CHARLOTTE – Everyone remembers the ending.
X-Clown was the play-call. Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith for a 69-yard touchdown and a trip to the NFC Championship game was the result.
But rewind the tape 72 seconds.
The Rams were driving and close to field goal range with a first down at the Panthers' 38-yard line. Then Ricky went and got one.
Ricky Manning Jr. was a Panthers cornerback from 2003-05, but he's best known for two weeks in January of 2004. He came down with four interceptions in two playoff games, still tied for second-most in NFL history, and helped Carolina reach Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Panthers fans surely remember Manning's three picks in the NFC Championship game at Philadelphia, but his interception late in the first overtime at St. Louis was arguably more important.
"I'm thinking maybe they are going to run the ball or dump it off to Marshall Faulk," Manning told Kristen Balboni on the latest edition of "Inside Scoop."
"I'm on the backside in halves coverage, but the only guy that's threatening me is Torry Holt. He runs a nice crisp out route, but he stops. We had pressure on Marc Bulger. I saw the play, but I broke late because I'm a deep cover guy. I'm thinking there's no way he's still going to throw this ball."
But Bulger did throw it — and Manning made a spectacular one-handed catch. As the Panthers' sideline erupted, Julius Peppers was first on the field to congratulate Manning.
"He didn't really even say anything," Manning recalled. "I just remember him lifting me up in the air like I was a little child. He just looked at me like, 'You did that. You just saved the game for us.'"
View photos of cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. during his time with the Panthers from 2003-05.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning celebrates an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter of the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning, right, intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Todd Pinkston, left, during the third quarter of the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots running back Antowain Smith (32) is met by Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning (24) during Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29 on February 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
New York Jets' Justin Miller (22) fumbles a kickoff return as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Ricky Manning Jr (24) during the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 30-3 win in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Nov. 13, 2005. The Panthers forced six turnovers, four of which came on consecutive New York possessions, to pull away after an uneventful first half. Carolina scored 20 points off turnovers.(AP Photo/Rick Havner)
CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. #24 of the Carolina Panthers runs in pass coverage against the Chicago Bears on November 20, 2005 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Panthers 13-3. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Carolina Panthers' Chris Gamble (20) celebrates his interception with teammate Ricky Manning Jr. (24) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005. The interception sealed the Panthers' 13-9 win over the Bills. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. #24 of the Carolina Panthers is blocked on special teams by cornerback Randall Gay #21 of the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium on September 18, 2005 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Patriots 27-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. during 27-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004. (Kirby Lee via AP)
With the scoreboard and empty stadium seats in the background, cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. #24 of the Carolina Panthers welcomes the fans applause during team introductions prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Raiders defeated the Panthers 27-24. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. #24 of the Carolina Panthers gets ready for the snap against the Oakland Raiders at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Raiders defeated the Panthers 27-24. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Carolina Panthers Ricky Manning Jr. speaks during media day, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Super Bowl XXXVIII will be played Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004 between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Carolina Panthers' Ricky Manning Jr (24) runs past St. Louis Rams' Arlen Harris (33) after intercepting a pass during the first quarter in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Dec. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning, right, intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide recieverJames Thrash (80) during the third quarter of the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. The Panthers Mike MInter (30 and linebacker Dan Morgan (55) are in on the play. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Carolina Panthers' Ricky Manning Jr. taunts the crowd after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 14-3 during the NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, in Philadelphia. Manning picked off three passes by Donovan McNabb and helped put the Carolina Panthers in their first Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
