The 2001-02 National Football League Championship was played in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 27, 2002 between the 8-seed Miami Dolphins and the 3-seed Philadelphia Eagles. Continuing their surprising path through the playoffs, the Miami Dolphins defeated the Eagles 42-14 in a major upset. Dolphins quarterback Damon Huard, who threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions, was named the game's MVP. It marked the last game for longtime Dolphins receiver Rod Brown, who won his third title with the team as a result of the game. The game was also the Eagles' second consecutive loss in the Championship game.
2001 Season
Playoffs
The Eagles, as the runner-up to archrival and defending champion Pittsburgh in the North Division, were guaranteed a No. 3 seed and rested during the wild-card weekend. On January 6, the Eagles faced No. 6 seed Atlanta, defeating the Falcons at home 28-17 thanks to two Jim Phelan touchdown passes to Matt Edwards and an interception return by Naill Bronson during a potential go-ahead drive by the Falcons in the fourth quarter. The next weekend, January 13, the Eagles punched their ticket to the Finals by defeating No. 5 Boston in overtime 34-31 after intercepting Rebels quarterback Drew Bledsoe on Boston's possession, which followed an Eagles field goal.
The Dolphins, as the fifth-place team in the South Division, were forced to play a wild-card game against the New York Giants, whom they eliminated 17-0. With the lowest regular-season record of the remaining four wild-card survivors, the Dolphins received the 8th seed and headed to No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, who were the North Division champions, defending champions and had beaten the Dolphins 35-10 in the regular season. The Dolphins, however, stymied the Steelers on defense, keeping the score low and the game close, and wound up winning 20-14 thanks to a last-minute touchdown toss by Damon Huard to Rod Brown, who broke two tackles in midfield to stride into the endzone, stunning Pittsburgh and ending their hope for a repeat championship. The next week, on January 13, the Dolphins headed to Washington, D.C. to face the No. 2 seed and South Division champion Washington Redskins, to whom they had also lost during the regular season. Despite playing in the snow that afternoon, the Dolphins stunned the Redskins 24-19, pulling themselves out of field goal range with a Mike Moss field goal. The Redskins failed to convert a fourth-down pass in the endzone from Greg Bolton to tight end Jerrett McGivens, thus losing the game and sending Miami to an improbable Championship Game appearance.