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CHAMPIONSHIP RING THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME CAROLINA PANTHERS
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
The 2003 Carolina Panthers season was the ninth season for the team in the National
Football League. They improved on their 7–9 record from 2002, and made it to the
playoffs for the second time in franchise history.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
The season would be a huge success. The Panthers would go a surprising 11–5 to
earn the #3 seed in the NFC Playoffs. They would defeat the Dallas Cowboys 29–10 in
the Wild Card playoffs. The next week in St. Louis, the game would go to double
overtime and on the first play of the second overtime, Steve Smith caught a pass by
Jake Delhomme and took it 69 yards into the endzone to put an end to the game.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
In the Conference Championship game, the Panthers traveled to Lincoln Financial
Field in Philadelphia to play the Eagles who were in their 3rd straight conference
championship game, but had yet to win one. The Panthers would continue the story
with a 14–3 victory, which was dominated by Ricky Manning's three interceptions that
kept the Eagles at bay. Carolina's defense shut down the Eagles offense, only
allowing a field goal and holding Donovan McNabb to just 10 of 22 completions for
100 yards. Rookie cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. intercepted McNabb 3 times, while
the Panthers defense recorded a total of five sacks.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
McNabb also sustained a lower-rib injury early in the game but stayed in until the
second half. Although Carolina's offense only scored 14 points, it was more than
enough for the team to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl with a 14–3 win. For the
Eagles, it was the third straight NFC Championship Game loss. After a scoreless first
quarter, the Panthers mounted the only long scoring drive of the game, advancing the
ball 79 yards and scoring with Jake Delhomme's 24-yard touchdown pass to Muhsin
Muhammad. The Eagles responded by driving 44 yards and scoring with a 41-yard
field goal from David Akers. Philadelphia then forced a punt and drove to their own 44-
yard line, but McNabb was intercepted by Manning and the score remained 7–3 at
halftime.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
The Eagles took the second half kickoff and drove to the Panthers 18-yard line
before Manning ended the drive with his second interception. Then after a punt,
Manning recorded his third interception and returned it 13 yards to the Eagles 37-
yard line. Four plays later, DeShaun Foster's 1-yard touchdown run increased
Carolina's lead to 14–3. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles had one last chance to
come back, driving 74 yards in 11 plays to the Panthers 11-yard line. But linebacker
Dan Morgan picked off a pass from backup quarterback Koy Detmer in the end
zone with 5:16 left in regulation. The next time Philadelphia got the ball back, they
turned the ball over on downs and Carolina ran out the clock to win the game.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2004 NFC TITLE GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS
