The 12th week of the 2003 NFL season might have been the most exciting ever. Featuring improbable comebacks and overtime thrillers, not a single game was decided by two touchdowns or more. Indeed, if all the games were replayed, just two-thirds would have been won by the same teams.
The first game of the weekend was a 30-27 overtime game between St. Louis and Arizona. The Rams squandered a 24-0 lead in the late third quarter, letting the Cardinals take a 27-24 lead. But in the final three minutes the Rams drove 83 yards, including a fourth-and-seven conversion, to set up a 24-yard field goal as time expired. In overtime the Rams drove to the winning 49-yarder. Marc Bulger, the the Ram’s QB, threw 4 interceptions but still threw for 329 yards.
The next game was a 38-31 comeback win by Tennessee over Atlanta. The Falcons held a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Titans countered with a 14-point second quarter. Tennessee then had a 24-3 run to take a commanding 38-24 lead with seven minutes left, but a 41-yard touchdown made the score 38-31. Atlanta got the ball back but were stopped on downs to prevent overtime.
Indianapolis triumphed 17-14 over Buffalo despite the Bill’s 14-3 lead in the fourth quarter. But Edgerrin James scored on a 14-yard rumble and then scored the game-winner on fourth-and-one after the Colts had been stopped for no gain on the previous two downs.
The next game was yet another comeback, this one an ugly 13-6 AFC North matchup between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Both defenses did a great job, with Cleveland limiting the Steelers to 168 yards and Pittsburgh forcing 5 turnovers that led to all 13 Steelers’ points. Cleveland led 6-0 with three minutes left in the half, but a fumble recovery allowed the Steelers to score a touchdown and a quick field goal to take a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish.
Next came a 24-20 thriller between Dallas and Carolina. The teams were tied three times during the game, including a tie at 17-17 before Dallas scored on an option-wishbone play to take the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Then came a 19-10 Chicago triumph over Denver. Paul Edinger kicked 4 field goals, but the key play was a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak that just got in for a touchdown. Denver might have had a chance for a comeback had the snap for a field goal not been fumbled.
Green Bay needed 243 yards rushing to defeat the 49er’s 20-10. Brett Favre threw two touchdowns and Green Bay converted three third downs to run out the clock. Terrell Owens made a great fourth-down touchdown catch to make the score 17-10, but three other times San Francisco was unable to convert in Packer territory.
New England scored with 41 seconds left in overtime to defeat Houston. The Patriots had a much better game offensively, but committed three turnovers that kept the Texans in the game. A last-minute touchdown pass by Tom Brady tied it up. After two possession changes Adam Vinatieri won it 23-20 on a 28-yard field goal.
Morten Andersen kicked a 45-yard field goal with just four seconds left to give the Chiefs a 27-24 victory over Oakland. The game-winning drive included a crucial 16-yard pass on fourth-and-14 just two minutes after Sebastian Janikowski’s 41-yarder to tie it up.
Minnesota pulled an incredible comeback to win over Detroit 24-14. After a fourth-quarter field goal, Minnesota ran an interception back for a touchdown, then three plays later, they did it again. Scoring 17 points in the final three minutes, the Vikings averted overtime in a thriller.
A 94-yard drive in the closing minutes gave the Jets a 13-10 victory over the Jaguars in an otherwise unimportant AFC matchup. Chad Pennington completed 9 of 11 passes on the crucial drive and found Santana Moss on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds left to left the Jets to the top.
Philadelphia was never pressured in a 33-20 win over the Saints, but the game featured some thrilling moments. Deuce McAllister broke a 76-yard run and a 22-yard ramble. The Saints might have won had it not been for a crucial stop by the Philly defense and a fumble at the Eagles’ 1-yard line.
Cincinnati survived a rally from San Diego to win 34-27 on a great performance by Jon Kitna, who threw four touchdown passes and ran the clock out to save the win in the final seconds. Chad Ocho Cinco caught 3 touchdowns of 4, 5, and 12 yards.
Miami rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter to win 24-23. Ricky Williams scored on runs of 1 and 24 yards to givve the Dolphins their slim one-point lead, but they nearly lost it after the Redskins forced a punt from the Dolphin’s nine-yard line.
Tampa Bay beat New York 19-13 on Monday night. Though the Bucs’ defense allowed just 212 yards and forced 4 turnovers, the Giants nearly triumphed as Tampa Bay forced a fumble as halftime expired and later intercepted a pass in the end zone. ‘
By far the most exciting game of the week, however, was a thrilling 44-41 overtime victory by Baltimore over Seattle. The game featured nine touchdown passes in just 29 minutes and 11 seconds, four of them second-half receptions by Baltimore’s Marcus Robinson. The Ravens were down 17-3 at halftime and faced an impossible 41-27 deficit with just 6:41 left and the ball in Seattle’s possession. But star back Ed Reed blocked the Seahawks’ punt and returned it for a touchdown. Then Ray Lewis recovered a fumble at the Raven’s 29 with just 4:16 left. Robinson scored again to put the Ravens just three behind. Seattle recovered the onside kick, seemingly dooming Baltimore. But Matt Hasselbeck was stopped on fourth-and-one to give Baltimore one last shot, and a 44-yard pass interference penalty on a play intended to go to Robinson set up the game-tying 40-yard field goal as time expired. In overtime, the Ravens forced a punt and Matt Stover kicked his third field goal of the game, but not before being set up by a 19-yard pass on third and 15 that went to, of course, Robinson, who fiished the game with 131 yards recieving and 4 touchdowns on just 7 receptions.
