The 2003 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 85th season overall and their 83rd in the
National Football League (NFL).
The Packers won the division on the last play of the season. Needing a win and a
Minnesota Vikings loss to clinch the division, the Packers routed the
Denver Broncos 31–3, while the Vikings lost 18–17 on a last second touchdown by the 3-12
Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers defeated the
Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round in overtime off an interception return for a touchdown by
Al Harris. However, the season finished with an overtime loss to the
Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the playoffs after failing to stop the Eagles on
4th and 26, where a defensive stand on the play would have sealed the team a trip to the
NFC Championship Game for the first time since
1997 as the Eagles had only one timeout remaining and just over a minute left in regulation.
In the Week 16 Monday night game,
Brett Favre threw four touchdowns in a 41–7 win over the
Oakland Raiders, one night after his father died of a heart attack.
Offseason
The Packers were able to add Al Harris to their starting lineup from a trade with Philadelphia. They lost starters Terry Glenn to a trade and Vonnie Holliday to free agency.[1]
On November 5, 2003, the Packers claimed defensive tackle Grady Jackson off waivers from the New Orleans Saints.[2] Jackson helped the Packers allow only 95.38 rushing yards per game over the final 8 games,[3] after allowing over 117 yards per game in the first 8 games.[3] Jackson signed a two-year contract extension on December 29, 2003.[2]
Week 11: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Eleven: Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
The day before the Week 16 game, Irvin Favre, father of Brett Favre, died suddenly of a heart attack. Favre elected to play and passed for four touchdowns in the first half, and 399 yards in a 41–7 defeat of the Raiders. Afterwards, Favre said, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight."[4]
Week 17: vs Denver Broncos
Week Seventeen: Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Packers defensive back
Al Harris returned an interception 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown 4:25 in overtime. The game was sent into overtime on Seahawk running back
Shaun Alexander's third touchdown of the day.
Ahman Green scored two touchdowns for Green Bay, and
Bubba Franks caught a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The game is memorable for Seahawks quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck's ironic comment after winning the coin toss for the start of overtime, telling the referee "We want the ball and we're going to score."[5] This game remains one of two times in NFL history that an NFL playoff game has ended with a defensive touchdown in OT (the other being the January 10, 2010 Wild Card game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Packers).[6]
Packers quarterback
Brett Favre completed 26 of 38 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown.
This would be the last playoff win for the Packers without
Aaron Rodgers until
2023.
Ahman Green's franchise postseason record 156 rushing yards was not enough to lift the Packers to victory. Facing fourth down and 26 yards to go, with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter and the Packers leading 17–14, Eagles quarterback
Donovan McNabb completed a 28-yard pass to
Freddie Mitchell on a famous play now known as "
4th and 26". The play set up
David Akers' 37-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. In the overtime Favre's deep pass was intercepted, and Akers then kicked a 31-yard field goal, giving the Eagles the victory.
McNabb had a spectacular performance in the game, completing 21 of 39 passes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 107 yards on 11 carries.
The 2003 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 85th season overall and their 83rd in the
National Football League (NFL).
The Packers won the division on the last play of the season. Needing a win and a
Minnesota Vikings loss to clinch the division, the Packers routed the
Denver Broncos 31–3, while the Vikings lost 18–17 on a last second touchdown by the 3-12
Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers defeated the
Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round in overtime off an interception return for a touchdown by
Al Harris. However, the season finished with an overtime loss to the
Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the playoffs after failing to stop the Eagles on
4th and 26, where a defensive stand on the play would have sealed the team a trip to the
NFC Championship Game for the first time since
1997 as the Eagles had only one timeout remaining and just over a minute left in regulation.
In the Week 16 Monday night game,
Brett Favre threw four touchdowns in a 41–7 win over the
Oakland Raiders, one night after his father died of a heart attack.
Offseason
The Packers were able to add Al Harris to their starting lineup from a trade with Philadelphia. They lost starters Terry Glenn to a trade and Vonnie Holliday to free agency.[1]
On November 5, 2003, the Packers claimed defensive tackle Grady Jackson off waivers from the New Orleans Saints.[2] Jackson helped the Packers allow only 95.38 rushing yards per game over the final 8 games,[3] after allowing over 117 yards per game in the first 8 games.[3] Jackson signed a two-year contract extension on December 29, 2003.[2]
Week 11: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Eleven: Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
The day before the Week 16 game, Irvin Favre, father of Brett Favre, died suddenly of a heart attack. Favre elected to play and passed for four touchdowns in the first half, and 399 yards in a 41–7 defeat of the Raiders. Afterwards, Favre said, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight."[4]
Week 17: vs Denver Broncos
Week Seventeen: Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Packers defensive back
Al Harris returned an interception 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown 4:25 in overtime. The game was sent into overtime on Seahawk running back
Shaun Alexander's third touchdown of the day.
Ahman Green scored two touchdowns for Green Bay, and
Bubba Franks caught a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The game is memorable for Seahawks quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck's ironic comment after winning the coin toss for the start of overtime, telling the referee "We want the ball and we're going to score."[5] This game remains one of two times in NFL history that an NFL playoff game has ended with a defensive touchdown in OT (the other being the January 10, 2010 Wild Card game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Packers).[6]
Packers quarterback
Brett Favre completed 26 of 38 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown.
This would be the last playoff win for the Packers without
Aaron Rodgers until
2023.
Ahman Green's franchise postseason record 156 rushing yards was not enough to lift the Packers to victory. Facing fourth down and 26 yards to go, with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter and the Packers leading 17–14, Eagles quarterback
Donovan McNabb completed a 28-yard pass to
Freddie Mitchell on a famous play now known as "
4th and 26". The play set up
David Akers' 37-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. In the overtime Favre's deep pass was intercepted, and Akers then kicked a 31-yard field goal, giving the Eagles the victory.
McNabb had a spectacular performance in the game, completing 21 of 39 passes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 107 yards on 11 carries.