Four more games to thin the playoff field a bit. First up...
The AFC Divisional game between the host Denver Broncos and visiting Baltimore Ravens. Denver started in the first quarter on a 90 yard Trindon Holliday punt return for a touchdown, and Matt Prater made the extra point. Baltimore tied it as Joe Flacco found Torrey Smith for a 59 yard touchdown pass, and Justin Tucker was there with the extra point. The Ravens took the lead as Corey Graham intercepted Payton Manning and took the ball 39 yards for a touchdown, allowing Tucker another extra point. The Broncos pulled even again as Manning found Brandon Stokley for a 15 yard touchdown pass, and Prater knocked in the extra point. Denver edged ahead in the second quarter with another Manning touchdown pass, going 14 yards to Knowshon Moreno, and Prater supplied the extra point. Baltimore tied it on another Flacco-to-Smith touchdown, this time for 32 yards, and Tucker booted the extra point. The Broncos shot back in the third quarter as Holliday ran the opening kickoff of the second half back for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Prater drilled the PAT. The Ravens again pulled even with a Ray Rice 1 yard touchdown rush, and Tucker was true with the extra point. Denver took the lead once again in the fourth quarter as Manning found Demaryius Thomas for 17 yards and a touchdown, and Prater was good with the extra point. Baltimore again pulled even with Flacco launching a 70 yard touchdown to Jacoby Jones, and Tucker kicked in the extra point. The game went through a first overtime and into a second overtime (the sixth quarter if you will), where the Ravens won 38-35 as Tucker made a 47 yard field goal to end the game. Baltimore continues on the road next week against an undetermined opponent while Denver is out of the playoffs, a major disappointment for a team that looked much better than this.
In the first of the NFC Divisional games, the San Francisco 49ers host the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay led off with a first quarter Sam Shields interception of Colin Kaepernick, returned 52 yards for a touchdown, and Mason Crosby knocked in the extra point. San Francisco tied it as Kaepernick ran 20 yards for a touchdown, and David Akers booted the extra point. The Packers retook the lead with a DuJuan Harris 18 yard touchdown run, and Crosby nailed the extra point. The 49ers tied it in the second quarter as Kaepernick passed 12 yards for a touchdown to Michael Crabtree, and Akers drilled the extra point. San Francisco took the lead as Kaepernick and Crabtree hooked up for another touchdown, this time a 20 yard play, and Akers made the extra point. Green Bay retied it as Aaron Rodgers passed 20 yards for a touchdown to James Jones, and Crosby handled the extra point. The 49ers got another lead on a 36 yard Akers field goal. The Packers tied it in the third quarter as Crosby made a 31 yard field goal. San Francisco edged ahead again on a 56 yard touchdown run by Kaepernick, and Akers kicked in the PAT. The 49ers padded the lead in the fourth quarter on a Frank Gore 2 yard touchdown run, and Akers booted the extra point. San Francisco kept going as Anthony Dixon ran in a 2 yard touchdown, and Akers made another extra point. Green Bay got some back as Rodger found Greg Jennings for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Crosby tacked on the extra point. San Francisco held on to win 45-31, and await the results of Sunday for their next opponent.
Continuing on the second day, the Atlanta Falcons welcome the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Divisional. Atlanta started with a first quarter 39 yard field goal by Matt Bryant. The Falcons added on with a 1 yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzalez, and Bryant tacked on the extra point. Atlanta padded the lead in the second quarter as Bryant made a 37 yard field goal. The Falcons extended the lead with Ryan finding Roddy White for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Bryant kicked another extra point. Seattle got on the board in the third quarter as Russell Wilson passed 29 yards for a touchdown to Golden Tate, and Ryan Longwell knocked in the extra point. Atlanta replied as Ryan passed 5 yards to Jason Snelling for a touchdown, and Bryant tacked on the PAT. The Seahawks pulled back in the fourth quarter as Wilson ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Longwell booted the extra point. Seattle chipped away with Wilson finding Zach Miller for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Longwell kicked another extra point. The Seahawks edged ahead as Marshawn Lynch ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Longwell again made the extra point. The Falcons retook the lead as Bryant made a 49 yard field goal. This held up for the 30-28 win, and means that Atlanta will host next week's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Finally, in the other AFC Divisional, the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans. Houston began in the first quarter with a Shayne Graham 27 yard field goal. New England took the lead as Shane Vereen ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski handled the extra point. The Patriots added on in the second quarter with a Gostkowski 37 yard field goal. New England kept going with a Tom Brady 8 yard touchdown pass to Vereen, and Gostkowski tacked on the PAT. The Texans pulled back as Arian Foster ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Graham was good with the extra point. Houston got closer with a 55 yard Graham field goal. The Patriots answered in the third quarter as Stevan Ridley ran 8 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski supplied the extra point. New England extended the lead as Brady passed 5 yards for a touchdown to Brandon Lloyd, and Gostkowski booted another extra point. The Patriots struck again as Brady passed for a 33 yard touchdown to Vereen, and Gostkowski was true with the extra point. The Texans shot back as Matt Schaub passed 25 yards for a touchdown to DeVier Posey for 25 yards and a touchdown, and Graham nailed the extra point. Houston got closer as Schaub passed 1 yard to Foster for a touchdown, and then he found Andre Johnson for the two-point conversion. New England iced it at 41-28 with a Gostkowski 38 yard field goal. The Patriots advance to host the Baltimore Ravens next week in the AFC Championship Game.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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