Panthers to face Eagles in NFC championship after dropping Rams in OT

(Philadelphia-AP) Jan. 12, 2004 - Carolina will play at Philadelphia on Sunday in the NFC Championship game. The Eagles are heading to the conference title game for the third straight year after beating the Green Bay Packers 20-17 in overtime on Sunday.

The Panthers stunned Saint Louis 29-23 on the first play of the second overtime in the NFC divisional playoffs on Saturday. Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith on a 69-yard TD pass to end the fifth double-overtime playoff game in NFL history.

The Panthers held St. Louis to just four field goals before the Rams forced overtime with 11 points in the final 2:39 seconds of regulation.

Both teams missed chances to win in the first overtime as both the Panthers and Rams missed long field goals in OT. Their eight combined field goals tied an NFL playoff record as Jeff Wilkins hit five for the Rams and John Kasay hit three for the Panthers.

Ricky Manning's interception for the Panthers set up Carolina's winning score in the first double overtime game since 1987.

With Stephen Davis' status uncertain for the NFC championship game, the Panthers might need backup DeShaun Foster to carry the load. Davis was injured near the end of his season-long 64-yard run. Coach John Fox says the injury, first reported as a quadriceps strain, is instead a groin problem.

Davis had been off to a strong start against the Rams and had 86 yards on six carries before the second-quarter injury stopped him. Foster finished with a career-high 95 yards on 21 carries.

And, to top everything off, Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory can celebrate the win over the rams with some St. Louis home-cooking. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay wagered a banquet off St. Louis treats against some Charlotte home-cooking.

Mayor McCrory won Anheuser-Busch beer, toasted ravioli from the Pasta House Company, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Volpi Foods salami, Swiss-American Cheese, even a five-and-a-half milk chocolate football from Bissinger's along with St. Louis-made TUMS antacids.

McCrory wagered his state's famous barbecue, along with hushpuppies, Lance crackers, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Carolina Blonde Beer and Goody's Headache Powder.

posted 8:15am by Chris Rees