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2003 Postseason

The Chicago Bears only got into the playoffs via a tiebreaker when Minnesota blew a 14 point lead in the second half to the Cowboys on the last day of the season. They were barely a playoff-worthy team (they finished 9-7 with a negative point differential) and it showed. Chicago was mauled by Green Bay 31-14 in a game that was essentially over at the half when Green Bay was up 28-7. The only highlight for Bears fans was an interception return for a touchdown by Mike Brown late in the third quarter.

Steve Mariucci and quarterback Jeff Garcia shocked the Philadelphia Eagles by winning an ugly defensive struggle 17-14 in Philly. Philly had a chance to tie it up late but David Akers’ kick to send the game into overtime was blocked at the line before it hit the upright only to bounce back on the field.

Elsewhere on Wild Card Weekend, Peyton Manning and the Colts carved up the Miami Dolphins in the Hoosier Dome. Manning had four touchdowns (two each to Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison) as Indy cruised to a comfortable 34-23 win that wasn’t even that close. It took two Miami touchdowns well into garbage time for the Dolphins to even come that close.

The best game on Wild Card Weekend was surely the Denver Broncos winning a 28-27 shootout over the Kansas City Chiefs. Jake Plummer, building on his reputation from years in Arizona, led a comeback and with literally no time on the clock found rookie wideout Nate Burleson in the back of the end zone. The game featured no less than four lead changes in the second half alone.

Wow that was crazy! I’ve never been part of a game like that before. Games like that are why I came here to the Broncos in the first place. Just a fun fun time and we’re looking forward to playing the Patriots, they’re a great team but you know what, we are a great team too. Jake Plummer on the field after the Broncos playoff win.

Jake the Snake certainly came to play when the Broncos visited Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for Plummer, his teammates, and the state of Colorado, Tom Brady was just a little bit better. 2003 was something of a coming out party for Brady – he build on his success the year before, increasing his yardage, completion percentage and touchdowns thrown. Brady was starting to enter the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL. The Patriots won 24-21 when Brady marched his Patriots down the field to set up a game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter.

I was sitting in the press box when Tom Brady got rocked in the 4th quarter by Reggie Hayward. My mind flashed back to that playoff game vs Oakland where he fumbled when Woodson sacked him. Same type of hit too. But not only did he not fumble, he got up and started jawing back to Hayward. He then marched down the field and the Pats won the game. I really feel that Brady grew up that game. The old Tom Brady would have shrunk under the pressure – this one didn’t. Bob Ryan, Boston Globe.

Indy went into Baltimore and drove the dagger into the heart of the fearsome Ravens defense that won a Super Bowl a few short years before. Peyton Manning and the Colts put up 35 points on the Ravens, who had no answers on defense. Indy would visit New England for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Over in the NFC it was chalk. The Rams beat the Niners but San Francisco made a good show of it before losing 27-23. Tampa Bay was rested and used that week off to beat the Packers 21-6. Brett Favre threw three bad picks as Monte Kiffin of the Bucs disguised his coverages beautifully vs the veteran Packers quarterback.

That same Bucs defense would rule the day in the NFC Championship Game. Tampa was nearly perfect on defense, allowing only 10 points to the high powered Rams offense. The lone Rams touchdown was only because a special teams turnover left the Rams a short field. The Bucs offense more than did their part as Tampa went into Saint Louis and won 20-10. The Buccaneers were going back to the Super Bowl for the second straight season.

It is crazy man, just crazy. We worked so hard and now we have to finish the job we couldn’t do last year! Javon Walker on the field after the game.

Over in New England, the Colts were riding high. They had the league's best offense all season long. They had an MVP quarterback, two stud wideouts, and a good running back in Edgerrin James. Vegas only had them a two-point underdog and they were only a dog because the game was in New England.

None of that mattered. Manning was a disaster. He threw four picks including two to Ed Reed. Head coach Bill Belichick moved Reed all over the chessboard. Sometimes he played him on the line of scrimmage vs a slot receiver, sometimes he played him deep over the middle, sometimes both on the same play.

I’ve never seen a player cover the way Reed did today. He was brilliant. Makes my job a lot easier, that’s for sure. Romeo Crennel, Patriots defensive coordinator.

New England won 21-7 and would face Tampa in the Super Bowl. It was Tampa’s second straight appearance in the big game and the second appearance in three years for the Patriots. Each franchise was looking for their first-ever championship.

Sports isn’t fair sometimes. Brady played great all season long. The only reason the Patriots were even in the Super Bowl was because of how good he played in the playoffs vs Denver and Indy. I felt bad for the kid, I really did, because while he wasn’t bad, he wasn’t exactly good either – but he was facing one of the best defenses of all time! Sometimes the other players make great plays and that’s what happened. Brady would have to hear all summer long about how he “choked” and that’s not fair to the kid. Bob Ryan, Boston Globe.

Brady was…ok. He was never comfortable in the pocket and had to rush the majority of his throws. Monte Kiffin, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and John Lynch made sure Brady was never comfortable. It was an impossible situation for the Patriots quarterback. It was a minor miracle that Brady only threw one interception to be honest.

However, that pick came at the absolute worst time. New England was down by four late in the game and Brady finally managed to string a drive together for the first time all half when he was picked off by John Lynch on a rushed throw. Tampa would take a few knees and win the title 17-13. The enduring image of the field wasn’t the victorious Buccaneers being showered in confetti. It was Tom Brady, sitting alone on a bench on the Patriots sideline long after players started to walk to the locker room after the final gun sounded. Brady looked like the loneliest person in the world til Ed Reed came up and said a few words to him.

I walked up to Tom and put my arm around him and told him I loved him. And I mean it. Tom’s a warrior and I love him. I promise you and everyone we’ll be back and we’ll win. Ed Reed, to Armen Keteyian of CBS after the game.