4th and 26
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4th and 26 (for fourth down and 26 yards to go) is the nickname given to a famous play that occurred during the 2003-04 playoffs of the National Football League. The play occurred on January 11, 2004 at Lincoln Financial Field during the fourth quarter of a divisional playoff game between the visiting Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The NFC East champion and top-seeded Eagles were coming off an opening round bye while the fourth-seeded, NFC North champion Packers were the visiting team.
The Packers had the Eagles well under control for most of the game, scoring two quick touchdowns on Brett Favre passes to take a 14-point lead early in the game. The Eagles were held scoreless for the first and third quarters, but were able to score a touchdown in the second quarter and fourth quarter to tie the game at 14 apiece. The Packers regained the outright lead on a 21-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, leaving the Eagles less than two minutes to function a drive. After three plays pushed the Eagles back to their own 25 yard line, the Eagles were faced with a daunting fourth down with 26 yards needed to convert a first down with 1:12 remaining and no timeouts available - failure to convert would allow the Packers to run out the clock and win the game.
The play called for a 25-yard slant running route for flamboyant wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, and saw Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb toss a perfect 28-yard strike to Mitchell deep into the Packers secondary. Mitchell, who was covered by Packers safety Bhawoh Jue, completed a leaping reception and was brought down at the Packers 46, giving the Eagles a first down and giving new life to the stadium.[1]
The play set up David Akers' 37-yard field goal after McNabb ran for another first down. The field goal was good, and the game went into overtime, where the Eagles were able to intercept a Packers pass and set up another Akers field goal. The 31-yard kick split the uprights, giving the Eagles a dramatic 20-17 victory in sudden death overtime. The play became a benchmark for the horrendous Green Bay defense that had severely hampered their season, but more importantly, it helped send the Eagles to their third straight NFC Championship Game.
Limited edition T-shirts were made immediately following the game, with "FOURTH AND 26" emblazoned on the front and "BELIEVE" printed on the back.[2] However, the Eagles went on to lose the NFC Championship game again - for the third year in a row and the second consecutive year at home - to the Carolina Panthers.
[edit] Sources and notes
- philadelphia-eagles.net history article The Miracle Of 4th & 26 Which Led To An Improbable Eagles Win. published January 12, 2004 (date in article is one year off)
