January, football’s best month, history gets made and hearts get broken when the NFL playoffs begin.
The first divisional playoff game this weekend was between the Denver Broncos, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Bronco’s quarterback, Peyton Manning, the Broncos newest member meshed well with the Broncos offense, as their chemistry was questioned when Peyton was originally added to the team.
The Ravens on the other hand, had recently found out that their superstar linebacker, Ray Lewis was going to retire at the end of the year, and near the end of the game it seemed as if he was playing his last game.
The game was fast paced from the beginning, as the Broncos punt returner; Trindon Holliday returned a 90 yard punt for a touchdown, to give the Broncos the momentum and an early lead.
The Ravens did not take long to warm up as Joe Flacco, Ravens quarterback launched a 59 year touchdown to wide receiver Torrey Smith. This long range bomb from Flacco was only the beginning of many problems for the Broncos secondary.
With the ball back in Peyton Manning’s hand Broncos fans were ready to see the superstar in action. Manning, as he rarely does, tossed an interception to Corey Graham, who ran the ball 39 yards into the end zone.
With the Ravens up by only a touchdown the bronco’s defense buckled down and got the ball back into Manning’s hand, and the Broncos red hot offense. The drive ended in a 15 yard pass from Manning to Brandon Stokley.
With a quick and exciting first quarter it was obvious that this was going to be quite a football game.
The topsy-turvy game continued after halftime as the Broncos marched up the field and scored in the red zone again. A 14 yard pass to Knowshon Moreno, pushing the broncos ahead only by one touchdown.
With seconds dwindling down in the third quarter Flacco aired the ball out again to Torrey Smith connecting with the wide out yet again, bringing the score to 21-21, another tie.
Trindon Holliday, the return man, who already had a touchdown in this game had other plans though, as on the opening kickoff of the third quarter he brought it back to the house for six yet again.
Following a few unsuccessful drives by the Ravens, it seemed that the Broncos had it in the bag, but yet again the Ravens had other plans. On what was going to be their final drive the Ravens had gone the entire length of the field, and rested on the goal line, with twenty-three seconds on the clock, Ray rice punched the ball in for a 1-yard rushing touchdown, sending the game into overtime.
The Broncos had some tough possessions, but managed to score a 17 yard touchdown from Manning to Demaryius Thomas. Since it was not on the opening drive, the Ravens still had a chance to win, but they needed a touchdown.
The Broncos secondary, who had been struggling all game, really blew it as they allowed Flacco to launch a 70 yard touchdown pass to a wide open Jacoby Jones, with yet again only forty-one seconds left.
Now with another tie, the game was forced into overtime. The overtime was dead for both teams, and the game being a playoff game went into overtime.
Into the second overtime, the Ravens got into field goal (ish) position as they left the outcome of the game to lie on the foot of Justin Tucker, who was faced with the obstacle of a 47 yard field goal.
The last tie of the night was broken as Tucker crushed the 47 yarder sending the Ravens to the AFC championship game where they will play the Patriots.
The Ravens proved that you can learn from your history, as the Ravens playoff chances were ruined as their old kicker Billy Cundiff shanked an easy field goal that would have advanced the Ravens last year.
Flacco ended the day with 331 passing yards and 3TD passes. Ray Rice ran for 131 yards, and one touchdown.
The tragic hero for the Broncos was Trindon Holliday, as he gave the Broncos two special teams’ touchdowns and unheard feat in the football world.
PACKERS VS. 49ers
Later that night America was graced with the amazing story of 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick. After starter, Alex Smith became concussed; Kaepernick took over the helm of the 49ers offense.
Going up against veteran, MVP, super bowl champ, Aaron Rodgers, it was going to be a tough test for the young QB.
Kaepernick started off a little shaky, by tossing a 52 yard pick-six to Sam Shields. Kaepernick, did not throw in the towel, though as he calmed down, and sprinted for twenty yards giving the 49ers their first score of the game.
The Packers showed off their veteran attitude as Dujuan Harris ran 18 yards into the end zone putting the PACK back on top.
With already three touchdowns in the first quarter viewers knew they were in for another exciting matchup.
Kaepernick forgot the first quarter and met wide receiver, Michael Crabtree in the end zone twice, truly showing the Packers that they were here to compete.
Aaron Rodgers managed to throw a twenty yard touchdown pass to James Jones, but it would not be enough to get ahead as the 49ers tacked on a 36 yard field goal, kicked by David Akers, as time dwindled down.
The Packers tied the game up again with a quick 31 yarder from Mason Crosby.
Kaepernick, being the quick QB he is, rushed for 56 yards and managed to find the end zone after evading the Packers tough defense.
The 49ers took the game from their as two 2 yard rushing touchdowns from Frank Gore, and Anthony Davis put the 49ers ahead 45-24.
The hopeless Packers managed to scrap a 3 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jennings late in the fourth quarter bringing the score to 45-31, as a final. The 49ers will be faced with the daughnting task of the Atlanta Falcons next week.
The young Kaepernick proved himself as a powerful QB as he racked up 444 yards including 2 rushing touchdowns and 2 passing touchdowns to put the Packers to rest.
HAWKS VS. FALCONS
Out of the four games this weekend, this one was by far my favorite. With the media attention surrounding rookie quarter back who has made it the farthest out of his two companions (RGIII and Andrew Luck).
Wilson, who has been having an awesome rookie career, while he lost this game, he has obviously proved he is the guy the Seahawks want to stick with. After defeating the Redskins the previous week, he was faced with the task of playing the Falcons, lead by quarterback Matt Ryan, A.K.A. Matty Ice.
The falcons showed their dominance in the first half by pummeling the Seahawks 20-0. With a 1 yarder to TE, Tony Gonzalez, and a forty-seven bomb to Roddy White and a pair of field goals by Matt Bryant, it was almost a given who was going to win the game.
The Seahawks worked quietly, as they scored a 29 yard touchdown from Wilson to Golden Tate, to spark their comeback.
The Falcons crushed their resistance with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Jason Snelling to bring the score 27-7.
The Seahawks began to slowly chip away at the Falcons lead, with one yard rush by Ryan Longwell, a three yard pass to Zach Miller, and a two yard rush by Marshawn Lynch, before you knew it the Seahawks had taken the lead, and made the fourth quarter theirs.
The ending of the game was not in the favor of the Seahawks as Matt Bryant gave the Falcons the go ahead lead with a 49 yard field goal, sealing the Seahawks fate.
The Seahawks had a great comeback, and while they did not win I do not think this is the last we will see from the Seahawks.
Wilson finished with 385 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Matt Ryan and Falcons advance to battle the 49ers for the divisional title, and a chance at a super bowl title. Ryan ended the night with only 250 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
PATS VS. TEXANS
The heated playoff rivalry between the Patriots and Texans started off slow, as Texans kicker Shayne Graham hit a 27 yard field goal to put the Texans up early.
After some great defensive efforts by both teams the Patriots eventually ended up in the red zone, and punched it in with a one yard touchdown by Shane Vereen.
The drama surrounding the first quarter was about the injury suffered by Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. He appeared to have broken his arm while attempting to make a catch; it was the same arm that he injured against Indianapolis on November 18th.
Without their superstar tight end the Patriots adapted, as things heated up in the second quarter.
The Patriots put it to the Texans with a 37 yard field goal from Gostkowski, and an 8 yard touchdown pass from Brady to Vereen.
The Texans caught up with the Patriots and closed the gap as a one yard touchdown run, and a 55 yard field with no time left brought the Texans closer to the Patriots with a score of 14-17.
The Patriots dominated the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns, one 8 yard run from Steven Ridley, and a 5 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Lloyd, bringing the score to 31-13, Patriots.
Shane Vereen, the hero of the Patriots that night, scored his third touchdown of the night after catching a 33 yard pass from Brady.
The Texans made one last run at the Patriots, and completed a 25 yard pass from Schaub to DeVier Posey, and a one yard touchdown rush from Arian Foster. With a successful two-point conversion from Schaub to Andre Johnson, the Texans were only ten points away from the Patriots.
With only five minutes left the Patriots kicked a 38 yard field goal to seal the deal, with a final score of 41-28.
Veteran quarterback Tom Brady heads to the AFC championship rematch as they take on the Ravens. He ended the night with 344 yards and three touchdowns.
The other hero of the Patriots Mr. Shane Vereen had 83 yards and three touchdowns.
Come back soon to WRHSonline.net for more playoff news.
