The Packers and Seahawks join the playoff party on the season's final day; the Vikings are frozen out.
By ROGER MILLS
Published December 29, 2003
NASHVILLE - The final Sunday of the NFL season was precisely what the league had in mind. A day of upsets, turnarounds and drama.
How do you like it: rare, medium or well done?
The Cardinals completed a desperation 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth and forever with no time left to defeat the Vikings 18-17. That loss eliminated the Vikings.
The Packers used their running game to hammer the Broncos 31-3 and, thanks to the Vikings loss, won the NFC North and host Seattle in an opening-round game.
The Seahawks knocked off the 49ers on Saturday for their second road win and travel to Green Bay, where they lost 35-13 on Oct. 5.
The Rams, who could have secured homefield advantage through the NFC playoffs by beating the Lions, lost at Detroit 30-20 and are the second seed.
Unable to improve their position, the Cowboys lost 13-7 to the Saints and travel to Carolina for the wild-card game.
The Colts were tested by the Texans and needed a 43-yard Mike Vanderjagt field goal as time expired to win 20-17 and clinch the AFC North title.
The Titans beat up on the Bucs 33-13 to finish the season 12-4 but lost the tiebreaker to the Colts and play in Baltimore.
The NFC
The Eagles and the Rams finished 12-4, hold down the top seeds and have a bye this weekend. Philadelphia won the tiebreaker over the Rams and has homefield advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
"Congratulations to the Lions," Eagles coach Andy Reid said sheepishly, referring to the Lions' win over the Rams. "It sure gave themselves a nice boost into next year and gave us a nice boost into next year."
Philadelphia plays the lowest remaining seed Jan.10 or 11. The Rams play the other winner.
With the loss to the Lions, the Rams squashed any chance to have homefield edge over the Eagles.
The Panthers (11-5), runaway winners of the NFC South and fresh off a 37-24 beating of the Giants, host the Cowboys at 8 p.m. Saturday.
With quarterback Brett Favre having another outstanding season, the Packers continue to look formidable and get a second chance to beat the Seahawks at 1 p.m. Sunday in Green Bay.
The chain of events by which the Packers made the playoffs was so extraordinary that Favre, still struggling with his father's death last week, suggested something spiritual was taking place.
"I've been around people who have lost a family member or have lost someone close to them and they say that person's there watching or angels, whatever," Favre said. "I would say two weeks ago I didn't really didn't believe in that, but I think we'd better start believing in something."
The Vikings, who lost to each of the four teams tied for the league's worst record at 4-12, became the first team to miss the playoffs after a 6-0 start since the 1978 Redskins.
"You don't have any clue how much it hurts," Minnesota's Corey Chavous said.
The AFC
The Patriots (14-2) clinched the top seed Saturday with a 31-0 win over the Bills. The Chiefs (13-3) knocked off the Bears 31-3 Sunday and are the second seed. Each has a bye this weekend.
"I don't think anybody cares, to tell you the truth," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "Every team that's in the playoffs has had a successful season and they are really the best teams. Tampa Bay won it last year and they didn't have homefield. We won it two years ago and didn't have homefield and Baltimore won it three years ago and they didn't have homefield."
Behind two touchdowns from Priest Holmes, who set a single-season record of 27, the Chiefs appeared to regain some of the confidence they lost after surrendering 45 points at Denver on Dec.7 and at Minnesota on Dec.20.
"This is great for confidence," Chiefs linebacker Scott Fujita said. "Now people will look at us and say, "Well, they can play defense.' But we knew we could."
Behind a startling effort from 37-year-old Neil O'Donnell, the Titans were able to rest quarterback Steve McNair with the hope his sore calf and bad ankle will be ready Saturday in Baltimore.
"We all know what's happened in the past with this team," Titans running back Eddie George said. "They've been a thorn in our sides and sometimes to move on in the future, you have to be presented with the past. Maybe this is one of those times."
Thanks to Vanderjagt's NFL-record 41st consecutive field goal, the Colts avoided playing on the road and open against the Broncos at 4 p.m. Sunday.
"We could have had people cursing each other on the sidelines, that never happened," Colts running back Edgerrin James said of his team's comeback against the Texans. "The defense gave us a chance and what better opportunity could Vanderjagt have. We've been saying he's the best kicker in the league, even though this was his first Pro Bowl."
The Patriots play the lowest remaining seed and the Chiefs play the other team Jan.10 and 11.
- Times staff writer Joanne Korth contributed to this report, which used information from other news organizations.
