NFL Europe stars decide exciting playoff encounters
Published on January 12, 2004 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
THREE of the four NFL Divisional Playoff games played at the weekend were decided by NFL Europe League veterans as the road to Super Bowl provided some thrilling action in the United States.
The exciting action began on Saturday night with the Carolina Panthers springing an upset by defeating the hometown St. Louis Rams 29-23 in overtime. Panthers quarterback JAKE DELHOMME (Amsterdam 1998/Frankfurt 1999) led his team to victory with a 69-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith on the first play of the second period of overtime.
Delhomme continued his impressive form in the NFL playoffs by completing 16 of 26 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown while leading the Panthers to yet another close victory. Carolina won seven games this season by three points or less (most in NFL history).
Delhomme said: "We have been in so many games like that one and we just believe we can get it done in some kind of way. I think the biggest thing is that we stayed calm - we don't just take a deep breath and hope."
Wide receiver DANE LOOKER (Berlin 2002) caught 2 passes for 31 yards for the Rams.
In Saturday's AFC Divisional Playoff, ADAM VINATIERI (Amsterdam 1996) kicked the New England Patriots into the AFC Championship Game as his 46-yard field goal with 4:06 remaining at a freezing Gillette Stadium gave his team a 17-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
"It was a big kick," said Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK. "When we get into those kind of situations - that's what he's here for. And he's certainly come through for us many times before."
Vinatieri earlier missed a 44-yard field goal but saw his game-winner clear the cross bar by just a few inches.
"I honestly thought it wouldn't be that close," Vinatieri said. "When I hit it, I was jumping up and down. But I was the only one jumping up and down - everyone else was still holding their breath."
JOE ANDRUZZI (Scotland 1998) started on New England's offensive line, while defensive end BOBBY HAMILTON (Amsterdam 1995-96) recorded 3 tackles. But Vinatieri was the hero in the testing conditions.
"You throw a parka on and you get in as many kicks as you can on the sideline," Vinatieri explained. "Then you sit on the seat and try to stay warm. Then you go out and kick a rock-hard ball 46 yards through dense, cold air so that, just maybe, your teammates will swarm around you and keep you from freezing."
Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY said: "That's Adam Vinatieri. He does it over and over again and he never surprises us."
DANTE HALL (Scotland 2001) capped an outstanding season when he scored twice on Sunday, although it was not enough to stop the hometown Kansas City Chiefs falling to a 38-31 defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts.
Hall scored on a 92-yard kickoff return and on a 9-yard pass from quarterback Trent Green. The two-time Pro Bowler returned 7 kicks for 208 yards and caught 2 passes for 19 yards.
In the final match of the weekend, DAVID AKERS (Berlin 1999) kicked the Philadelphia Eagles into their third consecutive NFC Championship Game with a 31-yard field goal in overtime to give his team a 20-17 victory against the Green Bay Packers.
Akers had earlier sent the game into overtime with a 37-yarder as time expired.
Linebacker NATE WAYNE (Barcelona 1999) led Philadelphia's defensive effort with 9 tackles against his old team, while fellow linebacker KEITH ADAMS (Berlin 2002) chipped in with 4 stops.
National Football League Europa Stories from January 12, 2004
- Former NFL stars to coach in NFL Europe - NFLE
- NFL Europe stars decide exciting playoff encounters - NFLE
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