NFL playoffs, 2002-03
Encyclopedia
The 2002-03 NFL playoffs
followed the 2002 NFL season
and concluded with Super Bowl XXXVII
.
Prior to the 2002-03 season, the league realigned its teams into eight divisions (four in each conference). Thus, the 12-team playoff format was modified. The league still abides by this updated system today:
As a result, a wild card team can no longer host a playoff game during the opening Wild Card round. Prior to the 2002-03 playoffs, a team could finish second in its division and host a playoff game by claiming the # 4 seed as a wild card team. The new rules meant that the #4 seed would be rewarded to a division champion and not a wild card team (non-division champion). Under the new system, a wild card team can host a playoff game only if the #5 and #6 seeds in one conference advance to a Conference Championship Game, in which case a #5 seed would host the game.
During the 2001-02 postseason
, the NFL experimented with playing Saturday prime time
playoff games. The league was pleased with the results, and decided to revise its entire playoff schedule beginning with the 2002 season. Wild Card and Divisional Saturday games continued to be played at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.EST, as they had in the previous season. Sunday wild card and divisional playoff games were moved from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST to 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.
The start times for the Conference Championship Games were also changed, from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST to 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively. The conferences would then begin to annually alternate between the early and late games, with the first game during this 2002-03 season being the NFC title game and the second the AFC title game. Since then, the NFC title game is first in even-numbered seasons (2002, 2004, etc.) and the AFC title game first in odd-numbered seasons (2003, 2005, etc.).
This change would also avoid the future possibility of having to reschedule a 9:30 a.m. PST / 10:30 a.m. MST Conference Championship Game if both contests took place in those time zones. Conference Championship Games in those time zones now start no earlier than 12:00 p.m. PST / 1:00 p.m. MST. When the Denver Broncos
and the San Francisco 49ers
hosted the AFC and NFC championship games during the 1989-90 playoffs
, the league moved both contests back an hour, but it also forced the networks to reluctantly change or move their prime time
lineups. Holding the games on separate days like in 1982-83 was rejected due to the short notice.
completed 19 of 25 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns as he led the Jets to a shutout victory over the Colts. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning
was limited to 14 out of 31 (45.2 percent) completions for 137 yards, with 2 interceptions.
On New York's fifth play of the game, fullback Richie Anderson
caught a screen pass
from Pennington and took off down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown, the longest play in Jets postseason history. Indianapolis responded by driving deep into Jets territory, with Manning completing three passes to Marvin Harrison
for 38 yards, but the drive stalled and Mike Vanderjagt
missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.
In the second quarter, Jets kicker John Hall
kicked a 41-yard field goal. Then Ray Mickens
recovered a fumble from Troy Walters
on the ensuing kickoff on the Colts 39-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Lamont Jordan
. Later in the period, the Jets increased their lead to 24-0 with Pennington's 4-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss
, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone with 37 seconds left in the half.
Early in the third quarter, Hall kicked another field goal on the end of a drive that was set up by a 70-yard kickoff return from receiver Chad Morton
. Later on, Pennington threw his third touchdown pass, a 3-yard toss to rookie tight end Chris Baker, and Jordan, who finished the game with 102 rushing yards, closed out the scoring with his second 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
passed for 117 yards and rushed for 64 yards. The Packers, playing without Pro Bowl
running back Ahman Green
, Pro Bowl
defensive back Darren Sharper
, and their top receiver Terry Glenn
, due to injuries, fell down 24-0 in the first half and could not recover. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre
threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, while Ryan Longwell
missed two field goals.
The Falcons stormed out to a 7-0 lead by driving 76 yards on the opening drive and scoring with Vick's 10-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Jefferson
. Then on the Packers next drive, Atlanta linebacker Mark Simoneau
blocked Josh Bidwell
's punt and Artie Ulmer
recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to increase their lead to 14-0. Later on, defensive back Tyrone Williams, a blocker on Green Bay's punt return team ran into returner Eric Metcalf
. As a result, Metcalf muffed the kick and Atlanta fullback George Layne
recovered the ball on Green Bay's 21-yard line. Packers coach Mike Sherman
did not challenge the call, a mistake considering replays showed the punted ball bouncing off a Falcons player's left shoulder. Sherman said he spoke with an official on the field, "but he [mistakenly] led me to believe it would not be reviewable.".http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2003/playoffs/news/2003/01/04/falcons_packers_ap/ Four plays after the turnover, T. J. Duckett's 6-yard touchdown run increased Atlanta's lead to 21-0. Green Bay responded by driving to a first and goal situation inside the Falcons 5-yard line, but on fourth down, Green was dropped for a 4-yard loss by nose tackle Ellis Johnson
. Then Vick led the Falcons 90 yards in 16 plays, and kicker Jay Feely
finished the drive with a 22-yard field goal on the last play of the half.
Favre threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver
at the end of the Packers opening second half drive, but Driver was knocked out of the game on the play, and the Packers could not score again.
, one of the most inexperienced quarterbacks ever to play in a postseason game, was overshadowed by journeyman quarterback Tommy Maddox
, who led the Steelers to 29 second half points to overcome a 17-point deficit. A 3-yard touchdown run by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
with 54 seconds left capped the game-winning 58-yard drive.
On the third play of the game, Holcomb completed an 83-yard pass to Kevin Johnson at the Steelers 1-yard line, setting up William Green's 1-yard touchdown run and giving the Browns a 7-0 lead after just 1:16 had elapsed in the game. In the second quarter, the Steelers turned the ball over three times in a span of 5 and 1/2 minutes: two interceptions by Browns defensive back Daylon McCutcheon
and a fumbled punt by returner Antwaan Randle El
that Cleveland converted into a 32-yard touchdown completion from Holcomb to receiver Dennis Northcutt
.
Randle El later made up for his mistake by returning a punt 66 yards for a touchdown, but the Browns responded with Phil Dawson
's 31-yard field goal on their next drive, giving them a 17-7 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, Holcomb's 15-yard touchdown pass to Northcut increased the Browns lead to 24-7. Later in the quarter, Maddox led the Steelers 66 yards, featuring a 24-yard completion by Randle El, and finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress
, cutting his team's deficit to 10 points with 3:50 left in the period. Then after another Dawson field goal, Maddox completed three passes to Randle El for gains of 20, 30, and 6 yards before finding tight end Jerame Tuman
with a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. But the Browns stormed back and scored with Holcomb's 22-yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis
, giving them a 33-21 lead after the 2-point conversion failed.
With 3:06 left in the game, Maddox finished off a 77-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward
, cutting the score to 33-28. The Browns tried to run out the clock on their ensuing possession, but Northcut dropped a potential first down catch on third down and 12, forcing his team to punt. Taking over at their own 42-yard line, Maddox threw to Burress for 24 yards, Ward for 10, Buress again for 17, and Ward again for 7 before Fuamatu-Ma'afala finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then Tuman scored the two point conversion to give the Steelers a 36-33 lead. The Browns attempted to drive for the tying field goal, but time expired in the game on Holcomb's 16-yard completion to Andre King at the Steelers 29-yard line.
Maddox finished the game with 30 of 48 completions for a franchise postseason record 367 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. Burress caught 6 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Ward caught 11 passes for 104 yards and a score. Randle El caught 5 passes for 85 yards and returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown. In his first career playoff game, Kelly Holcomb completed 26 of 43 passes for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Kevin Johnson caught 4 passes for 140 yards, while Northcutt caught 6 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.
In the first quarter, 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson
intercepted a pass from Kerry Collins
at the San Francisco 24-yard line after it bounced off the hands of running back Ron Dayne
. On the next play, 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia
threw a moderate pass to Terrell Owens
, who broke two tackles and took it 76 yards to the end zone. New York responded with an 11-play, 65 yard drive, that ended with Collins' 12-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer
, tying the game at 7.
In the second quarter, the Giants stormed 61 yards in five plays, featuring 29-yard run by Tiki Barber
. After that, Collins completed a 27-yard pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey
, and capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to him one play later. But the 49ers responded with an unconventional 69-yard drive that featured two runs by Garcia for over 10 yards and a 25-yard completion from Owens to receiver Tai Streets
on a reverse-pass play. Running back Kevan Barlow
completed the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game. However, two key 49ers turnovers allowed the Giants to go into their locker room at halftime with a 28-14 lead. First, the Giants were forced to punt on their ensuing possession, but returner Cedrick Wilson
muffed the kick and New York's Johnnie Harris recovered the ball on the 49ers 8-yard line. Collins then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Toomer on the next play. After the ensuing kickoff, defensive back Jason Sehorn
picked off a pass from Garcia at New York's 44-yard line. Two plays later on third down and 8, Collins completed a 30-yard pass to Barber, and followed it up with a 24-yard touchdown completion to Toomer with just 10 seconds left in the half.
The Giants continued to build their lead in the second half. Five minutes into the third quarter, San Francisco turned the ball over on downs at the Giants 46-yard line, but at a cost, as defensive end Kenny Holmes
suffered a game-ending injury while making the tackle on fourth down. New York subsequently moved the ball 54 yards in six plays. Barber rushed for 37 yards on the drive and finished it with a 6-yard touchdown run, increasing the Giants lead to 35-14. Later in the quarter, Collins' 46-yard completion to Toomer set up a 21-yard field goal from kicker Matt Bryant
, making the score 38-14 with 4:27 left in the third period. However, the field goal came after Shockey dropped a potential touchdown catch in the end zone.
San Francisco stormed back, driving 70 yards in 7 plays on a drive that consumed only 2:24 and ended with Garcia's 26-yard touchdown pass to Owens. Owens added a 2-point conversion catch on the next play, cutting the 49ers deficit to 38-22. After the play, an iconic scene of defensive lineman Michael Strahan
walking over to Owens and pointing to the scoreboard to remind him of the deficit they still faced would be a highlight of the game.
New York was forced to punt after three plays on their next drive. Matt Allen
's short kick and a 15-yard personal foul against Dhani Jones
for hitting the returner after a fair catch gave San Francisco the ball on the Giants 27-yard line. Two plays later, Garcia scored on a 14-yard touchdown run, and then completed another two point conversion pass to Owens, cutting the score to 38-30 five seconds into the fourth quarter.
After forcing New York to punt once again, the 49ers drove 74 yards in 15 plays, including a 3-yard reception by Streets on fourth down and 1, and scored with a 25-yard field goal by Jeff Chandler. The Giants responded with a drive to the San Francisco 20-yard line, but with 3:01 left in the game, a poor snap from 41-year old Trey Junkin
, who had been signed back out of retirement less than a week before the game, threw off the timing on Bryant's 42-yard field goal attempt and it went wide left. Garcia then took over, converting two third downs, one of them a 25-yard completion to tight end Eric Johnson, and rushing for 12 yards on the way to a 13-yard touchdown pass to Streets. This time, the two point conversion failed when Will Allen intercepted Garcia's pass intended for Owens, but the 49ers took the lead, 39-38, with 1 minute left in regulation.
The touchdown and 2-point conversion plays resulted in offsetting personal fouls on both teams after they ended. After the touchdown, Ownes was flagged for taunting safety Shaun Williams
, while Williams was flagged shoving him to the ground in response. Then after the two point conversion, Owens was penalized for a late hit on Allen, which started a brawl between both teams. During the altercation, Williams was penalized and ejected from the game for throwing a punch at 49ers center Jeremy Newberry
.
However, the Giants did have a chance to win. Delvin Joyce returned Chandler's short kickoff 32 yards to the 47-yard line. Collins then led them to the 49ers 23-yard line with 6 seconds left. But Junkin botched a snap for a 41-yard field goal attempt, resulting in a feeble pass play that fell incomplete. The Giants were also called for having an illegal man downfield on the play, and the game ended. The following day, it was revealed that the penalized player (guard Rich Seubert
) had in fact checked in as an eligible receiver before the field goal attempt, although a different Giant lineman actually was illegally downfield. NFL Vice President of officiating Mike Pereira
admitted pass interference also should have been called on 49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor
for pulling down Seubert. Had the two right calls been made, the down would have been replayed at the previous spot, the San Francisco 23.
Garcia threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, while also leading the 49ers on the ground with 60 rushing yards and another score. Owens caught 9 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also scored two 2-point conversions and completed a 25-yard pass. Collins threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception. Toomer caught 8 passes for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns. Barber rushed for 115 yards, caught 5 passes for 62 yards, and scored a touchdown.
This was featured on NFL's Greatest Games
as One Wild Finish
. After missing the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time, and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington
, Nedney won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. Steelers coach Bill Cowher
was incensed, saying he called a timeout before the winning kick took place.
Earlier in the game, the Titans jumped to an early 14-0 lead with touchdowns from Eddie George
and Steve McNair
before the Steelers converted three turnovers into 20 points. Two of the turnovers were fumbles by George, who had not fumbled all season, and his second one was converted into a 31-yard touchdown run by Amos Zereoue
. But Tennessee stormed right back, going into a no-huddle offense and scoring twice in a span of five minutes with McNair's touchdown passes to tight ends Frank Wycheck
and Erron Kinney, giving them a 28-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, a 21-yard Hines Ward
touchdown reception and subsequent two-point conversion
tied the game at 28. The teams traded field goals late in the final period to send the game into overtime, following a missed 48-yard field goal by Nedney on the last play in regulation.
In the first overtime period, referee Ron Blum announced that each team had three timeouts. This caused some confusion because, compared with the regular season, overtime in the postseason utilizes slightly different rules.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2003/playoffs/news/2003/01/11/steelers_titans_ap/ The Titans took the opening kickoff and drove inside the Steelers 20-yard line, only to have Nedney miss a field goal again, this time from 31 yards. But Washington was penalized for running into Nedney, and the second kick was good to win the game.
Wycheck finished the game with 10 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground.
and Michael Vick never materialized, as the Eagles' defense sacked Vick (himself now an Eagle) three times and intercepted him twice, including Bobby Taylor
's 39-yard return for a touchdown.
With the Eagles leading 13-0 in the second quarter, Vick tried to rally his team back. First he led them 61 yards in 13 plays to score on a Jay Feely
field goal with 4:10 left in the half. Then after forcing a punt, Vick ran for 20 yards and completed a 16-yard pass to Brian Finneran
to set up a 52-yard field goal from Feely, making the score 13-6 by halftime. But in the third quarter, a 20-yard touchdown run by Vick that could have tied the game was called back by a holding penalty on Travis Claridge
, and Feely missed a 37-yard field goal a few plays later. The Eagles then put the game away in the fourth quarter with McNabb's 35-yard touchdown pass to James Thrash
with 6:26 left in regulation. McNabb finished with 20 of 30 completions for 247 yards and a touchdown, along with 24 rushing yards.This would be the last ever win for the Eagles at the Vet.
, who had been sidelined for a month, returned to throw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Mike Alstott
scored two touchdowns, while the Buccaneers held onto the ball for 36:46 and held the 49ers to a season low 228 yards. This was San Francisco's first playoff game without a touchdown since 1986.
Despite San Francisco's 10-6 record and their wildcard playoff win against New York, coach Steve Mariucci
was fired three days after this game.
's dream season came to an end as the Jets quarterback threw two interceptions, lost two fumbles, and was sacked four times (twice by Rod Coleman
). Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon
threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns as Oakland pulled away from a 10-10 halftime tie by forcing four consecutive turnovers and scoring twenty consecutive second half points.
Aided by a 15-yard run from Curtis Martin
and a 20-yard pass interference penalty on Charles Woodson
, John Hall
's 38-yard field goal gave the Jets an early 3-0 lead before he was matched by a 29-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski
to tie the game. On the Jets next drive, Oakland lineman Travian Smith
forced and recovered a fumble from Pennington on New York's 27-yard line. On the next play, running back Charlie Garner
fumbled the ball, but Oakland guard Frank Middleton
recovered it, and fullback Zack Crockett
ended up scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. But Pennington led the Jets back, completing 8 of 9 passes for 51 yards on an 81-yard drive that took 7 minutes off the clock and ended with his 1-yard touchdown pass to Jerald Sowell
, tying the game with 22 seconds left in the first half.
Early in the third quarter, Raiders defensive back Tory James
intercepted a pass from Pennington on the Jets 45-yard line. Gannon then went downfield, hitting Tim Brown with a 16-yard completion and then throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice
. New York turned the ball over on downs with their next possession, and Gannon once again went to work, completing a 50-yard strike to Jerry Porter and finishing the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Rice, increasing the Raiders lead to 24-10. The Jets turned the ball over again when Richie Anderson
fumbled a handoff on their ensuing drive. New York defensive back Damien Robinson
intercepted a pass from Gannon on the next play, but Oakland's Eric Barton
returned the favor with an interception of his own, setting up a 34-yard Janikowski field goal. Janikowski later added another field goal with less than five minutes left in the game.
Eagles running back Brian Mitchell returned the opening kickoff 70 yards, setting up a 20-yard touchdown run by Duce Staley
less than a minute into the game. Tampa Bay responded with Martin Gramatica
's 48-yard field goal on their ensuing drive. At the end of Philadelphia's next possession, Lee Johnson's punt pinned the Buccaneers back at their own 4-yard line. But Tampa Bay stormed 96 yards and scored with Mike Alstott
's 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead. The key play on the drive was a 71-yard completion from Brad Johnson
to Joe Jurevicius
on third down and two from their own 24-yard line.
David Akers
tied the score, 10-10, with a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but the Bucs responded with an 80-yard, 12-play drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson
. With time running out in the half, Donovan McNabb
led the Eagles to the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, only to lose a fumble while being sacked by his high school teammate Simeon Rice
, who stripped the ball away and recovered it himself.
On the Eagles' first drive of the third quarter, McNabb lost another fumble due to a tackle from defensive back Ronde Barber
, and Bucs lineman Ellis Wyms
recovered it. Later on, with 1:02 left in the third period, Gramatica's 27-yard field goal increased the Tampa Bay lead to 20-10. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles managed to drive 73 yards to Tampa Bay's 10-yard line, but Barber intercepted McNabb's pass with 3:12 left in the game and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
This was the last Eagles game ever played at Veterans Stadium which was demolished following the 2003 Major League Baseball season
. In a Sports Illustrated
list of the worst losses in Philadelphia sports history since the city's last title in 1983
, this game was ranked first.
. And Gannon proved to be up to the task, leading the Raiders to victory with 286 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 41 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries.
Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter scored first four minutes into the game, but the Titans countered with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Steve McNair
to Drew Bennett
to tie it up five minutes later. Oakland struck back with 12-yard touchdown catch by Charlie Garner
before a 29-yard field goal from Joe Nedney
and a McNair touchdown run gave the Titans a three point lead late in the second quarter.
Then things fell apart for Tennessee. Backed up at their own 11-yard line by a Shane Lechler
punt and simply trying to run out the clock, running back Robert Holcombe
fumbled the ball while being tackled by Raiders linebacker Eric Barton
, and defensive back Anthony Dorsett
, who was a member of the Titans 1999 Super Bowl squad, recovered the ball at the Tennessee 16-yard line. On the next play, Jerry Rice
caught a 15-yard reception at the 1-yard line, and then Gannon found Doug Jolley
in the back of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass, giving the Raiders a 21-17 lead. Then on the ensuing kickoff, rookie returner John Simon was stripped of the ball by Tim Johnson and Alvis Whitted
recovered the fumble for Oakland on the Titans 39-yard line, setting up a 43-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski
on the last play of the first half.
Tennessee took the second half kickoff and drove all the way to the Raiders 22-yard line before McNair was sacked on third down by John Parrella
. Because Nedney had been injured making a tackle in the second quarter, Titans coach Jeff Fisher
decided to punt rather than attempt a field goal, but due to a bad snap, punter Craig Hentrich
was unable to make the kick and was downed at the Titans 19-yard line. A few plays later, Janikowski kicked another field goal to make the score 27-17. This time, the Titans managed to resond, driving 67 yards and scoring with McNair's 13-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 27-24. But the Raiders responded with a 66-yard drive, capped off with a 2-yard touchdown run by Gannon in the fourth quarter. Fullback Zack Crockett
later added a 7-yard touchdown run to put the game away.
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
followed the 2002 NFL season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
and concluded with Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
.
Prior to the 2002-03 season, the league realigned its teams into eight divisions (four in each conference). Thus, the 12-team playoff format was modified. The league still abides by this updated system today:
- The four division champions are seeded 1 through 4 based on their regular season won-lost-tied record.
- Two "wild card" qualifiers (those non-division champions with the conference's best won-lost-tied percentages) are seeded 5 and 6 within the conference.
As a result, a wild card team can no longer host a playoff game during the opening Wild Card round. Prior to the 2002-03 playoffs, a team could finish second in its division and host a playoff game by claiming the # 4 seed as a wild card team. The new rules meant that the #4 seed would be rewarded to a division champion and not a wild card team (non-division champion). Under the new system, a wild card team can host a playoff game only if the #5 and #6 seeds in one conference advance to a Conference Championship Game, in which case a #5 seed would host the game.
During the 2001-02 postseason
NFL playoffs, 2001-02
The NFL playoffs following the 2001 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVI.For the first time, the NFL scheduled prime time playoff games for the first two rounds in an attempt to attract more television viewers. Saturday wild card and divisional playoff games were moved from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00...
, the NFL experimented with playing Saturday prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
playoff games. The league was pleased with the results, and decided to revise its entire playoff schedule beginning with the 2002 season. Wild Card and Divisional Saturday games continued to be played at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.EST, as they had in the previous season. Sunday wild card and divisional playoff games were moved from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST to 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.
The start times for the Conference Championship Games were also changed, from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST to 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively. The conferences would then begin to annually alternate between the early and late games, with the first game during this 2002-03 season being the NFC title game and the second the AFC title game. Since then, the NFC title game is first in even-numbered seasons (2002, 2004, etc.) and the AFC title game first in odd-numbered seasons (2003, 2005, etc.).
This change would also avoid the future possibility of having to reschedule a 9:30 a.m. PST / 10:30 a.m. MST Conference Championship Game if both contests took place in those time zones. Conference Championship Games in those time zones now start no earlier than 12:00 p.m. PST / 1:00 p.m. MST. When the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
hosted the AFC and NFC championship games during the 1989-90 playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1989-90
The NFL playoffs following the 1989 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIV.This was the last season in which the NFL used a 10-team playoff format. The league would expand the playoffs to 12 teams next season....
, the league moved both contests back an hour, but it also forced the networks to reluctantly change or move their prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
lineups. Holding the games on separate days like in 1982-83 was rejected due to the short notice.
AFC: New York Jets 41, Indianapolis Colts 0
In his playoff debut, quarterback Chad PenningtonChad Pennington
James Chadwick "Chad" Pennington is an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for ten years. He is currently a football analyst with FOX Sports though he plans to return to playing after recovering from an injury...
completed 19 of 25 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns as he led the Jets to a shutout victory over the Colts. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
was limited to 14 out of 31 (45.2 percent) completions for 137 yards, with 2 interceptions.
On New York's fifth play of the game, fullback Richie Anderson
Richie Anderson
Richard Darnoll Anderson is a former American football Fullback who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for the New York Jets from 1994–2002 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-2004. He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 2001...
caught a screen pass
Screen pass
A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, a number of things happen concurrently in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen. Screens are usually deployed...
from Pennington and took off down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown, the longest play in Jets postseason history. Indianapolis responded by driving deep into Jets territory, with Manning completing three passes to Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison
Marvin Daniel Harrison is a former American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse...
for 38 yards, but the drive stalled and Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.
In the second quarter, Jets kicker John Hall
John Hall (American football)
John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
kicked a 41-yard field goal. Then Ray Mickens
Ray Mickens
Ray Mickens is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Mickens and his wife, Nicole, have a daughter, Kamray, and two sons, Ray Jr and Trayvon...
recovered a fumble from Troy Walters
Troy Walters
Troy McHenry Walters is a retired American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League. He was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Stanford University by the Minnesota Vikings. He has also played for the...
on the ensuing kickoff on the Colts 39-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Lamont Jordan
LaMont Jordan
LaMont Damon Jordan is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. Later in the period, the Jets increased their lead to 24-0 with Pennington's 4-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss
Santana Moss
Santana Terrell Moss is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early years:...
, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone with 37 seconds left in the half.
Early in the third quarter, Hall kicked another field goal on the end of a drive that was set up by a 70-yard kickoff return from receiver Chad Morton
Chad Morton
Chad Akio Morton is a former American football running back and kick/punt returner in the National Football League...
. Later on, Pennington threw his third touchdown pass, a 3-yard toss to rookie tight end Chris Baker, and Jordan, who finished the game with 102 rushing yards, closed out the scoring with his second 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
NFC: Atlanta Falcons 27, Green Bay Packers 7
The Packers suffered their first home playoff loss as the Falcons forced five turnovers and limited Green Bay to only one touchdown. 22-year-old quarterback Michael VickMichael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
passed for 117 yards and rushed for 64 yards. The Packers, playing without Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
running back Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
defensive back Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper
Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary....
, and their top receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
, due to injuries, fell down 24-0 in the first half and could not recover. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, while Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
missed two field goals.
The Falcons stormed out to a 7-0 lead by driving 76 yards on the opening drive and scoring with Vick's 10-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
. Then on the Packers next drive, Atlanta linebacker Mark Simoneau
Mark Simoneau
Mark Lee Simoneau is a former American football linebacker who played for ten seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Kansas State and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played for the Falcons from 2000–2002, before he was...
blocked Josh Bidwell
Josh Bidwell
Joshua John Bidwell is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
's punt and Artie Ulmer
Artie Ulmer
Charles Artie Ulmer is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings , the Denver Broncos , the San Francisco 49ers , and the Atlanta Falcons ....
recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to increase their lead to 14-0. Later on, defensive back Tyrone Williams, a blocker on Green Bay's punt return team ran into returner Eric Metcalf
Eric Metcalf
Eric Quinn Metcalf is a former American football running back and wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Browns, Falcons, Chargers, Cardinals, Panthers, Redskins and Packers...
. As a result, Metcalf muffed the kick and Atlanta fullback George Layne
George Layne
George Langford Layne is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft but never played for them. He played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers....
recovered the ball on Green Bay's 21-yard line. Packers coach Mike Sherman
Mike Sherman
Michael Francis "Mike" Sherman is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Prior to coaching the Aggies, he served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from the 2000–05 seasons. Sherman led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04 and three divisional titles...
did not challenge the call, a mistake considering replays showed the punted ball bouncing off a Falcons player's left shoulder. Sherman said he spoke with an official on the field, "but he [mistakenly] led me to believe it would not be reviewable.".http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2003/playoffs/news/2003/01/04/falcons_packers_ap/ Four plays after the turnover, T. J. Duckett's 6-yard touchdown run increased Atlanta's lead to 21-0. Green Bay responded by driving to a first and goal situation inside the Falcons 5-yard line, but on fourth down, Green was dropped for a 4-yard loss by nose tackle Ellis Johnson
Ellis Johnson (defensive lineman)
Ellis Bernard Johnson is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League for ten seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
. Then Vick led the Falcons 90 yards in 16 plays, and kicker Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
finished the drive with a 22-yard field goal on the last play of the half.
Favre threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver
Donald Driver
Donald Jerome Driver is an American football wide receiver and children's author. He plays for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
at the end of the Packers opening second half drive, but Driver was knocked out of the game on the play, and the Packers could not score again.
AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 36, Cleveland Browns 33
An amazing performance from Browns quarterback Kelly HolcombKelly Holcomb
Bryan Kelly Holcomb is a former American football quarterback of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 1995...
, one of the most inexperienced quarterbacks ever to play in a postseason game, was overshadowed by journeyman quarterback Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
, who led the Steelers to 29 second half points to overcome a 17-point deficit. A 3-yard touchdown run by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is a retired American football running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the University of Utah.-Early...
with 54 seconds left capped the game-winning 58-yard drive.
On the third play of the game, Holcomb completed an 83-yard pass to Kevin Johnson at the Steelers 1-yard line, setting up William Green's 1-yard touchdown run and giving the Browns a 7-0 lead after just 1:16 had elapsed in the game. In the second quarter, the Steelers turned the ball over three times in a span of 5 and 1/2 minutes: two interceptions by Browns defensive back Daylon McCutcheon
Daylon McCutcheon
Daylon McCutcheon is a retired National Football League cornerback who played his entire career with the Cleveland Browns-High school career:...
and a fumbled punt by returner Antwaan Randle El
Antwaan Randle El
Antwaan Randle El is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He attended Indiana University, after turning down a Major League Baseball draft selection by the Chicago Cubs in 1997...
that Cleveland converted into a 32-yard touchdown completion from Holcomb to receiver Dennis Northcutt
Dennis Northcutt
Dennis LaMont Northcutt is an American football wide receiver and punt returner who last played for the Detroit Lions...
.
Randle El later made up for his mistake by returning a punt 66 yards for a touchdown, but the Browns responded with Phil Dawson
Phil Dawson
Philip Drury Dawson is an American football placekicker for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League. He holds the franchise record for most field goals made, passing Hall of Famer Lou Groza in 2010...
's 31-yard field goal on their next drive, giving them a 17-7 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, Holcomb's 15-yard touchdown pass to Northcut increased the Browns lead to 24-7. Later in the quarter, Maddox led the Steelers 66 yards, featuring a 24-yard completion by Randle El, and finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, cutting his team's deficit to 10 points with 3:50 left in the period. Then after another Dawson field goal, Maddox completed three passes to Randle El for gains of 20, 30, and 6 yards before finding tight end Jerame Tuman
Jerame Tuman
Jerame Dean Tuman is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
with a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. But the Browns stormed back and scored with Holcomb's 22-yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis
André Davis
André N. Davis is a American football wide receiver and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, giving them a 33-21 lead after the 2-point conversion failed.
With 3:06 left in the game, Maddox finished off a 77-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
, cutting the score to 33-28. The Browns tried to run out the clock on their ensuing possession, but Northcut dropped a potential first down catch on third down and 12, forcing his team to punt. Taking over at their own 42-yard line, Maddox threw to Burress for 24 yards, Ward for 10, Buress again for 17, and Ward again for 7 before Fuamatu-Ma'afala finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then Tuman scored the two point conversion to give the Steelers a 36-33 lead. The Browns attempted to drive for the tying field goal, but time expired in the game on Holcomb's 16-yard completion to Andre King at the Steelers 29-yard line.
Maddox finished the game with 30 of 48 completions for a franchise postseason record 367 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. Burress caught 6 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Ward caught 11 passes for 104 yards and a score. Randle El caught 5 passes for 85 yards and returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown. In his first career playoff game, Kelly Holcomb completed 26 of 43 passes for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Kevin Johnson caught 4 passes for 140 yards, while Northcutt caught 6 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.
NFC: San Francisco 49ers 39, New York Giants 38
The Steelers' comeback earlier in the day was matched by San Francisco's similar late drive, overcoming a 38-14 deficit by scoring 25 unanswered points in the second half.In the first quarter, 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson
Julian Peterson
Julian Thomas Peterson is a free agent linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State...
intercepted a pass from Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
at the San Francisco 24-yard line after it bounced off the hands of running back Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
. On the next play, 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia
Jeffrey Jason "Jeff" Garcia is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State University....
threw a moderate pass to Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
, who broke two tackles and took it 76 yards to the end zone. New York responded with an 11-play, 65 yard drive, that ended with Collins' 12-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer is a retired American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a fan favorite.Toomer has also been a member of the Kansas...
, tying the game at 7.
In the second quarter, the Giants stormed 61 yards in five plays, featuring 29-yard run by Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
. After that, Collins completed a 27-yard pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Charles Shockey is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, and capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to him one play later. But the 49ers responded with an unconventional 69-yard drive that featured two runs by Garcia for over 10 yards and a 25-yard completion from Owens to receiver Tai Streets
Tai Streets
Tai Streets is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League . He was selected with the second pick of the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Detroit Lions in 2004. He was the leading receiver for the...
on a reverse-pass play. Running back Kevan Barlow
Kevan Barlow
Kevan C. Barlow is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
completed the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game. However, two key 49ers turnovers allowed the Giants to go into their locker room at halftime with a 28-14 lead. First, the Giants were forced to punt on their ensuing possession, but returner Cedrick Wilson
Cedrick Wilson
Cedrick Wilson is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
muffed the kick and New York's Johnnie Harris recovered the ball on the 49ers 8-yard line. Collins then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Toomer on the next play. After the ensuing kickoff, defensive back Jason Sehorn
Jason Sehorn
Jason Heath Sehorn is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League.-Early years:Sehorn was born in Sacramento, California...
picked off a pass from Garcia at New York's 44-yard line. Two plays later on third down and 8, Collins completed a 30-yard pass to Barber, and followed it up with a 24-yard touchdown completion to Toomer with just 10 seconds left in the half.
The Giants continued to build their lead in the second half. Five minutes into the third quarter, San Francisco turned the ball over on downs at the Giants 46-yard line, but at a cost, as defensive end Kenny Holmes
Kenny Holmes
Kenneth Jerome Holmes is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Oilers 18th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft...
suffered a game-ending injury while making the tackle on fourth down. New York subsequently moved the ball 54 yards in six plays. Barber rushed for 37 yards on the drive and finished it with a 6-yard touchdown run, increasing the Giants lead to 35-14. Later in the quarter, Collins' 46-yard completion to Toomer set up a 21-yard field goal from kicker Matt Bryant
Matt Bryant
Steven Matt Bryant is an American football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy as a street free agent in 2002...
, making the score 38-14 with 4:27 left in the third period. However, the field goal came after Shockey dropped a potential touchdown catch in the end zone.
San Francisco stormed back, driving 70 yards in 7 plays on a drive that consumed only 2:24 and ended with Garcia's 26-yard touchdown pass to Owens. Owens added a 2-point conversion catch on the next play, cutting the 49ers deficit to 38-22. After the play, an iconic scene of defensive lineman Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
walking over to Owens and pointing to the scoreboard to remind him of the deficit they still faced would be a highlight of the game.
New York was forced to punt after three plays on their next drive. Matt Allen
Matt Allen
Matt Allen is a former American football punter in the NFL who played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Troy State.- NFL career :...
's short kick and a 15-yard personal foul against Dhani Jones
Dhani Jones
Dhani Makalani Jones is a former American football linebacker who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning All-Big Ten honors for three straight seasons. He was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of...
for hitting the returner after a fair catch gave San Francisco the ball on the Giants 27-yard line. Two plays later, Garcia scored on a 14-yard touchdown run, and then completed another two point conversion pass to Owens, cutting the score to 38-30 five seconds into the fourth quarter.
After forcing New York to punt once again, the 49ers drove 74 yards in 15 plays, including a 3-yard reception by Streets on fourth down and 1, and scored with a 25-yard field goal by Jeff Chandler. The Giants responded with a drive to the San Francisco 20-yard line, but with 3:01 left in the game, a poor snap from 41-year old Trey Junkin
Trey Junkin
Abner Kirk "Trey" Junkin III is a former American football linebacker, tight end, and long snapper in the National Football League...
, who had been signed back out of retirement less than a week before the game, threw off the timing on Bryant's 42-yard field goal attempt and it went wide left. Garcia then took over, converting two third downs, one of them a 25-yard completion to tight end Eric Johnson, and rushing for 12 yards on the way to a 13-yard touchdown pass to Streets. This time, the two point conversion failed when Will Allen intercepted Garcia's pass intended for Owens, but the 49ers took the lead, 39-38, with 1 minute left in regulation.
The touchdown and 2-point conversion plays resulted in offsetting personal fouls on both teams after they ended. After the touchdown, Ownes was flagged for taunting safety Shaun Williams
Shaun Williams
Shaun LeJon Williams is a former American football safety, most recently for the Carolina Panthers, of the National Football League. Williams attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California and played both tailback and safety. He won All-CIF Division I and Del Rey League MVP in his...
, while Williams was flagged shoving him to the ground in response. Then after the two point conversion, Owens was penalized for a late hit on Allen, which started a brawl between both teams. During the altercation, Williams was penalized and ejected from the game for throwing a punch at 49ers center Jeremy Newberry
Jeremy Newberry
Jeremy David Newberry is a former Center in the National Football League . He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
.
However, the Giants did have a chance to win. Delvin Joyce returned Chandler's short kickoff 32 yards to the 47-yard line. Collins then led them to the 49ers 23-yard line with 6 seconds left. But Junkin botched a snap for a 41-yard field goal attempt, resulting in a feeble pass play that fell incomplete. The Giants were also called for having an illegal man downfield on the play, and the game ended. The following day, it was revealed that the penalized player (guard Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Western Illinois University in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey.-High school career:...
) had in fact checked in as an eligible receiver before the field goal attempt, although a different Giant lineman actually was illegally downfield. NFL Vice President of officiating Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira is a former Vice President of Officiating for the National Football League . He first took over the position in 2001, succeeding Jerry Seeman. He was also a game official in the NFL for two seasons as a side judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Mike Carey...
admitted pass interference also should have been called on 49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor
Chike Okeafor
Chikezie Russell Okeafor is a professional American football player. During his National Football League career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end and linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals....
for pulling down Seubert. Had the two right calls been made, the down would have been replayed at the previous spot, the San Francisco 23.
Garcia threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, while also leading the 49ers on the ground with 60 rushing yards and another score. Owens caught 9 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also scored two 2-point conversions and completed a 25-yard pass. Collins threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception. Toomer caught 8 passes for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns. Barber rushed for 115 yards, caught 5 passes for 62 yards, and scored a touchdown.
This was featured on NFL's Greatest Games
NFL's Greatest Games
NFL's Greatest Games is a series of 90-minute television programs that air on NFL Network, ESPN and related networks. They are condensed versions of some of the most famous games in the history of the National Football League, using footage and sound captured by NFL Films, as well as original...
as One Wild Finish
AFC: Tennessee Titans 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 31 (OT)
The third time was the charm for Titans kicker Joe NedneyJoe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
. After missing the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time, and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington
Dewayne Washington
Dewayne Neron Washington is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings , the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Jacksonville Jaguars , and the Kansas City Chiefs...
, Nedney won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. Steelers coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
was incensed, saying he called a timeout before the winning kick took place.
Earlier in the game, the Titans jumped to an early 14-0 lead with touchdowns from Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
and Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
before the Steelers converted three turnovers into 20 points. Two of the turnovers were fumbles by George, who had not fumbled all season, and his second one was converted into a 31-yard touchdown run by Amos Zereoue
Amos Zereoue
Amos Zereoué is an African-born former American football player in the National Football League, who last played for the New England Patriots...
. But Tennessee stormed right back, going into a no-huddle offense and scoring twice in a span of five minutes with McNair's touchdown passes to tight ends Frank Wycheck
Frank Wycheck
Frank John Wycheck is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. Wycheck attended Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia. Drafted in sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland by the Washington Redskins...
and Erron Kinney, giving them a 28-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, a 21-yard Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
touchdown reception and subsequent two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
tied the game at 28. The teams traded field goals late in the final period to send the game into overtime, following a missed 48-yard field goal by Nedney on the last play in regulation.
In the first overtime period, referee Ron Blum announced that each team had three timeouts. This caused some confusion because, compared with the regular season, overtime in the postseason utilizes slightly different rules.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2003/playoffs/news/2003/01/11/steelers_titans_ap/ The Titans took the opening kickoff and drove inside the Steelers 20-yard line, only to have Nedney miss a field goal again, this time from 31 yards. But Washington was penalized for running into Nedney, and the second kick was good to win the game.
Wycheck finished the game with 10 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground.
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 20, Atlanta Falcons 6
The hyped quarterback duel between Donovan McNabbDonovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
and Michael Vick never materialized, as the Eagles' defense sacked Vick (himself now an Eagle) three times and intercepted him twice, including Bobby Taylor
Bobby Taylor (American football)
Robert Taylor, III is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks.-Early life:...
's 39-yard return for a touchdown.
With the Eagles leading 13-0 in the second quarter, Vick tried to rally his team back. First he led them 61 yards in 13 plays to score on a Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
field goal with 4:10 left in the half. Then after forcing a punt, Vick ran for 20 yards and completed a 16-yard pass to Brian Finneran
Brian Finneran
Brian Finneran is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1998...
to set up a 52-yard field goal from Feely, making the score 13-6 by halftime. But in the third quarter, a 20-yard touchdown run by Vick that could have tied the game was called back by a holding penalty on Travis Claridge
Travis Claridge
Travis Claridge was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he played for the Atlanta Falcons between 2000 and 2003 and for the Carolina Panthers in 2004....
, and Feely missed a 37-yard field goal a few plays later. The Eagles then put the game away in the fourth quarter with McNabb's 35-yard touchdown pass to James Thrash
James Thrash
James Thrash is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Missouri Southern State....
with 6:26 left in regulation. McNabb finished with 20 of 30 completions for 247 yards and a touchdown, along with 24 rushing yards.This would be the last ever win for the Eagles at the Vet.
NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, San Francisco 49ers 6
The Buccaneers, with the league's top ranked defense during the 2002 regular season, forced five turnovers, sacked quarterback Jeff Garcia four times, and limited the 49ers to only two field goals. Tampa Bay quarterback Brad JohnsonBrad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
, who had been sidelined for a month, returned to throw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
scored two touchdowns, while the Buccaneers held onto the ball for 36:46 and held the 49ers to a season low 228 yards. This was San Francisco's first playoff game without a touchdown since 1986.
Despite San Francisco's 10-6 record and their wildcard playoff win against New York, coach Steve Mariucci
Steve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
was fired three days after this game.
AFC: Oakland Raiders 30, New York Jets 10
Chad PenningtonChad Pennington
James Chadwick "Chad" Pennington is an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for ten years. He is currently a football analyst with FOX Sports though he plans to return to playing after recovering from an injury...
's dream season came to an end as the Jets quarterback threw two interceptions, lost two fumbles, and was sacked four times (twice by Rod Coleman
Rod Coleman
Roderick Dwayne Coleman is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
). Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns as Oakland pulled away from a 10-10 halftime tie by forcing four consecutive turnovers and scoring twenty consecutive second half points.
Aided by a 15-yard run from Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
and a 20-yard pass interference penalty on Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
, John Hall
John Hall (American football)
John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
's 38-yard field goal gave the Jets an early 3-0 lead before he was matched by a 29-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
to tie the game. On the Jets next drive, Oakland lineman Travian Smith
Travian Smith
Travian Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma....
forced and recovered a fumble from Pennington on New York's 27-yard line. On the next play, running back Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner III is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
fumbled the ball, but Oakland guard Frank Middleton
Frank Middleton
Frank Middleton is a former American football player who played Offensive guard for eight seasons in the NFL. Middleton was drafted in 1997 in the 3rd round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
recovered it, and fullback Zack Crockett
Zack Crockett
Zack Crockett is a scout for the Oakland Raiders and former American football fullback who is a retired NFL player. He was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Crockett attended Ely High...
ended up scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. But Pennington led the Jets back, completing 8 of 9 passes for 51 yards on an 81-yard drive that took 7 minutes off the clock and ended with his 1-yard touchdown pass to Jerald Sowell
Jerald Sowell
Jerald Monye Sowell is an American Football fullback. He played his college ball at Tulane.-College years and early NFL career:...
, tying the game with 22 seconds left in the first half.
Early in the third quarter, Raiders defensive back Tory James
Tory James
Tory James is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League.James attended Archbishop Shaw High School before going to college at Louisiana State University, and was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
intercepted a pass from Pennington on the Jets 45-yard line. Gannon then went downfield, hitting Tim Brown with a 16-yard completion and then throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
. New York turned the ball over on downs with their next possession, and Gannon once again went to work, completing a 50-yard strike to Jerry Porter and finishing the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Rice, increasing the Raiders lead to 24-10. The Jets turned the ball over again when Richie Anderson
Richie Anderson
Richard Darnoll Anderson is a former American football Fullback who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for the New York Jets from 1994–2002 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-2004. He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 2001...
fumbled a handoff on their ensuing drive. New York defensive back Damien Robinson
Damien Robinson
Damien Robinson is a former safety of the NFL. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks. He attended college at the University of Iowa....
intercepted a pass from Gannon on the next play, but Oakland's Eric Barton
Eric Barton
Eric Barton is a former American football linebacker who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Maryland before he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
returned the favor with an interception of his own, setting up a 34-yard Janikowski field goal. Janikowski later added another field goal with less than five minutes left in the game.
NFC Championship: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10
A game that is now known as Black Sunday in Philadelphia's sports lore, Tampa Bay won on the road for the first time in playoff history, and in temperatures below 32°F (0°C), in the last football game played at Veterans Stadium. The Eagles were heavy favorites at home going into the game. The Eagles had beaten the Buccaneers four consecutive times, in the wild card round the two previous seasons, and also during regular-season games in 2001 and 2002. During the two playoff losses, both at Veterans Stadium, Tampa Bay had failed to score a single touchdown.Eagles running back Brian Mitchell returned the opening kickoff 70 yards, setting up a 20-yard touchdown run by Duce Staley
Duce Staley
Duce Staley is a former American football running back in the National Football League best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at University of South Carolina...
less than a minute into the game. Tampa Bay responded with Martin Gramatica
Martin Gramatica
Martín Gramática is an Argentine-American former football placekicker.Gramática was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft after playing college football at Kansas State, and has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Dallas...
's 48-yard field goal on their ensuing drive. At the end of Philadelphia's next possession, Lee Johnson's punt pinned the Buccaneers back at their own 4-yard line. But Tampa Bay stormed 96 yards and scored with Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
's 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead. The key play on the drive was a 71-yard completion from Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
to Joe Jurevicius
Joe Jurevicius
Joseph Michael Jurevicius is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State....
on third down and two from their own 24-yard line.
David Akers
David Akers
David Roy Akers is a left footed American football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. He played college football at Louisville....
tied the score, 10-10, with a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but the Bucs responded with an 80-yard, 12-play drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
. With time running out in the half, Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
led the Eagles to the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, only to lose a fumble while being sacked by his high school teammate Simeon Rice
Simeon Rice
Simeon James Rice [] is a former American football defensive end, last playing in 2009. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
, who stripped the ball away and recovered it himself.
On the Eagles' first drive of the third quarter, McNabb lost another fumble due to a tackle from defensive back Ronde Barber
Ronde Barber
Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, and Bucs lineman Ellis Wyms
Ellis Wyms
Ellis Rashad Wyms is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
recovered it. Later on, with 1:02 left in the third period, Gramatica's 27-yard field goal increased the Tampa Bay lead to 20-10. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles managed to drive 73 yards to Tampa Bay's 10-yard line, but Barber intercepted McNabb's pass with 3:12 left in the game and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
This was the last Eagles game ever played at Veterans Stadium which was demolished following the 2003 Major League Baseball season
2003 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 121st season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies finished in third-place in the National League East, 15 games behind the Atlanta Braves, and five games behind the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins, who were the NL's wild-card winner...
. In a Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
list of the worst losses in Philadelphia sports history since the city's last title in 1983
1983 NBA Finals
The 1983 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1982–83 NBA season.-Overview:The final piece of the Philadelphia 76ers' championship puzzle was completed before the 1982-83 season when they acquired center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets...
, this game was ranked first.
AFC Championship: Oakland Raiders 41, Tennessee Titans 24
Oakland called only one running play in the first three quarters of the game, choosing to rely almost exclusively on the passing of 37-year old quarterback Rich GannonRich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
. And Gannon proved to be up to the task, leading the Raiders to victory with 286 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 41 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries.
Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter scored first four minutes into the game, but the Titans countered with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
to Drew Bennett
Drew Bennett
Andrew Russell "Drew" Bennett is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at UCLA....
to tie it up five minutes later. Oakland struck back with 12-yard touchdown catch by Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner III is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
before a 29-yard field goal from Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
and a McNair touchdown run gave the Titans a three point lead late in the second quarter.
Then things fell apart for Tennessee. Backed up at their own 11-yard line by a Shane Lechler
Shane Lechler
Edward Shane Lechler is an American football punter who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League. Lechler played college football for Texas A&M from 1996-1999. In the NFL, Lechler has been named an All-Pro eight times during his career...
punt and simply trying to run out the clock, running back Robert Holcombe
Robert Holcombe
Robert Wayne Holcombe is a free agent fullback who has played for the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-St. Louis Rams:...
fumbled the ball while being tackled by Raiders linebacker Eric Barton
Eric Barton
Eric Barton is a former American football linebacker who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Maryland before he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
, and defensive back Anthony Dorsett
Anthony Dorsett
Anthony Drew Dorsett, Jr. is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh....
, who was a member of the Titans 1999 Super Bowl squad, recovered the ball at the Tennessee 16-yard line. On the next play, Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
caught a 15-yard reception at the 1-yard line, and then Gannon found Doug Jolley
Doug Jolley
Doug Jolley is a former American football tight end in the National Football League.-Life:Jolley attended Brigham Young University, where he was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2001. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and was a starter on...
in the back of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass, giving the Raiders a 21-17 lead. Then on the ensuing kickoff, rookie returner John Simon was stripped of the ball by Tim Johnson and Alvis Whitted
Alvis Whitted
Alvis James Whitted is an American football player who is a free agent. He played two years as a wide receiver at Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina and was also a standout in track and field and was state champion as a senior in the 100 and 200 meters. Played his college football...
recovered the fumble for Oakland on the Titans 39-yard line, setting up a 43-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
on the last play of the first half.
Tennessee took the second half kickoff and drove all the way to the Raiders 22-yard line before McNair was sacked on third down by John Parrella
John Parrella
John Lorin Parrella is a retired American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. Parrella was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska. Parrella played most of his career with the San Diego Chargers from 1994-2001...
. Because Nedney had been injured making a tackle in the second quarter, Titans coach Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
decided to punt rather than attempt a field goal, but due to a bad snap, punter Craig Hentrich
Craig Hentrich
Craig Hentrich is a former American football punter. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.Hentrich has also played for the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans....
was unable to make the kick and was downed at the Titans 19-yard line. A few plays later, Janikowski kicked another field goal to make the score 27-17. This time, the Titans managed to resond, driving 67 yards and scoring with McNair's 13-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 27-24. But the Raiders responded with a 66-yard drive, capped off with a 2-yard touchdown run by Gannon in the fourth quarter. Fullback Zack Crockett
Zack Crockett
Zack Crockett is a scout for the Oakland Raiders and former American football fullback who is a retired NFL player. He was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Crockett attended Ely High...
later added a 7-yard touchdown run to put the game away.