2003 Green Bay Packers season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Green Bay Packers
year = 2003
record = 10-6
division_place = 1st NFC North
coach = Mike Sherman
stadium = Lambeau Field
playoffs = W NFC Wild Card
L NFC Divisional GameThe 2003 Green Bay Packers season finished with an overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs, after the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round in overtime off an interception return for a touchdown by Al Harris. The season may be most notable, however, for Brett Favre's Monday night performance against the Oakland Raiders the night after his father had died.

Offseason

The Packers were able to add Al Harris to their starting lineup from a trade with Philadelphia. They lost starters Terry Glenn to a trade and Vonnie Holliday to free agency. [http://espn.go.com/nfl/overview/packers2003.html Offseason Overview: Green Bay Packers] , espn.com obtained 11-05-06]

In the 2003 NFL Draft the Packers selected linebacker Nick Barnett in the first round (29 overall).

Regular season

The Packers finished the season 10-6 and advanced to the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Favre's Monday night performance

The day before the game, Irvin Favre, father of Brett Favre, died suddenly of a heart attack. Favre elected to play and passed for four touchdowns in the first half, and 399 yards in a 41-7 defeat of the Raiders. Afterwards, Favre said, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight." [cite web | url=http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2003/12/22/2/ | title=Official Packers press release regarding the 12/22/03 game | accessdate=2006-08-06]

Post season

vs. Seattle Seahawks

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Seattle
R1=3
R2=3
R3=14
R4=7
R5=0
RT=27
Home=Packers
H1=0
H2=13
H3=0
H4=14
H5=6
HT=33

"at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin"
*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 20 °F (Cloudy)
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth
*Referee: Bernie Kukar
*Game Attendance: 71,457

Packers defensive back Al Harris returned an interception 52 yards for the game winning touchdown 4:25 in overtime. The game was sent into overtime on Seahawk running back Shaun Alexander's third touchdown of the day. Ahman Green scored two touchdowns for Green Bay, and Bubba Franks caught a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The game is memorable for Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's ironic comment after winning the coin toss for the start of overtime, telling the referee, the crowd at Lambeau Field and the national television audience, "We'll take the ball and we're going to score." [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20040104_SEA@GB] This game remains the only time in NFL history that an NFL playoff game has ended with a defensive touchdown in OT. [http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports//index.php?ntid=266179]

Packers quarterback Brett Favre completed 26 of 38 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown.

vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Packers
R1=14
R2=0
R3=0
R4=3
R5=0
RT=17
Home=Eagles
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=10
H5=3
HT=20

"at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia"
*Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
*Game weather: 25 °F (Clear)
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth
*Referee: Ed Hochuli
*Game Attendance: 67,707

Ahman Green's franchise postseason record 156 rushing yards was not enough to lift the Packers to victory. Facing fourth down and 26 yards to go, with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter and the Packers leading 17-14, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb completed a 28-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell on a famous play now known as "4th and 26". The play set up David Akers' 37-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Akers then kicked a 31-yard field goal in the extra period to give the Eagles the victory.

McNabb had a spectacular performance in the game, completing 21 of 39 passes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 107 yards on 11 carries.

Division standings

Awards and honors

* Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Completion Percentage (65.4)
* Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes (32)

References

External links

* [http://www.packers.com/gameday/schedule/2003/ 2003 Packers results and recaps]