Well, here we are. We completed Week Seventeen and now we’re on to the playoffs. The playoff picture fell together rather nicely this year, as no team can really have a beef (unless the 9-7 NFC teams like Minnesota and Carolina want to complain about the hollowness of San Fran’s 9-7 and their bad division). Tiebreakers were only used for seeding, as everyone who got in did so on their records. This is going to be good.
Saturday, January 8:
4:15 – #6 Cincinnati 20 – #3 New England 31
The Bengals had a great year, and they have the horses to win this game, but there was just too much Tom Brady. Tom Brady throws for three touchdowns, including a 68-yarder to Randy Moss late in the second quarter, and the New England defense bends but doesn’t break. Carson Palmer, who had a bounce-back regular season, throws a key interception in the fourth quarter and the Patriots are off to San Diego in the Divisional Round.
8:30 – #6 Atlanta 29 – #3 New Orleans 31
A thriller on Saturday night, as the Saints hold on to beat Atlanta. The Saints jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on two quick scoring drives, but the Falcons didn’t go away. The Falcons scored a touchdown with just over two minutes left in the half to cut the New Orleans lead to 14-10, but it was too much time for Drew Brees and company. The Saints went right down the field in their two-minute offense and added, what seemed to be a momentum-killing touchdown to go into halftime up 21-10. The two teams matched field goals with their first possessions of the second half to make it 24-13. After a Pierre Thomas fumble led to another Atlanta field goal, the Falcons were within eight points until Reggie Bush took a punt return to the house right at the end of the third, and things looked bleak for Atlanta, down 31-16 after three quarters. But, they weren’t done. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner led them right down the field for a another quick score. After a Saints three-and-out, the Falcons, again, went down the field for another touchdown. With five minutes left, Mike Smith opted to go for two, but the Saints defense held. But, again, the Falcons defense held up, forced a Saints punt and Ryan had the ball, down two, with just over two minutes left. The Falcons got one first down, but then Matt Ryan threw a season-ending interception, and the Saints survive and move on to Dallas.
Sunday, January 9:
1:00 – #5 Pittsburgh 19 – #4 Baltimore 16
In an old-school brawl of a football game, the Pittsburgh Steelers end the Ravens dreams of a Super Bowl with a 19-16 win at M&T Bank Stadium. Neither offense really moved the ball with any consistency, but both defenses made some big plays. The Ravens got their only touchdown when massive pressure caused Ben to throw into coverage and it was intercepted and returned 38 yards for the first score of the game. The Steelers had a little bit of offense, with three drives resulting in field goals in the first half, but were only in the red zone once. The Ravens led 10-9 at the half. The one big drive of the game came midway through the third quarter, when the Steelers offense came together and pulled off an impressive 16-play, 84-yard drive for the only offensive touchdown of the game to go up 16-10. The Ravens answered with a field goal, but a Flacco fumble in the fourth handed the three points back to the Steelers, who were up 19-13. The Ravens had a drive stall at the 27-yard line with just under 5 minutes left and John Harbaugh decided to kick the field goal on 4th and 4. They never again crossed midfield, as the Steelers defense held firm. Pittsburgh will now head to Indy for a showdown with the defending AFC champs.
4:15 – #5 Philadelphia 20 – #4 San Francisco 6
Alex Smith’s first ever playoff game was not exactly how he drew it up. The young quarterback, who had an okay season, threw two and added a fumble, as the Eagles defense really came to play. Kevin Kolb wasn’t off-the-charts, but he was handed good field position for most of the day, and did what he needed to do, throwing for 186 yards, 2 TDs and, most importantly, 0 INTs. The Birds will head to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field for a Week One rematch with Aaron Rodgers and the Pack.
Saturday, January 15 (aka…the start of the best sports weekend of the year that doesn’t include 48 NCAA tournament games):
4:15 – #3 New Orleans 13 – #2 Dallas 31
In an absolute shocker, the Cowboys roll over the defending Super Bowl champions. The Cowboys took the opening kickoff and went right down the field, scoring on a 2-yard Tashard Choice touchdown. The Saints, though, came right back and matched the ‘Boys with a touchdown of their own, and it looked like we were in for an old-fashioned shootout. But, it wasn’t to be, as the Cowboys dominated the final 52 minutes of play, holding the Saints to two long field goals the rest of the way. The Cowboys will await the Philly-Green Bay winner in the NFC Championship Game. Dallas is now one win away from being the first team ever to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
8:30 – #5 Pittsburgh 24 – #1 Indianapolis 14
Two games on Saturday and two shocking results. The first one was because of the non-competitiveness of the defending Super Bowl champs, and this one because of the home upset of the defending AFC champs. The Steelers went into Indy and just phyiscally manhandled the Colts, going up 10-0 early and never looking back. Peyton Manning engineered two good touchdown drives–one at the end of the half and one midway through the third quarter–but other than that, this defense made him look almost ordinary. Rashard Mendenhall ran for 108 yards and two TDs and the Steelers are on to the AFC Championship Game against either New England or San Diego.
Sunday, January 16:
1:00 – #5 Philadelphia 13 – #1 Green Bay 24
On a frigid day in upper Wisconsin, the Packers showed why they were the best team in the NFC this year. Their defense held the Eagles to very little production all day, while the offense showed signs of brilliance. It was a business-like playoff win for a very dangerous team. Aaron Rodgers, despite the cold, still threw for 242 yards and 2 TDs. Kevin Kolb, on the other hand, had a pretty rough day in the elements. Aside from an 82-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson in the second quarter, it was not a day to remember for the young QB. All in all, the season has to be considered a success for the Birds, and the future is bright for the youngest team in the league. The Packers have their sights set on bigger things, though, and will host Dallas in next week’s NFC Championship Game.
4:30 – #3 New England 42 – #2 San Diego 31
The 2010 Pats looked quite reminiscent of the 2007 Pats in this one, as they ran up and down the field at will against an overmatched Chargers secondary. It was a good thing, too, that the Pats were so offensive because their defense got exposed by Rivers and the Chargers O. Antonio Gates, Ryan Matthews, and Malcolm Floyd had huge days, so Phillip Rivers racked up almost 400 yards in defeat. But, there was no stopping the Pats O, as Brady throws for 6 TDs, including 3 to Randy Moss. The Pats, the #3-seed, will get to host the AFC Championship Game thanks to the Steelers upset of Indy.
Sunday, January 26:
1:00 – #2 Dallas 20 – #1 Green Bay 24
Despite the cold day at Lambeau Field, Tony Romo actually has a decent day, but the Cowboys are done in by three big fumbles (one each by Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Miles Austin) and fall just short of a return trip to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers has another good day with 237 yards and 2 TDs. The unexpected hero of the game was Ryan Grant, who stepped up in a big way, taking control of the game and dominating the second half. The Cowboys dream of playing a home Super Bowl goes up in smoke on a cold day in Green Bay.
4:30 – #5 Pittsburgh 27 – #3 New England 17
The New England defense just wasn’t good enough, and the Pittsburgh defense was. The Steelers did not stop Brady, but they contained him in the red zone, and, most importantly, kept him off the field, as their offense ate up a ton of clock as they marched up and down the field repeatedly on the Pats. Roethlisberger throws for a workmanlike 191 yards and 1 TD. Rashard Mendenhall had another big day with 114 yards on the ground, and Hines Ward scored on a 48-yard touchdown run on an end around. A tough loss for the Pats, as the Steelers head to Dallas in search of championship number 7.
Sunday, February 11 (Dallas, TX) – Super Bowl XLV:
Green Bay 31 – Pittsburgh 7
Aaron Rodgers is not only a Super Bowl champ, but the Super Bowl MVP, as he throws for 284 yards and 3 TDs against the best defense in the NFL. Greg Jennings caught two of those TD passes and had 114 yards receiving. The Packers scored the first 10 points and never looked back. Roethlisberger, on the other hand, had a day for the ages. Four interceptions and two fumbles in the worst game of his career. He was even pulled in the fourth quarter for Dennis Dixon, who led the Steelers down for a late touchdown drive to avoid the ignominy of being shutout on the biggest stage. Karma’s a bitch, huh Ben?
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