NFL playoffs, 2002-03

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The NFL playoffs following the 2002 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVII.

Prior to the 2002-03 season, the league realigned the teams into eight divisions (four in each conference). Thus, the 12-team playoff format was modified:

  • 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.

These changes meant that a wild card team could no longer host a playoff game during the first Wild Card round.

After the success of holding Saturday prime time playoff games during the 2001-02 postseason, the league revised all of the Sunday playoff games starting in 2002 to draw more television viewers. First, the 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. [1]

The starting times for the Conference Championship Games were also changed, from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST respectively. [1] They 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.

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. 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 an hour later, but it also forced the networks to reluctantly change or move their prime time lineups.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Oakland Raiders (West winner) Philadelphia Eagles (East winner)
2 Tennessee Titans (South winner) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (South winner)
3 Pittsburgh Steelers (North winner) Green Bay Packers (North winner)
4 New York Jets (East winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
5 Indianapolis Colts New York Giants
6 Cleveland Browns Atlanta Falcons

Contents

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] Saturday January 4, 2003

[edit] AFC: New York Jets 41, Indianapolis Colts 0

1 2 3 4 Total
Colts 0 0 0 0 0
Jets 7 17 10 7 41

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey


Starting Quarterbacks:


In his playoff debut, quarterback Chad Pennington 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.

  • Scoring
    • NYJ - Anderson 56 pass from Pennington (Hall kick)
    • NYJ - FG Hall 41
    • NYJ - Jordan 1 run (Hall kick)
    • NYJ - Moss 4 pass from Pennington (Hall kick)
    • NYJ - FG Hall 39
    • NYJ - Baker 3 pass from Pennington (Hall kick)
    • NYJ - Jordan 1 run (Hall kick)

[edit] NFC: Atlanta Falcons 27, Green Bay Packers 7

1 2 3 4 Total
Falcons 14 10 3 0 27
Packers 0 0 7 0 7

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin


Starting Quarterbacks:


The Packers suffered their first playoff loss at home as the Falcons forced five turnovers and limited Green Bay to only one touchdown. Quarterback Michael Vick passed for 117 yards and rushed for 64 yards. The Falcons also blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • ATL - Jefferson 10 pass from Vick (Feely kick)
    • ATL - Ulmer 1 blocked punt return (Feely kick)
    • ATL - Duckett 6 run (Feely kick)
    • ATL - FG Feely 22
    • GB - Driver 14 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)
    • ATL - FG Feely 23

[edit] Sunday January 5, 2003

[edit] AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 36, Cleveland Browns 33

1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 7 10 7 9 33
Steelers 0 7 7 22 36

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Starting Quarterbacks:


Journeyman quarterback Tommy Maddox led the Steelers to 29 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. The Browns had a chance to attempt a game tying field goal when they reached the Pittsburgh 45-yard line with seven seconds left, but Andre King could not run out of bounds on his 16-yard catch to stop the clock.

Maddox finished the game with 30 of 48 completions for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. Plaxico Burress caught 6 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Hines Ward caught 11 passes for 104 yards and a score. In his first career playoff game, Kelly Holcomb completed 26 of 43 passes for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Browns receiver Kevin Johnson caught 4 passes for 140 yards, while receiver Dennis Northcutt caught 6 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.

  • Scoring
    • CLE - Green 1 run (Dawson kick)
    • CLE - Northcutt 32 pass from Holcomb (Dawson kick)
    • PIT - Randle El 66 punt return (Reed kick)
    • CLE - FG Dawson 31
    • CLE - Northcutt 15 pass from Holcomb (Dawson kick)
    • PIT - Burress 6 pass from Maddox (Reed kick)
    • CLE - FG Dawson 24
    • PIT - Tuman 3 pass from Maddox (Reed kick)
    • CLE - Davis 22 pass from Holcomb (Pass failed)
    • PIT - Ward 5 pass from Maddox (Reed kick)
    • PIT - Fuamatu-Ma'afala 3 run (Tuman pass from Randle El)

[edit] NFC: San Francisco 49ers 39, New York Giants 38

1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 7 21 10 0 38
49ers 7 7 8 17 39

at San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point, San Francisco


Starting Quarterbacks:


The Steelers' comeback earlier in the day was matched by San Francisco's similar late drive. Down 38-14 in the third quarter, the 49ers' offense led by quarterback Jeff Garcia scored 25 unanswered points, including Tai Streets' 13-yard touchdown reception on what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with one minute left. However, the Giants did have a chance to win on the final play of the game with a field goal attempt. But a botched snap by Trey Junkin resulted into 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 had in fact checked in as an eligible receiver before the field goal attempt, although the penalty was not called on the eligible receiver but rather a different lineman who was also downfield on the desperation pass. Furthermore, the 49ers should have been called for pass interference, which would have given the Giants another chance to win. The NFL later apologized for the tremendous mistake, which led to changes in playoff officiating crews.

Garcia threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, while also rushing for 60 yards and another score. Receiver Terrell Owens caught 9 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. Giants quarterback Kerry Collins threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception. Receiver Amani Toomer caught 8 passes for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Tiki Barber rushed for 115 yards, caught 5 passes for 62 yards, and scored a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • SF - Owens 76 pass from Garcia (Chandler kick)
    • NYG - Toomer 12 pass from Collins (Bryant kick)
    • NYG - Shockey 2 pass from Collins (Bryant kick)
    • SF - Barlow 1 run (Chandler kick)
    • NYG - Toomer 8 pass from Collins (Bryant kick)
    • NYG - Toomer 24 pass from Collins (Bryant kick)
    • NYG - Barber 6 run (Bryant kick)
    • NYG - FG Bryant 21
    • SF - Owens 26 pass from Garcia (Owens pass from Garcia)
    • SF - Garcia 14 run (Owens pass from Garcia)
    • SF - FG Chandler 25
    • SF - Streets 13 pass from Garcia (pass failed)

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] Saturday January 11, 2003

[edit] AFC: Tennessee Titans 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 31 (OT)

1 2 3 4 OT Total
Steelers 0 13 7 11 0 31
Titans 14 0 14 3 3 34

at The Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee


Starting Quarterbacks:


The third time was the charm for Titans kicker Joe Nedney. 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 roughing-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 before the Steelers converted three turnovers into 20 points. Two Tennessee touchdowns made it 28-20 by the end of the third quarter, but a 21-yard Hines Ward touchdown 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. Tennessee tight end Frank Wycheck finished the game with 10 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. Titans quarterback Steve 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.

  • Scoring
    • TEN - McNair 8 run (Nedney kick)
    • TEN - George 1 run (Nedney kick)
    • PIT - Ward 8 pass from Maddox (Reed kick)
    • PIT - FG Reed 30
    • PIT - FG Reed 39
    • PIT - Zereoue 31 run (Reed kick)
    • TEN - Wycheck 7 pass from McNair (Nedney kick)
    • TEN - Kinney 2 pass from McNair (Nedney kick)
    • PIT - Ward 21 pass from Maddox (Burress pass from Ward)
    • PIT - FG Reed 40
    • TEN - FG Nedney 42
    • TEN - FG Nedney 26

[edit] NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 20, Atlanta Falcons 6

1 2 3 4 Total
Falcons 0 6 0 0 6
Eagles 10 3 0 7 20

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia


Starting Quarterbacks:


The hyped quarterback duel between Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick never materialized, as the Eagles' defense sacked Vick three times and intercepted him off twice, including Bobby Taylor's 39-yard return for a touchdown. With the Eagles leading 13-6 in the third quarter, a 20-yard touchdown run by Vick that could have tied the game was called back by a holding penalty. Jay Feely then 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.

  • Scoring
    • PHI - Taylor 39 interception return (Akers kick)
    • PHI - FG Akers 34
    • PHI - FG Akers 39
    • ATL - FG Feely 34
    • ATL - FG Feely 52
    • PHI - Thrash 35 pass from McNabb (Akers kick)

[edit] Sunday January 12, 2003

[edit] NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, San Francisco 49ers 6

1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 3 3 0 0 6
Buccaneers 7 21 3 0 31

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida


Starting Quarterbacks:


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 Johnson, 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.

  • Scoring
    • TB - Alstott 2 run (Gramatica kick)
    • SF - FG Chandler 24
    • TB - Jurevicius 20 pass from B. Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • SF - FG Chandler 40
    • TB - Dudley 12 pass from B. Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • TB - Alstott 2 run (Gramatica kick)
    • TB - FG Gramatica 19

[edit] AFC: Oakland Raiders 30, New York Jets 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Jets 3 7 0 0 10
Raiders 3 7 7 13 30

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California


Starting Quarterbacks:


Chad Pennington's dream season came to an end as the Jets quarterback threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns as Oakland pulled away from a 10-10 halftime tie to score twenty consecutive second half points.

  • Scoring
    • NYJ - FG Hall 38
    • OAK - FG Janikowski 29
    • OAK - Crockett 1 run (Janikowski kick)
    • NYJ - Sowell 1 pass from Pennington (Hall kick)
    • OAK - Porter 29 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
    • OAK - Rice 9 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
    • OAK - FG Janikowski 34
    • OAK - FG Janikowski 31

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] Sunday January 19, 2003

[edit] NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Buccaneers 10 7 3 7 27
Eagles 7 3 0 0 10

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia


Starting Quarterbacks:


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. Eagles running back Duce Staley opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown with less than a minute into the game. But Mike Alstott put Tampa in the lead for good with a touchdown late in the first quarter, with the key play in that drive being a 71-yard pass play from Brad Johnson to Joe Jurevicius. The Eagles fumbled twice in the second quarter, while Keyshawn Johnson's 9-yard touchdown reception gave Tampa Bay a 17-10 lead by halftime. Ronde Barber capped off the win with a 92-yard fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown. This was the last Eagles game ever played at Veterans Stadium which was demolished shortly thereafter.

  • Scoring
    • PHI - Staley 20 run (Akers kick)
    • TB - FG Gramatica 48
    • TB - Alstott 1 run (Gramatica kick)
    • PHI - FG Akers 30
    • TB - K. Johnson 9 pass from B. Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • TB - FG Gramatica 27
    • TB - Barber 92 interception return (Gramatica kick)

[edit] AFC: Oakland Raiders 41, Tennessee Titans 24

1 2 3 4 Total
Titans 7 10 7 0 24
Raiders 14 10 3 14 41

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California


Starting Quarterbacks:


Quarterback Rich Gannon led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl since 1984 with 286 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 41 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries. Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter scored first with 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. The Raiders recaptured the lead for good after Charlie Garner caught another touchdown pass late in the first quarter. All but abandoning the run for the first three quarters, Oakland scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns on the ground to seal the victory.

  • Scoring
    • OAK - Porter 3 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
    • TEN - Bennett 33 pass from McNair (Nedney kick)
    • OAK - Garner 12 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
    • TEN - FG Nedney 29
    • TEN - McNair 9 run (Nedney kick)
    • OAK - Jolley 1 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
    • OAK - FG Janikowski 43
    • OAK - FG Janikowski 32
    • TEN - McNair 13 run (Hentrich kick)
    • OAK - Gannon 2 run (Janikowski kick)
    • OAK - Crockett 7 run (Janikowski kick)

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXXVII

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC) 48, Oakland Raiders (AFC) 21 at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

[edit] Bracket

                                   
January 5 - Heinz Field   January 11 - The Coliseum          
 6  Cleveland  33
 3  Pittsburgh  31
 3  Pittsburgh  36     January 19 - Network Associates Coliseum
 2  Tennessee  34  
AFC
January 4 - Giants Stadium  2  Tennessee  24
January 12 - Network Associates Coliseum
   1  Oakland  41  
 5  Indianapolis  0 AFC Championship
 4  N.Y. Jets  10
 4  N.Y. Jets  41   January 26 - Qualcomm Stadium
 1  Oakland  30  
Wild Card Playoffs  
Divisional Playoffs
January 5 - San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point  A1  Oakland  21
January 12 - Raymond James Stadium
   N2  Tampa Bay  48
 5  N.Y. Giants  38 Super Bowl XXXVII
 4  San Francisco  6
 4  San Francisco  39     January 19 - Veterans Stadium
 2  Tampa Bay  31  
NFC
January 4 - Lambeau Field  2  Tampa Bay  27
January 11 - Veterans Stadium
   1  Philadelphia  10  
 6  Atlanta  27 NFC Championship
 6  Atlanta  6
 3  Green Bay  7  
 1  Philadelphia  20  



[edit] Notes

[edit] References

National Football League playoffs
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