The Green Bay Packers withstood a ferocious late finish from the Philadelphia Eagles to win their NFC wildcard playoff game 21-16 on Sunday, as they advance to the next round against Atlanta.
The Packers, one of the pre--season favorites to win this season’s Super Bowl, were never headed during the game, but almost came unstuck in the final quarter as the Eagles threatened to steal victory.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in the win, but the NFL’s fifth-ranked defense also benefited from some missed opportunities by the Eagles.
PHOTO: AFP
The NFC East Division champions missed two field goals and a last-gasp pass from quarterback Michael Vick that might have led to a winning touchdown, but was intercepted in the end zone.
While the Eagles were left ruing their missed opportunities and early exit from the post--season, the Packers moved ahead to next weekend’s divisional playoffs against NFC top seeds the Atlanta Falcons.
The Packers led 14-3 at halftime and 21-10 late in the fourth quarter, before Vick drove in from the one yard line to cut the lead 21-16 with four minutes to play.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Eagles’ two point conversion try, that would have put them within a field-goal, failed.
Philadelphia held the Packers and got the ball back on their own 34 yard line with 1 minute, 45 seconds left for one last push although they were out of timeouts.
Vick took the Eagles down to the Green Bay 27, but cornerback Tramon Williams intercepted a pass intended for receiver Riley Cooper to seal the win.
“The last play, I just took a shot at the end zone,” Vick said after limping into the interview room, favoring an ankle he strained on a sack late in the fourth quarter. “It was a bad way to go out, but I went out swinging.”
Two botched field-goal tries in windy conditions by the usually reliable David Akers, a 41-yard attempt in the first quarter and a 34-yard shot in the fourth quarter, also punctured the hosts’ chances.
Rodgers completed 18-of-27 passes for 180 yards and no interceptions, while Vick was 20-of-36 for 292 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Vick made a couple of dashes for first downs, but was largely held in check by the Packers, who limited him to 33 yards on eight rushes.
Rodgers hit tight end Tom Crabtree for a seven yard touchdown in the first quarter, fired a low, nine yard touchdown bullet to James Jones in the second quarter and floated a perfect screen pass to back Brandon Jackson, who scored from 16 yards in the third quarter.
A sterling performance from unheralded rookie running back James Starks provided balance to the Green Bay attack. Starks, the 193rd player chosen as a sixth-round pick in the draft out of Buffalo, gained 123 yards on 23 carries.
With Starks gaining tough yards with his inside running, Green Bay were able to control the ball and keep drives alive with third down conversions.
RAVENS 30, CHIEFS 7
In Kansas City, Missoui, the Baltimore Ravens powered their way past the Kansas City Chiefs in their AFC wildcard playoff game, aided by three interceptions from Chiefs’ quarterback Matt Cassel.
Baltimore led 10-7 at halftime, but turned the screws after the break, helped by three turnovers, with two field goals and two touchdowns to secure a clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 15.
That matchup will feature two of the NFL’s most bruising defenses. The AFC North rivals split their two games against each other during the regular season, with Baltimore winning the first game in October, while Pittsburgh triumphed last month.
“It’s going to be like it always is — a big physical football game, a lot of fun to play in and a lot of fun to watch,” said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns.
Cassel had a tough time against the Ravens’ aggressive defense as he threw three interceptions and managed a mere 70 passing yards, his lowest output since a 68-yard performance on Sept. 13.
The game began brightly for Kansas City, who went from worst to best in their division this season, with a superb 41-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Charles for a 7-3 lead.
However, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who has made the playoffs in each of his three years in Baltimore, found Ray Rice in the end zone with a nine-yard pass to grab the lead late in the second quarter.
From then on it was Ravens domination. They got a pair of 29-yard field goals from Billy Cundiff, before Flacco connected with Anquan Boldin on a four-yard touchdown pass to round out the third-quarter scoring.
Tight end Todd Heap had a busy and effective day for the Ravens making 10 catches for 108 yards.
Willis McGahee’s 25-yard run secured the victory with a little more than four minutes to play.
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