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 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.Offseason Overview: Green Bay Packers, espn.com obtained 2009-03-12 Additions SubtractionsFB 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
Undrafted free agents + 2003 undrafted free agents of note Player Position CollegeKeith BurnellCornerbackDelawareTommy CollinsFullbackUConnQuentus CumbySafetyKentuckyCullen JenkinsDefensive endCentral MichiganShantee OrrLinebackerMichiganDavid PorterGuard/TackleIowaEric PowellDefensive endFlorida StateJamil SorianoGuard/TackleHarvardJ. R. TaylorRunning backEastern Illinois
Personnel
Staff
Roster 2003 Green Bay Packers roster Quarterbacks Brett Favre Craig Nall Doug Pederson Running backs Najeh Davenport Tony Fisher Ahman Green William Henderson FB Nick Luchey FB Wide receivers Antonio Chatman Donald Driver Robert Ferguson 86 Antonio Freeman Javon Walker Tight ends Bubba Franks David Martin Wesley Walls Offensive linemen Kevin Barry OT Chad Clifton OT Brennan Curtin OT Mike Flanagan C Marco Rivera G Grey Ruegamer C Marcus Spriggs G Mark Tauscher OT Mike Wahle G Defensive linemen Gilbert Brown DT Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila DE Cletidus Hunt DT Aaron Kampman DE Grady Jackson DT Chukie Nwokorie DE Kenny Peterson DT Jamal Reynolds DE Larry Smith DT Linebackers Nick Barnett MLB Na'il Diggs OLB Paris Lenon OLB Torrance Marshall MLB Hannibal Navies OLB Marcus Wilkins OLB
Defensive backs Marques Anderson SS Derek Combs CB Curtis Fuller FS Al Harris CB Michael Hawthorne CB Bhawoh Jue SS Mike McKenzie CB Darren Sharper FS Erwin Swiney CB James Whitley CB
Special teams Josh Bidwell P Rob Davis LS Ryan Longwell K Injured Reserve Earl Cochran DE (IR) Antuan Edwards S (IR) Carl Ford WR (IR) Bobby Jackson S (IR) Chris Johnson CB (IR) Joe Johnson DE (IR) James Lee DT (IR) Devin Lewis WR (IR) Rod Walker DT (IR) Bryant Westbrook CB (IR) Travis Williams WR (NF-Inj.)
Practice Squad Calvin Carlyle S Dahrran Diedrick RB Jason Jimenez OT Steve Josue OLB Frank Rice WR Scottie Vines WR (IR)
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.
Week Date Opponent Result Game site Attendance 1 September 7 Minnesota Vikings L 25–30 Lambeau Field 70,505 2 September 14 Detroit Lions W 31–6 Lambeau Field 70,244 3 September 21 at Arizona Cardinals L 13–20 Sun Devil Stadium 58,784 4 at Chicago Bears W 38–23 Soldier Field 61,500 5 October 5 Seattle Seahawks W 35–13 Lambeau Field 70,365 6 October 12 Kansas City Chiefs L 34–40 Lambeau Field 70,407 7 October 19 at St. Louis Rams L 24–34 Edward Jones Dome 66,201 8 Bye 9 November 2 at Minnesota Vikings W 30–27 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,482 10 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–17 Lambeau Field 70,291 11 November 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–13 Raymond James Stadium 65,614 12 November 23 San Francisco 49ers W 20–10 Lambeau Field 70,250 13 November 27 at Detroit Lions L 14–22 Ford Field 62,123 14 December 7 Chicago Bears W 34–21 Lambeau Field 70,458 15 December 14 at San Diego Chargers W 38–21 Qualcomm Stadium 64,978 16 at Oakland Raiders W 41–7 Network Associates Coliseum 62,298 17 December 28 Denver Broncos W 31–3 Lambeau Field 70,299Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: vs Detroit Lions
Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
Week 5: vs Seattle Seahawks
Week 6: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Week 7: at St. Louis Rams
Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: vs Philadelphia Eagles
On November 5, 2003, the Packers claimed defensive tackle Grady Jackson off waivers from the New Orleans Saints. Jackson helped the Packers allow only 95.38 rushing yards per game over the final 8 games, after allowing over 117 yards per game in the first 8 games. Jackson signed a two-year contract extension on December 29, 2003.
Week 11: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 12: vs San Francisco 49ers
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
Week 14: vs Chicago Bears
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week 16: at Oakland Raiders
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."
Week 17: vs Denver Broncos
With the blowout win, along with Arizona's comeback win over Minnesota, Green Bay successfully clinched the NFC North (#4 in the NFC) at 10-6. The Packers finished the regular season 6-2 at home and 3-1 against the AFC West.
Playoffs
vs. Seattle Seahawks
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!" 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)./index.php?ntid=266179
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
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
Awards and honors Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Completion Percentage (65.4) Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes (32)
References
External links 2003 Packers results and recaps