2003 NFC Wild Card playoff game (Seattle–Green Bay)

2004 American football postseason game June 2024 2003 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game border:none; center 275 Green Bay Packers wordmark.svg Seattle Seahawks wordmark.svg vertical Packers and Seahawks wordmarks Seattle Seahawks (5) SEA Mike Holmgren 10–6 Green Bay Packers (4) GB Mike Sherman 10–6 3 3 14 7 0 27 0 13 0 14 6 33 January 4, 2004 Lambeau Field Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. 71,457 Bernie Kukar Packers by 7 Fox Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth The 2003 National Football Conference (NFC) Wild Card playoff game was a National Football League (NFL) playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers on January 4, 2004. The game, which was contested at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States, became notable after Seahawks' quarterback Matt Hasselbeck proclaimed, "We want the ball and we're going to score!" when the Seahawks won the coin toss before the start of the overtime period. Hasselbeck's comment was picked up on the referee's microphone and was broadcast to the stadium and the television audiences. Hasselbeck subsequently threw an interception on their second drive of overtime that was returned for a game-winning touchdown by Packers cornerback Al Harris. The score was the first defensive touchdown to win an overtime playoff game in NFL history and was ranked as one of the best 100 plays in NFL history. The dramatic finish advanced the Packers to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, where they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th and 26 game. Background 2003 Seattle Seahawks season 2003 Green Bay Packers season The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2003 NFL season with a record of 10–6, putting them in second place in the NFC West. The Seahawks won the last two games of the season to secure a playoff berth as a wild card team. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sea/2003.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com June 22, 2024 2003 Seattle Seahawks Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees May 15, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240515020216/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sea/2003.htm live The Green Bay Packers also finished the 2003 season with a record of 10–6, enough to win the NFC North. After starting the season 6–6, the Packers finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak, scoring more than 30 points in each victory. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2003.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com June 22, 2024 2003 Green Bay Packers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees May 15, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240515002807/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2003.htm live The Packers only won the division after the Minnesota Vikings gave up two late touchdowns to the Arizona Cardinals in the last game of the year. https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-take-five/149973714/ Take Five Dougherty Pete January 4, 2004 June 24, 2024 Green Bay Press-Gazette clipping Newspapers.com F-5 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192403/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-take-five/149973714/ live The Seahawks and Packers had met in the regular season, with the Packers securing a 35–13 victory in Week 5 at Lambeau Field. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200310050gnb.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers - October 5th, 2003 June 22, 2024 August 15, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230815013751/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200310050gnb.htm live This would be the first postseason match-up within the teams' rivalry. https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/teamvsteam?opp=28 FootballDB.com Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks Results June 22, 2024 January 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200114182939/https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/teamvsteam?opp=28 live With their higher seeding, the Packers secured homefield advantage and the right to host the game at Lambeau Field. https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-fans-del/149978144/ Packers fans deliver good news Demovsky Rob December 29, 2003 June 24, 2024 Green Bay Press-Gazette clipping Newspapers.com C-1 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192551/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-fans-del/149978144/ live The Packers were favored to win the game by 7 points. https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-todays-game-at/149973502/ Today's Game at a Glance January 4, 2004 June 24, 2024 Green Bay Press-Gazette clipping Newspapers.com F-5 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192535/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-todays-game-at/149973502/ live Both the Seahawks' head coach and starting quarterback had close ties to the Packers: Mike Holmgren resigned as head coach of the Packers after the 1998 NFL season to become the head coach and general manager of the Seahawks, while Matt Hasselbeck served as the backup quarterback to Brett Favre in 1999 and 2000 before being traded to the Seahawks. Boling Dave September 9, 1999 Building With a Coach https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/09/09/building-with-a-coach/17220109-96b5-4d12-bc0f-492f1e46725a/ The Washington Post June 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20251008115349/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/09/09/building-with-a-coach/17220109-96b5-4d12-bc0f-492f1e46725a/ October 8, 2025 live Sando Mike March 18, 2010 Whitehurst much cheaper than Hasselbeck https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/15744 June 23, 2024 ESPN.com June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192406/https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/15744 live Game summary alt=View of the outside of Lambeau Field|thumb|right|Lambeau Field, shown here in 2003, was the site of the game. First half The Packers started the game with the ball, but after a 10-yard catch by Bubba Franks for a first down, the team was stopped and forced to punt. The Seahawks scored first, driving down to the 12-yard line before a Josh Brown field goal put them up 3–0. During the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second, the teams exchanged two punts each on short drives. After receiving a Seahawks punt, the Packers broke through to tie the game on a 5-play, 37-yard drive culminating in a Ryan Longwell field goal. The Seahawks quickly regained the lead, driving 51 yards before the Packers forced a field goal attempt. Brown again converted, putting the Seahawks up 6–3. After the score, Brett Favre completed a 44-yard pass to Javon Walker on the first play of the drive. Favre completed another pass for 13 yards to Ahman Green and then a play later threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Franks to put the Packers up 10–6. The Seahawks regained possession after the score, but their drive went backwards, as they lost a total of 18 yards on a sack, a fumble and a rush for negative yardage. After the Seahawks punted, the Packers gained 30 yards, with 23 of them coming from a pass to Donald Driver that ended in a Longwell field goal, increasing the Packers' lead to 13–6. The Seahawks again were unable to move the ball near the end of the half, punting back to the Packers who proceeded to kneel the ball to end the half. https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay/_/gameId/240104009 ESPN.com Packers 33-27 Seahawks (Jan 4, 2004) Play-by-Play June 22, 2024 January 5, 2004 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192408/https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay/_/gameId/240104009 live Second half The Seahawks began the second half with a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Matt Hasselbeck completed three separate passes each over 10 yards and Shaun Alexander scored on a fourth down rush from the 1-yard line. The extra point brought the score even, 13–13. The Packers started their next drive strong, gaining 20 yards on two plays to put the ball at mid-field, but after two incompletions they were forced to punt. The Seahawks again engineered a long scoring drive, punctuated by a 33-yard catch by Koren Robinson and Alexander's second rushing touchdown, again from the 1-yard line. The Packers got the ball back, down 20–13, but quickly evened the score again. The 12-play, 60-yard scoring drive covered the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter. Favre completed all 5 pass attempts, while Green converted a fourth down attempt and then a rushing touchdown from the 1-yard line. With the game tied 20–20, the Seahawks went three-and-out, punting the ball back to the Packers. The Packers methodically moved the ball down the field with a mix of short passes and rushes, before Green rushed for his second touchdown, again from the 1-yard line. Now down 27–20, the Seahawks got the ball back with just over 2 minutes left in the game. Hasselbeck completed three separate passes for 9, 16 and 34 yards to get the Seahawks into scoring position. After a 5-yard penalty gave the Seahawks a first down on the 1-yard line, Alexander scored his third rushing touchdown of the game (all three from the 1-yard line). Brown's extra point evened the score 27–27 with 51 seconds left in the game. After two short completions, Favre found Walker for a 27-yard catch to put the Packers in field goal range. After a short rush by Green, the Packers called timeout and brought Longwell on for a potential game-winning field goal. Longwell missed the attempt though, sending the game into overtime. Overtime The Seahawks won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. In selecting to receive the ball, Hasselbeck excitedly exclaimed, "We want the ball and we're going to score!" to the referee, which was picked up on the referee's microphone and heard by the crowd at Lambeau Field and over the television broadcast. https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208075471.html Milwaukee Journal Walker Don January 5, 2004 June 24, 2024 Presumptuous Matt Hasselbeck forced to eat his words in overtime June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192409/https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208075471.html dead The Seahawks went three-and-out on their first drive and punted the ball to the Packers, who then also went three-and-out. After the Packers' punt, the Seahawks gained a first down on two short passes. After a rush for a one yard loss and an incomplete pass, the Seahawks faced a 3rd down with 11 yards to go. Hasselbeck snapped the ball and almost immediately turned and threw the ball toward the left sideline. Al Harris jumped the route and stepped in front of the intended receiver, Alex Bannister, intercepting the ball at mid-field and returning it for a walk-off touchdown. Box score #fff #eee Green Bay Packers 2;text-align:center; Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary Seahawks 3 3 14 7 0 Packers 0 13 0 14 6 Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST 20 °F °C, cloudy, chance of snow Fox Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth (color commentators), and Chris Myers (sideline reporter) Sources: ESPN.com https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/240104009 ESPN.com June 24, 2024 January 5, 2004 Packers 33-27 Seahawks (Jan 4, 2004) Box Score June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192440/https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/240104009 live and Green Bay Press-Gazette 71,457 1st quarter SEA Seattle – Josh Brown 30-yard field, 7:01. Seahawks 3–0. Drive: 10s, 57 yards, 4:09. 2nd quarter GB Green Bay – Ryan Longwell 31-yard field goal, 9:13. Tie 3–3. Drive: 5 plays, 37yards, 1:57. SEA Seattle – Brown 35-yard field goal, 6:50. Seahawks 6–3. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 2:15. GB Green Bay – Brett Favre 23-yard pass to Bubba Franks (Longwell extra point), 4:37. Packers 10–6. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:01 GB Green Bay – Longwell 27-yard field goal,0:46. Packers 13–6. Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 1:22. 3rd quarter SEA Seattle – Shaun Alexander 1-yard run (Brown extra point), 9:28. Tie 13–13. Drive: 10 plays, 74 yards, 5:19. SEA Seattle – Alexander 1-yard run (Brown extra point), 1:57. Seahawks 20–13. Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 4:11. 4th quarter GB Green Bay – Ahman Green 1-yard run (Longwell extra point), 10:01. Tie 20–20. Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 15:56. GB Green Bay – Green 1-yard run (Longwell extra point), 2:44. Packers 27–20. Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards, 6:42. SEA Seattle – Alexander 1-yard run (Brown extra point), 0:51. Tie 27–27. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 1:44. Overtime GB Green Bay – Al Harris 52-yard interception return, 10:35. Packers 33–27. Drive: 1 play, 52 yards, 0:00. Seattle Seahawks stats Passing Matt Hasselbeck – 25/45, 305 yards, 1 interception Rushing Shaun Alexander – 20 rushes, 45 yards, 3 touchdowns Maurice Morris – 1 rush, 4 yards Receiving Koren Robinson – 7 receptions, 88 yards Bobby Engram – 4 receptions, 83 yards Itula Mili – 6 receptions, 62 yards Darrell Jackson – 5 receptions, 58 yards Alex Bannister – 1 receptions, 8 yards Steve Hutchinson – 1 reception, 5 yards Shaun Alexander – 1 reception, 1 yard Green Bay Packers stats Passing Brett Favre – 26/38, 319 yards, 1 touchdown Rushing Ahman Green – 23 rushes, 66 yards, 2 touchdowns Najeh Davenport – 7 rushes, 21 yards Brett Favre – 1 rush, -1 yard Javon Walker – 1 rush, -8 yards Aaron Rodgers – 2 rushes, 17 yards John Kuhn – 1 rush, 2 yards Receiving Javon Walker – 5 receptions, 111 yards Donald Driver – 6 receptions, 66 yards Ahman Green – 5 receptions, 44 yards William Henderson – 3 receptions, 38 yards Bubba Franks – 2 receptions, 33 yards, 1 touchdown Tony Fisher – 2 receptions, 12 yards Robert Ferguson – 1 reception, 8 yards Wesley Walls – 1 reception, 5 yards David Martin – 1 reception, 2 yards Analysis Much of the post-game analysis focused on Hasselbeck's bold claim after the overtime coin toss and the play made by Harris to win the game. https://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208075181.html/ Electrifying finish has Packers moving on January 5, 2004 June 24, 2024 McGinn Bob Milwaukee Journal April 24, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160424044132/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208075181.html dead On the final play, the Packers blitzed Hasselbeck, who saw it coming before the snap and audibled to a different play. Harris noticed the audible, which he had seen earlier in the game, and took advantage, jumping the route and grabbing the interception. The game was noted for being a fairly even, back-and-forth affair. There was some officiating controversy regarding three separate fumbles, with two calls being overturned by instant replay. Mike Holmgren tried to challenge a possible fumble on a play where Green converted on fourth down and one yard to go, but was not allowed to by the officials. https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-al-for-one-b1/150492688/ Al for one: Part 1 B1 Manitowoc Herald-Times January 5, 2004 July 2, 2024 Associated Press Wilner Barry July 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240702151420/https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-al-for-one-b1/150492688/ live https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-al-for-one-b2/150492699/ Al for one: Part 2 B2 Manitowoc Herald-Times January 5, 2004 July 2, 2024 Associated Press Wilner Barry July 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240702151329/https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-al-for-one-b2/150492699/ live After the game, the Manitowoc Herald-Times noted that the victory was a team win, with key contributions coming from multiple players on offense and defense. https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-plenty-of-heroes/150492657/ Plenty of heroes in win Stapleton Arie Associated Press January 5, 2004 July 2, 2024 Manitowoc Herald-Times clipping Newspapers.com July 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240702151330/https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-plenty-of-heroes/150492657/ live Favre's touchdown pass made it his 14th straight playoff game with a passing touchdown, beating Dan Marino's record at the time. Outcome thumb|right|alt=Photo of Hasselbeck during a game with the Seahawks|Matt Hasselbeck's (shown here in 2009) confident exclamation at the beginning of overtime and subsequent interception to end the game contributed to the enduring legacy of the game. The Packers moved on to the Divisional Round of the playoffs to face the first seeded Philadelphia Eagles. This game also went into overtime after the Eagles converted on fourth down with 26 yards to go in the fourth quarter. The ensuing Eagles' field goal tied the game at the end of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. The Eagles kicked another field goal to secure a 20–17 victory and move on to the NFC Championship Game. https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208253881.html Milwaukee Journal January 12, 2024 Fourth-and-26, other gaffes by Packers lead to demise vs. Eagles June 14, 2024 May 14, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210514144420/https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/208253881.html/ live Legacy Harris was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Week for his interception returned for a touchdown, which was the first defensive touchdown to win an overtime playoff game in NFL history. https://www.packers.com/news/al-harris-named-nfl-defensive-player-of-the-week-2468042 Packers.com Al Harris Named NFL Defensive Player Of The Week January 6, 2004 June 24, 2024 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192912/https://www.packers.com/news/al-harris-named-nfl-defensive-player-of-the-week-2468042 live In honor of its 100th anniversary in 2019, the NFL compiled a list of the 100 greatest games and the 100 greatest plays. https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/ NFL.com June 22, 2024 100 Greatest June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624193002/https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/ live This game was ranked as the 72nd greatest in NFL history, while Harris' interception return for a touchdown was ranked as the 86th greatest play. https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/games-72 NFC Wild Card Playoff - "We're gonna score" June 22, 2024 Collinsworth Cris Cris Collinsworth NFL.com June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192913/https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/games-72 live https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/plays-86 Al Harris Overtime Int to Win Playoff Game June 22, 2024 NFL.com June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624193035/https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/plays-86 live In 2020, the Harris' interception was ranked as one of the greatest moments in Wisconsin sports history by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; two years later the newspaper named the play one of the greatest in Packers' playoff history. https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/04/12/50-greatest-wisconsin-sports-moments-no-41-al-harris-pick-six/5132422002/ Radcliffe JR April 25, 2020 July 9, 2025 50 in 50: Al Harris takes the ball, and he's gonna score June 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240625135618/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/04/12/50-greatest-wisconsin-sports-moments-no-41-al-harris-pick-six/5132422002/ live https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2022/01/21/25-greatest-playoff-moments-green-bay-packers-history/6582175001/ The 25 greatest playoff plays for the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl era June 25, 2024 Radcliffe JR January 21, 2022 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel June 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230608223131/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2022/01/21/25-greatest-playoff-moments-green-bay-packers-history/6582175001/ live The game and the play are a notable part of the Packers–Seahawks rivalry and are still discussed years later. https://sports.mynorthwest.com/747607/top-5-seahawks-packers-games/ MyNorthwest.com Seahawks-Packers rivalry has some memorable games — these are the top 5 January 9, 2020 June 24, 2024 Wassell Tom April 28, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200428080609/https://sports.mynorthwest.com/747607/top-5-seahawks-packers-games/ live https://bleacherreport.com/articles/128017-the-biggest-foot-in-mouth-moment-in-recent-sports-history BleacherReport.com The Biggest Foot-in-Mouth Moment in Recent Sports History B. Lee February 22, 2009 June 24, 2024 June 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240624192942/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/128017-the-biggest-foot-in-mouth-moment-in-recent-sports-history live https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-packers-top-moments/ Seattle Times Seahawks vs. Packers: Here are the most memorable moments between Seattle and Green Bay January 6, 2016 July 2, 2024 Quinton Sean February 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200229210237/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-packers-top-moments/ live Hasselbeck returned to Lambeau Field for a Monday Night Countdown in 2017 only to find a picture of Harris' interception in his hotel room. After returning to his hotel to find another photo of Harris, he realized it was a prank and autographed the photo. https://www.12up.com/posts/packers-seahawks-playoff-history-is-wilder-than-you-think-thanks-to-this-al-harris-anecdote-01dy623dr7wf Kurpeski Alex Matt Hasselbeck Getting Trolled 13 Years After Infamous Pick-6 vs Packers in Playoffs is Legendary January 9, 2020 June 24, 2024 12Up.com January 10, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200110223122/https://www.12up.com/posts/packers-seahawks-playoff-history-is-wilder-than-you-think-thanks-to-this-al-harris-anecdote-01dy623dr7wf live The game was also highlighted on NFL's Greatest Games. https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/2003-nfc-wild-card--seahawks--packers/umc.cmc.254hv3i0fqr3aqfks5vhq540l 2003 NFC Wild Card Seahawks @ Packers September 16, 1997 TV.Apple.com January 9, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241226055433/https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/2003-nfc-wild-card--seahawks--packers/umc.cmc.254hv3i0fqr3aqfks5vhq540l December 26, 2024 dead See also List of nicknamed NFL games and plays References External links _RFOwmNDfPY Al Harris' Game-Winning Pick Six in OT Seahawks vs Packers 2003 NFC Wild Card Game Highlights Category:2003 NFL season Category:NFL playoff games Category:Green Bay Packers playoff games Category:Seattle Seahawks postseason Category:2004 in sports in Wisconsin Category:January 2004 sports events in the United States Category:Nicknamed sporting events Category:American football competitions in Wisconsin Category:Brett Favre Category:Sports competitions in Green Bay, Wisconsin