Earlier in the day, Patriots cornerback Ty Law, who wears No.24, picked off three passes in New England’s 24-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. Then, in the NFC Championship game, Panthers third-round draft pick Ricky Manning Jr., who also wears No.24, picked off three passes himself as Carolina sent the Philadelphia Eagles to their third-straight NFC Championship loss, 14-3.
The Panthers defense pressured Donovan McNabb early and often, and they hurt him in the second quarter. The Eagles starting quarterback suffered a rib injury after tripping going back to pass and being hit by defensive end Mike Rucker. The injury, which forced him out for the next play, would ultimately send him out of the game for good in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers started the scoring in the second quarter when wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad hauled in a 24-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jake Delhomme. The scoring play capped a nine-play drive keyed by a 21-yard pass to running back Steven Davis and a 15-yard pass to Muhammad.
Philadelphia answered on their next possession with a 13-play drive that set up a 41-yard David Akers field goal for the Eagles only score of the game. But the score came at a heavy price when McNabb came up hurting after the Rucker sack.
Within a ten-minute period that spanned the second and third quarters, Manning intercepted McNabb three times… the third setting up the Panthers final score, a one-yard run to the pylon by DeShaun Foster in which he broke through four tacklers.
Philadelphia’s offense was under attack from their opening drive and could not get any kind of rhythm going. The Panthers recorded five sacks and allowed the Eagles to convert on just 2-of-13 third downs. McNabb ended his day just 10-of-22 for 100 yards.
Delhomme didn’t exactly light it up either, going 9-of-14 for 101 yards, but he avoided the turnover.
With their win in the NFC Championship game, the Panthers advance to Super Bowl XXXIII on February 1, to face the AFC Champion New England Patriots.
