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Wild Card Weekend
Playoff Fever Kicks Off Second Season on Xbox.com
Jan. 3, 2003 — Today, Microsoft announced the second year of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever previews upcoming NFL playoff games every Friday and features simulated highlight reels, game summaries and statistics. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
Last week, in the conclusion of its second regular season, NFL Fever on Monday Night correctly predicted that the St. Louis Rams would beat the San Francisco 49ers. Fever finished the season with a 13–4 record and picked 12 of the last 14 Monday Night winners. The simulation also reached a milestone with the prediction of its 30th winner. The all-time Fever record now stands at an impressive 30–11.
Fever kicks off its second season of playoff action with this week's Wild Card Weekend.
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
The surprising AFC East Champion Jets succeeded in two early first-quarter scores, giving New York an advantage of 14–0. The Colts came back in the second quarter when Indianapolis reached paydirt on a one-yard run. But, the Jets responded with their third touchdown pass of the half and a two-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, putting New York up 28–7. Indianapolis, however, proved it would not go quietly. The Colts began a scoring spree with a 68-yard bomb and a two-point conversion. Then, a field goal, made just before the half, brought the Colts within 10 points of the Jets. In the second half, Indianapolis kept up its momentum, and before long, the Colts had completed a run of 17 unanswered points. Trailing 28–25 in the fourth quarter, New York's defense put the clamp down on the Colts. In the end, the Jets nailed the Colts' coffin shut with a 22-yard touchdown pass, resulting in a final score of 35–25.
In a flawless Player-of-the-Game performance, Chad Pennington finished 23 of 25 for 332 yards, with four touchdowns passing and one touchdown rushing. With the win, New York will travel to either Oakland or Tennessee for next week's AFC Divisional Playoffs, dependent upon the Cleveland and Pittsburgh matchup.
Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
Despite Atlanta's 13–0 home playoff record and temperatures below freezing, Atlanta came out strong, striking first on a four-yard touchdown to take a 7–0 first quarter lead. Then, in a tumultuous flurry of turnovers, Green Bay finally managed to get on the board with a touchdown, tying the game 7–7. Atlanta started the second half with a 52-yard touchdown pass and a two-yard run, building the Falcons lead to 20-7. Then, Green Bay's Brett Favre, engineering a scoring drive that ended in a 24-yard field goal, took a third down shot to the knees. Favre was never the same, as he limped into the fourth quarter and threw his third interception, sealing a shocking upset victory for Atlanta of 20–10.
Michael Vick was named Player of the Game with 194 yards passing and 51 yards rushing. Atlanta will travel to Philadelphia next week to take on the Eagles.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland and Pittsburgh have been rivals for years, and this game was a battle to the bitter end. Pittsburgh started the game with three first-half touchdowns, but Cleveland held its own, scoring on a 98-yard kickoff return, a 34-yard field goal, and a 70-yard touchdown. At the half, Pittsburgh led 21–16. Then, the Browns took a lead of 22–21 in the third quarter, thanks to a one-yard touchdown run. Not to be outdone, Pittsburgh reclaimed the advantage, 24–22, with a 21-yard field goal to end the third quarter. In the fourth, the Brown reclaimed the advantage with a one-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion, putting the Browns up 30–24. But, Pittsburgh wouldn't go away, and a third touchdown connection late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 30–30. Jeff Reed's extra point was the game winner for the Steelers, who pulled out a hard-fought victory of 31–30.
Hines Ward won Player of the Game honors by catching eight passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. With this win, Pittsburgh will travel to Tennessee for a showdown with the Titans.
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
In a rematch of the inaugural game of this year's NFL season, the Giants squared off against the 49ers. The Giants began the first quarter with an interception, which resulted in a 60-yard touchdown, and a 57-yard touchdown, putting New York up 14–0. But, the Niners before the half, hitting two touchdowns and tying the game at 14. Then, the Giants scored a 39-yard field goal just before the half to give the New York a 17–14 halftime lead. Unfortunately, the 49ers never got going in the second half, as New York's defense stymied Quarterback Jeff Garcia by sacking him four times. A 12-yard touchdown sealed the win for New York at 24–14.
Player of the Game Shaun Williams finished with six solo tackles, a sack, an interception, and a touchdown. New York's victory sends them to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers next week.
Playoff Fever Kicks Off Second Season on Xbox.com
Jan. 3, 2003 — Today, Microsoft announced the second year of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever previews upcoming NFL playoff games every Friday and features simulated highlight reels, game summaries and statistics. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
Last week, in the conclusion of its second regular season, NFL Fever on Monday Night correctly predicted that the St. Louis Rams would beat the San Francisco 49ers. Fever finished the season with a 13–4 record and picked 12 of the last 14 Monday Night winners. The simulation also reached a milestone with the prediction of its 30th winner. The all-time Fever record now stands at an impressive 30–11.
Fever kicks off its second season of playoff action with this week's Wild Card Weekend.
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
The surprising AFC East Champion Jets succeeded in two early first-quarter scores, giving New York an advantage of 14–0. The Colts came back in the second quarter when Indianapolis reached paydirt on a one-yard run. But, the Jets responded with their third touchdown pass of the half and a two-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, putting New York up 28–7. Indianapolis, however, proved it would not go quietly. The Colts began a scoring spree with a 68-yard bomb and a two-point conversion. Then, a field goal, made just before the half, brought the Colts within 10 points of the Jets. In the second half, Indianapolis kept up its momentum, and before long, the Colts had completed a run of 17 unanswered points. Trailing 28–25 in the fourth quarter, New York's defense put the clamp down on the Colts. In the end, the Jets nailed the Colts' coffin shut with a 22-yard touchdown pass, resulting in a final score of 35–25.
In a flawless Player-of-the-Game performance, Chad Pennington finished 23 of 25 for 332 yards, with four touchdowns passing and one touchdown rushing. With the win, New York will travel to either Oakland or Tennessee for next week's AFC Divisional Playoffs, dependent upon the Cleveland and Pittsburgh matchup.
Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
Despite Atlanta's 13–0 home playoff record and temperatures below freezing, Atlanta came out strong, striking first on a four-yard touchdown to take a 7–0 first quarter lead. Then, in a tumultuous flurry of turnovers, Green Bay finally managed to get on the board with a touchdown, tying the game 7–7. Atlanta started the second half with a 52-yard touchdown pass and a two-yard run, building the Falcons lead to 20-7. Then, Green Bay's Brett Favre, engineering a scoring drive that ended in a 24-yard field goal, took a third down shot to the knees. Favre was never the same, as he limped into the fourth quarter and threw his third interception, sealing a shocking upset victory for Atlanta of 20–10.
Michael Vick was named Player of the Game with 194 yards passing and 51 yards rushing. Atlanta will travel to Philadelphia next week to take on the Eagles.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland and Pittsburgh have been rivals for years, and this game was a battle to the bitter end. Pittsburgh started the game with three first-half touchdowns, but Cleveland held its own, scoring on a 98-yard kickoff return, a 34-yard field goal, and a 70-yard touchdown. At the half, Pittsburgh led 21–16. Then, the Browns took a lead of 22–21 in the third quarter, thanks to a one-yard touchdown run. Not to be outdone, Pittsburgh reclaimed the advantage, 24–22, with a 21-yard field goal to end the third quarter. In the fourth, the Brown reclaimed the advantage with a one-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion, putting the Browns up 30–24. But, Pittsburgh wouldn't go away, and a third touchdown connection late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 30–30. Jeff Reed's extra point was the game winner for the Steelers, who pulled out a hard-fought victory of 31–30.
Hines Ward won Player of the Game honors by catching eight passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. With this win, Pittsburgh will travel to Tennessee for a showdown with the Titans.
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
In a rematch of the inaugural game of this year's NFL season, the Giants squared off against the 49ers. The Giants began the first quarter with an interception, which resulted in a 60-yard touchdown, and a 57-yard touchdown, putting New York up 14–0. But, the Niners before the half, hitting two touchdowns and tying the game at 14. Then, the Giants scored a 39-yard field goal just before the half to give the New York a 17–14 halftime lead. Unfortunately, the 49ers never got going in the second half, as New York's defense stymied Quarterback Jeff Garcia by sacking him four times. A 12-yard touchdown sealed the win for New York at 24–14.
Player of the Game Shaun Williams finished with six solo tackles, a sack, an interception, and a touchdown. New York's victory sends them to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers next week.
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