2002 NFC Championship vs Panthers
Barber's pick-six seals Bucs' first NFC title in Philadelphia.
The 2002 NFC Championship Game was played on January 19, 2003, at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to win their first NFC Championship.
Quick Facts
- Event
- 2002 NFC Championship Game
- Date
- January 19, 2003
- Location
- Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Opponent
- Carolina Panthers
- Final score
- Buccaneers 27, Panthers 10
- Outcome
- Buccaneers advance to Super Bowl XXXVII
- Key narrative
- First NFC Championship victory in franchise history
Lore & Background
In a surprising upset, Tampa Bay won their first NFC Championship on the road against the Eagles in the last NFL game ever played at Veterans Stadium. Cornerback Ronde Barber capped off the win by intercepting a Donovan McNabb pass and returning it 92 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Reader's Guide
The Buccaneers' defense, which allowed the second-lowest points of any Super Bowl-winning team (after the 2000 Ravens), was the key to the victory. The win sent Tampa Bay to Super Bowl XXXVII, where they defeated the Oakland Raiders 48–21.
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