2003 Green Bay Packers season

Last updated

2003 Green Bay Packers season
Head coach Mike Sherman
Home field Lambeau Field
Results
Record10–6
Division place1st NFC North
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Seahawks) 33–27 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Eagles) 17–20 (OT)
Pro Bowlers
All-Pros
1
Uniform
Packers 12 uniform.xcf
Packers (including QB Doug Pederson) at their preseason game against Tennessee, August 28, 2003 Packers-Lambeau-20030728.jpg
Packers (including QB Doug Pederson) at their preseason game against Tennessee, August 28, 2003

The 2003 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 85th season overall and their 83rd in the National Football League (NFL).

Contents

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 after Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck proclaimed "We want the ball and we're going to score!" after the overtime coin toss. 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 for 399 yards and 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]

AdditionsSubtractions
FB Nick Luchey (Bengals)LB Nate Wayne (Eagles)
LB Hannibal Navies (Panthers)S Matt Bowen (Redskins)
C Grey Ruegamer (Patriots)CB Tyrone Williams (Falcons)
DE Chukie Nwokorie (Colts)CB Tod McBride (Falcons)
OT Reggie Coleman (Bengals)DE Vonnie Holliday (Chiefs)
RB Lamar Smith (Panthers)WR Terry Glenn (Cowboys)
OT Marcus Spriggs (Dolphins)LB Hardy Nickerson (retirement)
CB Al Harris (Eagles)

NFL draft

2003 Green Bay Packers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
129 Nick Barnett   LB Oregon State
379 Kenny Peterson   DE Ohio State
4147 James Lee   OT Oregon State
4166 Hunter Hillenmeyer  LB Vanderbilt
6212 Brennan Curtin  OT Notre Dame
7245 Chris Johnson   CB Louisville
7253 DeAndrew Rubin   WR South Florida
7256 Carl Ford  WR Toledo
7257 Steve Josue  LB Carson-Newman
      Made roster  

Undrafted free agents

2003 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Tommy CollinsFullback UConn
Quentus CumbySafety Kentucky
Cullen Jenkins Defensive end Central Michigan
Shantee Orr Linebacker Michigan
J. R. TaylorRunning back Eastern Illinois

Personnel

Staff

2003 Green Bay Packers staff

Front office

  • President and chief executive officer – Bob Harlan
  • Executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer – John Jones
  • Vice president of Player Finance/General Counsel – Andrew Brandt
  • Vice president of football operations – Mark Hatley
  • Director of college scouting – John Dorsey
  • Director of pro personnel – Reggie McKenzie
  • Personnel analyst to general manager – John Schneider
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Shaun Herock
  • Assistant director of pro personnel – Sean Howard

Head coaches

  • Executive vice president/general manager/head coach – Mike Sherman
  • Assistant head coach/defensive backs – Bob Slowik

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator – John Bonamego
  • Assistant special teams – Stan Drayton
  • Special Teams Consultant – Frank Novak

Strength and conditioning


Roster

2003 Green Bay Packers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Injured Reserve

Practice Squad

Rookies in italics

53 active, 12 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Regular season

The Packers finished the season 10–6 and advanced to the Divisional round of the playoffs.

WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteTV Time (CST)Attendance
1September 7 Minnesota Vikings L 25–30 Lambeau Field Fox 12:00pm70,505
2September 14 Detroit Lions W 31–6Lambeau Field Fox 12:00pm70,244
3September 21at Arizona Cardinals L 13–20 Sun Devil Stadium Fox 3:05pm58,784
4September 29at Chicago Bears W 38–23 Soldier Field ABC 8:00pm61,500
5October 5 Seattle Seahawks W 35–13Lambeau Field Fox 12:00pm70,365
6October 12 Kansas City Chiefs L 34–40 (OT)Lambeau Field CBS 12:00pm70,407
7October 19at St. Louis Rams L 24–34 Edward Jones Dome Fox 12:00pm66,201
8 Bye
9November 2at Minnesota VikingsW 30–27 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome ESPN 7:30pm64,482
10November 10 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–17Lambeau Field ABC 8:00pm70,291
11November 16at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–13 Raymond James Stadium Fox 3:15pm65,614
12November 23 San Francisco 49ers W 20–10Lambeau Field Fox 12:00pm70,250
13 November 27 at Detroit LionsL 14–22 Ford Field Fox 11:30am62,123
14December 7Chicago BearsW 34–21Lambeau Field Fox 12:00pm70,458
15December 14at San Diego Chargers W 38–21 Qualcomm Stadium Fox 3:15pm64,978
16December 22at Oakland Raiders W 41–7 Network Associates Coliseum ABC 8:00pm62,298
17December 28 Denver Broncos W 31–3Lambeau Field CBS 3:15pm70,299
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text

Game summaries

Week 1: vs Minnesota Vikings

Week One: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Vikings10107330
Packers0381425

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 12:00pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 71 °F (22 °C), 78% humidity, wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 70,505
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger & Drew Smith
Game information

Week 2: vs Detroit Lions

Week Two: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Lions06006
Packers1437731

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals

Week Three: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers0100313
Cardinals733720

at Sun Devil Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 3:05pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 102 °F (39 °C), 7% humidity, wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 58,784
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger & Kevin McCabe
Game information

Week 4: at Chicago Bears

Week Four: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers17701438
Bears0631423

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 5: vs Seattle Seahawks

Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Seahawks760013
Packers71414035

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 6: vs Kansas City Chiefs

Week Six: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Chiefs77020640
Packers147103034

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 7: at St. Louis Rams

Week Seven: Green Bay Packers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers377724
Rams1477634

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings

Week Nine: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers61401030
Vikings776727

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 10: vs Philadelphia Eagles

Week Ten: Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Eagles0031417
Packers070714

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

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
Quarter1234Total
Packers760720
Buccaneers067013

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 12: vs San Francisco 49ers

Week Twelve: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
49ers037010
Packers7100320

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 13: at Detroit Lions

Week Thirteen: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers077014
Lions1030922

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 14: vs Chicago Bears

Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears1400721
Packers01361534

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 15: at San Diego Chargers

Week Fifteen: Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers71002138
Bears3031521

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 3:15pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 61 °F (16 °C), 52% humidity, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 64,978
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas & Drew Smith
Game information

Week 16: at Oakland Raiders

Week Sixteen: Green Bay Packers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers14173741
Raiders70007

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California

Game information

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
Quarter1234Total
Broncos00303
Packers7371431

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information
Lambeau Field on a game day, December 2003 LambeaufieldGreenbay.jpg
Lambeau Field on a game day, December 2003

Playoffs

vs. Seattle Seahawks

Quarter1234OTTotal
Seahawks33147027
Packers013014633

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

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 when Jordan Love led the 7th seeded Packers past the Dallas Cowboys 48-32. Despite the close final, the Packers led 27-0 late in the 2nd quarter. Brett Favre's last playoff win would come in 2007 when Green Bay beat Seattle in the Divisional Round 42-20 before falling to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship the following week.

vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Quarter1234OTTotal
Packers14003017
Eagles07010320

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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.

Standings

NFC North
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Green Bay Packers 1060.6254–27–5442307W4
Minnesota Vikings 970.5634–27–5416353L1
Chicago Bears 790.4382–44–8283346L1
Detroit Lions 5110.3132–44–8270379W1

Awards and honors

References

  1. Offseason Overview: Green Bay Packers, espn.com obtained 2009-03-12
  2. 1 2 "Green Bay Packers 2003 Team Transactions - Trades, Injured List, Free Agents, and Signings - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "2003 Green Bay Packers Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  4. "Official Packers press release regarding the 12/22/03 game". Archived from the original on March 9, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2006.
  5. "Live NFL Scores for 2021 - Week 10". NFL.com .
  6. "WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2007./index.php?ntid=266179