2003–04 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2003 season began on January 3, 2004. The postseason tournament concluded with the New England Patriots defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, 32–29, on February 1, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
| Dates | January 3–February 1, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 2003 | ||||
| Teams | 12 | ||||
| Games played | 11 | ||||
| Super Bowl XXXVIII site |
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| Defending champions | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not qualify) | ||||
| Champions | New England Patriots | ||||
| Runners-up | Carolina Panthers | ||||
| Conference runners-up | |||||
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Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoff games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly rated individual officials. Instead, the league began using the entire crews that were highest rated during the regular season, preserving familiarity and cohesiveness in the officiating. The "all-star" crews were later resumed, beginning with the 2005–06 Conference Championships.