Results of the NFL Playoff Matches - 2004-01-12

In the NFL playoffs, for the first time in history, three matches went into overtime, the latest being on Sunday in Philadelphia where the host team, the Philadelphia Eagles, ultimately defeated the Green Bay Packers with a score of 20 to 17. The Philadelphia team, thanks to a 3-point field goal by their player David Akers, tied the game with Green Bay at 17-17, leading to overtime where Akers scored another field goal to secure the victory for Philadelphia. Donovan McNabb, the quarterback and leader of the Philadelphia offense, completed 21 of the 39 passes he threw. The Green Bay team had previously won in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks in this playoff round. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Carolina Panthers in their next game on Sunday, January 18, which is the NFC Conference Championship game, and the winner will advance to the Super Bowl. The 38th Super Bowl in NFL history will take place on February 1 in Houston, Texas. The Carolina Panthers had also defeated the St. Louis Rams in the second overtime with a score of 29 to 23. On Saturday, the New England Patriots in the other conference, the American Conference, defeated the Tennessee Titans 17 to 14 in severe cold of minus 17 degrees Celsius in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Adam Vinatieri, a player for New England, secured the victory with a field goal four minutes before the end of regulation time. Now, the New England team will face the Indianapolis Colts in the American Conference Championship game, and the winner will also head to the Super Bowl in Houston. The Indianapolis team shocked the Kansas City Chiefs at home with a score of 38 to 31 on Sunday... Peyton Manning, the quarterback for Indianapolis, completed 22 of the 30 passes he threw, resulting in 304 yards and 3 touchdowns.