The River City Relay is a famous play in a National Football League game involving the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars that took place on December 21, 2003 in Jacksonville, Florida. The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Old Gold, Black, and White Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1967–present) Eastern Conference (1967-1969) Capitol Division (1967; 1969) Century Division (1968) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West... City Jacksonville, Florida Other nicknames The Jags Team colors Teal, Black, and Gold Head Coach Jack Del Rio Owner Wayne Weaver General manager James Harris Mascot Jaxson de Ville League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1995–present) American Football Conference (1995-present) AFC Central (1995-2001) AFC South (2002-present... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2003 NFL season was the 84th regular season of the National Football League. ... Motto: Where Florida Begins Location in the state of Florida Coordinates: Country United States State Florida County Duval  - Mayor John Peyton (R) Area    - City  885 sq mi (2,264. ...

Background

The Saints, at 7-7 entering the game, were attempting to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000. However, they needed to win both of their final two games to have a chance at qualifying for the postseason. While the Saints led early on in the game 3-0 after a John Carney field goal, the scoring had been mostly dominated by the Jaguars. With just seven seconds left at the end of regulation, the Jaguars had built a 20-13 lead on the Saints. The NFL playoffs following the 2000 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXV. // at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida Game time: 12:30 p. ... John Michael Carney (born April 4, 1964 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American football placekicker. ...

The play

The Saints were on their own 25 yard line looking at a second and 10. Quarterback Aaron Brooks started from a shotgun formation and dropped back to pass. He passed the ball to the right side of the field to receiver Donté Stallworth, who caught the pass at midfield. Stallworth then bounced off of a tackle and turned inside and broke two more tackles. The clock had already reached zero, and Stallworth lateralled the ball at the 34-yard line to Michael Lewis, who ran the ball to the 25-yard line of Jacksonville. He then turned and pitched the ball to Deuce McAllister, who ran to the Jacksonville 20-yard line. McAllister then pitched the ball to the right side of the field to Jerome Pathon, who caught the ball at the 24-yard line of Jacksonville. Brooks then laid a block on the last Jacksonville defender and Pathon dove into the end-zone. Aaron Lafette Brooks (born March 24, 1976 in Newport News, Virginia) is an American football quarterback in the NFL, who currently is a free agent. ... The Shotgun formation is an alignment used by the offensive team in American and Canadian football. ... Donté Lamar Stallworth (born November 10, 1980 in Sacramento, California) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was selected with the 13th pick of the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. ... Michael Lee Beer Man Lewis (born November 14, 1971 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football wide receiver and kick returner. ... Dulymus Jenod (Deuce) McAllister (born December 27, 1978 in Lena, Mississippi) is an American football player, currently playing as a running back for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. // The most decorated player from the University of Mississippi since the days of former Saints quarterback Archie Manning at the... Jerome Pathon (born December 16, 1975 in Cape Town, South Africa) is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was originally drafted in the secound round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. ...

There was a lengthy delay while the officials determined that all of the ball transfers were indeed legal laterals. All the Saints needed was a John Carney extra point to send the game into overtime. John Michael Carney (born April 4, 1964 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American football placekicker. ... Overtime is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport in order to bring the game to a decision and avoid declaring the contest a tie or draw. ...

Aftermath

Carney lined up to kick the extra point, hit a dead push, and the kick sailed wide right. Saints Head Coach Jim Haslett squinted into the sun, in complete disbelief; the home fans and the Jaguars bench erupted in cheers; and the kicker was left with his head hanging low. Despite the miracle play, the Jaguars had won the game 20-19 on that rare missed extra point attempt. James Donald Jim Haslett (born December 9, 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the defensive coordinator of the St. ...

Earlier in the season, Coach Haslett had stated to the media that he trusted Carney so much, that he'd even stake his life on him. When reminded later that day of those same comments, Haslett stated, "Then I'd probably be dead right now. He's one of the great all-time kickers. I never would have guessed this would happen."^[1]

With the loss, the Saints fell to 7-8 on the season and were eliminated from contention for the 2003 NFL playoffs. They would, however, finish their season on a high note the next week with a 13-7 home victory over the playoff bound Dallas Cowboys. For the Jaguars, the victory would lift them to a 5-10 record. They would go on to lose the very next week, 21-14, to the Atlanta Falcons. The NFL playoffs following the 2003 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Beginning with the 2003-04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoffs games. ... City Irving, Texas Other nicknames Americas Team, The Boys, Team colors Royal Blue, Navy Blue, Metallic Silver, Silver, and White Head Coach Wade Phillips Owner Jerry Jones General manager Jerry Jones League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1960–present) Western Conference (1960) Eastern Conference (1961-1969) Capitol Division (1967... City Atlanta, Georgia Team colors Black, Red, Silver, and White Head Coach Bobby Petrino Owner Arthur Blank General manager Rich McKay Mascot Freddie Falcon League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1966–present) Eastern Conference (1966) Western Conference (1967-69) Coastal Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West...

The River City Relay later went on to win the 2004 ESPY for best play. The 10th Anniversary ESPY Award. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20031221_NO@JAC