NFC Divisional Playoff: Panthers Win in Double OT

The NFC Divisional playoff matchup between the Panthers and Rams on January 10, 2004 was a four-hour-plus thriller at the rowdy Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. In the first three quarters, the teams combined for seven field goals and Carolina led 16-12. A Panthers touchdown with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter extended their lead to 11. When the Rams scored on a Marshall Faulk touchdown run with under three minutes left, it felt like it was too-little, too-late for St. Louis. The Rams had just one timeout remaining. But then things got wild: the Rams converted on the two-point conversion – and recovered the onside kick. Several plays later, the Rams’ Jeff Wilkins kicked a 33-yard field goal to force overtime. On its first possession, Carolina’s John Kasay made a 40-yard field goal that appeared to win the game – but it didn’t count due to a delay of game penalty, and Kasay missed a follow-up 45-yarder. The Rams missed their own field goal attempt of 53 yards. Then in the second overtime, on a 3rd-and-14, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and receiver Steve Smith – on a play known as “X-Clown” – connected on a 69-yard touchdown that won the game, 29-23. The next week, Carolina won the NFC championship. ― NFL 100

Box Score: Football Reference

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