Quote: The media and celebrities turned out in droves to watch the 9th Annual NFL GameDay Game Before the Game. Hosts Deion "Prime Time" Sanders and Pat O'Brien warmed up the crowd and introduced this year's players: Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers and Troy Brown of the New England Patriots. The two players seemed a little nervous at first, a fact that Deion Sanders was more than happy to point out to all. But once the game got underway, both players showed that they had come prepared. The Patriots had gotten the ball first, and drove impressively down the field to score the first touchdown of the game on a run by Antowain Smith up the middle. However, Steve Smith of the Panthers answered quickly on the next drive with a touchdown of his own, on a powerful run by Stephen Davis. And the game was on.

A key play occurred midway through the second quarter. The Patriots had the ball and were driving to score, but then fumbled at the 5-yard line, where the ball was recovered by Carolina. Steve Smith quickly capitalized on this costly mistake and scored his second touchdown of the game, taking a 14-7 lead into halftime.

Steve Smith led his Panthers to another score to open the second half, and then took a big risk by going for 2 points on the conversion. He was successful and took what seemed to be an insurmountable 22-7 lead. But Game Before the Game veteran Troy Brown of the Patriots was far from finished, quickly scoring to make it 22-14. Steve Smith answered once again with another long run for a touchdown by Stephen Davis to go up 29-14. Things looked gloomy for the Patriots.

Troy Brown rallied once again and set up an exciting finish by scoring his third touchdown of the game, bringing his Patriots to within 8 points of the Panthers late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots then attempted an onside kickoff, but Carolina was able to recover it and then ran out the clock. At the end-game whistle, Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers were the champions of the 9th Annual NFL GameDay Game Before the Game.

Final Score - Panthers 29 Patriots 21

Quote:All Game Before The Game Champions - All Super Bowl Champions

2004 Champion: Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

2003 Champion: Keenan McCardell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2002 Champion: Troy Brown, New England Patriots

2001 Champion: Qadry Ismail, Baltimore Ravens

2000 Champion: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams

1999 Champion: John Mobley, Denver Broncos

1998 Champion: Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos

1997 Champion: Edger Bennet, Green Bay Packers

1996 Champion: Charles Haley, Dallas Cowboys