Wild-Card Weekend

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 10, 2011

Wild-Card Weekend

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

Rodgers doesn't have to worry about the ghost of Brett Favre anymore. He's made his own name with the Green Bay Packers, even moreso with his first playoff victory. Rodgers, who patiently waited three years to become Green Bay's starter and took over after Favre's messy departure before the 2008 season, now has punctuated his impressive resume with his first playoff win.

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

The Packers' young linebacker was everywhere, racking up three tackles, along with a sack of Michael Vick for a 12-yard loss. It was Green Bay's third straight win in an elimination game. The Packers routed the Giants on Dec. 26 to stay alive in the playoff race, and beat Chicago last week to secure a playoff berth.

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

Vick threw for 292 yards and ran for 33 in his first playoff start since losing the 2005 NFC championship game on the same field as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Tramon Williams intercepted Vick's final pass for Riley Cooper in the end zone with 33 seconds left to seal the win.

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

The seldom-used rookie gave Green Bay's ground game a much-needed boost, rushing for 123 yards on 23 carries as the sixth-seeded Packers (11-6) head to Atlanta (13-3) for a divisional playoff game next Saturday night. It was the most yards rushing in the postseason by a rookie in the franchise's storied history.

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

The running back accounted for 82 yards on 16 touches, but couldn't help the Eagles, who had won the NFC East and earned the conference's No. 3 seed. Philadelphia had been the talk of the NFL after a sensational comeback win at the New York Giants on Dec. 19. Instead, it suffered its first-ever home playoff loss to the Packers.

Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

The star linebacker knows a championship defense when he sees one. Now the Kansas City Chiefs do, too. Lewis and Baltimore's tough and savvy defense overwhelmed the young Chiefs, sacking Matt Cassel three times and forcing five turnovers in the opening round of the playoffs.

Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

The wide receiver caught five passes for 64 yards and this key third-quarter touchdown as the Ravens advanced to play the Steelers. It will be the third game this season between the bitter rivals, with with each team winning on the other's home field.

Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

The perennial All-Pro tight end had his biggest game of the season, collecting 10 catches for 108 yards.

Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

Jamaal Charles gave the Chiefs an early lead with his 41-yard scoring run. He finished with 82 rushing yards on nine carries, but also had a key fumble. The Chiefs are saddled with an NFL-record seventh straight playoff loss, dating back 17 years.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

Marshawn Lynch anchored the Seahawks' running game with 131 yards on 19 carries -- including a game-clinching 67-yard scoring jaunt in the fourth quarter that may have been one of the best rushing TDs in NFL playoff history.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

According to NBC research, Julius Jones (120 total yards, 2 TDs) is the first player in NFL history to score a rushing TD in the playoffs against the club that released him that same season.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

Justin Forsett and the Seahawks offense racked up 415 total yards against the Saints, who became the fifth consecutive NFL champion to miss the Super Bowl the following season.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

With his entire rushing corps felled by injury, Drew Brees had no choice but to attempt 60 passes against the Seahawks. In all, Brees completed 39 balls for 404 yards and two touchdowns.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

Marques Colston, the Saints' go-to guy all season, was one of nine receivers to catch at least one ball against Seattle. But on this day, Colston finished with a pedestrian four catches for 66 yards.

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

With his 45-yard TD late in the second quarter, Brandon Stokley (4 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD) helped the underdog Seahawks proffer a lead they'd never relinquish.

N.Y. Jets 17, Indianapolis 16

Peyton Manning (225 yards passing, 1 TD) had to shift his first-read focus from Reggie Wayne (1 catch, 1 yard) to Pierre Garcon and Blair White on Saturday night (largely due to Darrelle Revis's blanket coverage). As a result, Manning's Colts have endured seven one-and-done playoffs since 1999.

N.Y. Jets 17, Indianapolis 16

Much to the delight of Jets QB Mark Sanchez (background), LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts. For LT, it marked his first playoff victory since the 2007 season.

N.Y. Jets 17, Indianapolis 16

Braylon Edwards pulled down two catches for 27 yards in the Jets' game-winning drive -- including this balletic reception down the sideline with 30 seconds left, vaulting the Jets into chip-shot field-goal range.

N.Y. Jets 17, Indianapolis 16

Kicker Nick Folk rejoices after coolly nailing a 32-yard kick to clinch the Jets' wild-card win at Indy. With the victory, New York locks up a rematch with New England, the AFC's prohibitive Super Bowl favorites.

Wild-Card Weekend