Just in case anyone’s forgotten it, today we bring up the play that essentially ended the Packers’ 2003 season in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. It didn’t end the game in and of itself, but it changed the momentum of the game and set the Packers back on their heels when they should have won.
It is good to look back at these types of things to make us reflect on what might have been, and to realize that, yes, we all do recover after such seemingly cataclysmic events to cheer on the team for another season.
The famous “4th and 26 Play” (for fourth down and 26 yards to go) is the play that occurred on January 11, 2004 at Lincoln Financial Field during the fourth quarter of a divisional playoff game between the visiting Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The NFC East champion and top-seeded Eagles were coming off an opening round bye while the fourth-seeded, NFC North champion Packers were the visiting team. The Packers had the Eagles well under control for most of the game, scoring two quick touchdowns on Brett Favre passes to take a 14-point lead early in the game. The Eagles were held scoreless for the first and third quarters, but were able to score a touchdown in the second quarter and fourth quarter to tie the game at 14 apiece.
The Packers regained the outright lead on a 21-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, leaving the Eagles less than two minutes to score. After three plays pushed the Eagles back to their own 25 yard line, the Eagles were faced with a daunting fourth down with 26 yards needed to convert a first down with 1:12 remaining and no timeouts available — failure to convert would allow the Packers to run out the clock and win the game.
The play called for a 25-yard slant running route for wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, and saw Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb toss a perfect 28-yard strike to Mitchell deep into the Packers secondary. Mitchell was supposed to be covered shallow by Nick Barnett and deep by Darren Sharper, but Barnett was distracted by a tight end and didn't cover him and Sharper stayed well past the first down markers, playing it for an interception. Packer safety Bhawoh Jue saw Mitchell running free and ran over to deliver a hit, but he was too late. Mitchell completed a leaping reception and was brought down at the Packers 46, giving the Eagles a first down and giving new life to the stadium.
The play set up David Akers' 37-yard field goal after McNabb ran for another first down. The field goal was good, and the game went into overtime, where Eagles star safety Brian Dawkins was able to intercept a Packers pass and set up another Akers field goal. The 31-yard kick split the uprights, giving the Eagles a dramatic 20-17 victory in sudden death overtime. The play helped send the Eagles to their third straight NFC Championship Game.
In Philadelphia, limited edition T-shirts were made immediately following the game, with "FOURTH AND 26" emblazoned on the front and "BELIEVE" printed on the back. However, the Eagles went on to lose the NFC Championship game to the Carolina Panthers. This would be the Eagles' third consecutive NFC Championship loss and the second consecutive NFC Championship loss at home.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell less than a week after this game was played. Although head coach Mike Sherman denied that this play factored into his decision, the failure to stop the Eagles on 4th and 26 did essentially result in the end of the Packers season, and this fact was not lost on commentators.
Source: Wikipedia
