incomplete or Fumble?

Ahman Green has never been so happy about dropping a pass. The Packers' running back looked like he might have fumbled as his team drove for the end zone with the score 3-0 in the fourth quarter. The Bills' Nate Clements picked up the ball and headed down field.

But, a whistle stopped Clements, as the officials ruled the play an incomplete pass. Buffalo coaches and players protested, but the play was not reviewed.

"They saw the screen and came up on me," said Green, who ran for 116 yards on 26 carries. "They hit me before I had time to get the ball situated. I'm pretty sure I didn't have it. As soon as I turned, they hit me and the ball was loose."

On the next play, Brett Favre passed 11 yards to Donald Driver for the only touchdown of the game.

Weather conditions played a big part in turning the contest into a defensive battle. "The win was blowing hard down there, and field conditions got worse as the game went on," Green said. "All you could do is get three yards there, and two yards here. You just tried to get yards in chunks."

On the fourth quarter scoring drive, Green gained 28 yards on one off tackle play. "Like I said, you just tried to get yards in chunks. There, I got a bigger chunk," he said.

Green's 116 yards moved him past Paul Hornung into seventh place on the all-time Packers rushing list with 3,735 yards. He also moved into second place on the team's list of games over 100 yards with 14. Only Jim Taylor, who gained 100 or more 26 times, ranks ahead of Green.

"Those things will probably mean a lot to me when I stop playing this game," Green said. "They are things I can brag to my grandkids about, but right now I'm more interested in scoring touchdowns and helping this team win football games."

Players of the Game

Holliday gets the main honor. Fellow defensive players Cletidus Hunt and Na'il Diggs get special mention for fumble recoveries and their overall play. Give Green the offensive award.

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Plays of the Game

Green's dropped pass/fumble has to be named the biggest play of the game. This writer thought the Packers got a break and it was a fumble.

There were other big plays. Of course, Favre's pass to Driver and Ryan Longwell's field goal were big because they were the only scores in the contest. By the way, Longwell's field goal was his 16th straight at Lambeau Field and came on a very tough day to kick -- with a strong swirling wind and deteriorating field conditions.

A missed field goal by Buffalo that would have tied the score 3-3 is another key play.

All five of Holliday's sacks should be listed. Two led to fumbles.

Goat of the Game

The Bills' Drew Bledsoe fumbled four times and had two interceptions. That gets him the set of horns.

Next week

The Packers can't afford to let up next week, when they travel to New York to meet the Jets. They could play without safety Darren Sharper, although coach Mike Sherman said he hoped Sharper's knee, injured early in the game, would heal in time for the game.

Depending on the last week's results with the Pack, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, the next game at Lambeau could be against a wild card team on either January 4 or 5, or after a bye on those dates and a game on Jan. 11 or 12. No matter when the Packers play, read about it in On The Pack.

Gregg Hoffmann writes On The Pack on days after Packers' games. He will resume The Milwaukee Sports Buzz column on January 3.