Video Gaming News - January 2004
Houston, TX (January 28, 2004) - Sony today announced that the
Panthers beat the Patriots in 989 Sports Game Before the Game.
From Sony:
The Carolina Panthers came to play in the "Lone Star State" as they battled
it out with the New England Patriots at the ninth annual 989 Sports(R) Game
Before the Game(R), where Steve Smith edged out New England's Troy Brown 29-21
on NFL GameDay(TM) 2004 for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system.
After predicting the Super Bowl winner the past eight years in a row, many
were looking to tonight's event to dictate who will leave Houston with the Super
Bowl XXXVIII title. Smith, playing before a packed house at Hotel ICON, won in
dominating fashion by running all over the New England defense. New England took
control early in the game after Antowain Smith broke free for a 45-yard run in
the opening play. The Patriots then marched down the field on a five-play drive
culminating in a five-yard run from Smith putting them up 7-0. Carolina didn't
let up as they evened the score at seven apiece after Stephen Davis ate up the
Patriots defense for a 75-yard run right into the end zone capping a three-play
drive. It was all knotted up at the end of the first quarter, but would not stay
that way for long as the Panthers took control of the game and never looked
back. The tide shifted in Carolina's favor after Antowain Smith fumbled the ball
deep in Patriots territory on the first drive of the second quarter. That fumble
resulted in another Stephen Davis marathon as he ran 80 yards for a Carolina
touchdown on the first play of the series. The Patriots turned the ball over on
downs after not being able to capitalize on their next drive, which ended at the
end of the first half giving the Panthers the 14-7 edge as they headed into the
locker room. The second half was all Carolina as Davis continued to tear up the
New England defensive line with an 82-yard touchdown run on the opening drive.
Davis would also run it in for the two-point conversion putting the Panthers up
22-7. New England battled back as Troy Brown had his own number in his sights as
Brady completed a 58-yard strike to Brown to put the Pats back in the game just
eight points behind. Carolina got the ball back with :07 seconds left in the
third quarter and again gave Davis the nod and he came up yet again with a
48-yard TD run putting the game out of reach with a score of 29-14. The Patriots
would score again, but could not convert the on-side kick leaving the game with
a final of 29-21 as the Carolina Panthers earned the title for the ninth annual
989 Sports(R) Game Before the Game(R).
"Tonight was exciting for me," said Smith after his victory. "There's a lot
of pressure with this event because your teammates need you to come up big. I
hope we can keep the streak alive and go 9-0. It was great playing against Troy,
now let's just hope we can do the same thing on Sunday."
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