NFL Weekly Recap Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 4
Indianapolis Colts 45 vs. Kansas City Chiefs 44 (NBC)
- The Colts overcame a 38-10 deficit to beat Kansas City in what was the second greatest comeback in NFL postseason history. Alex Smith completed 30 of 46 for 378-yards and four touchdown passes, including one to Dwayne Bowe, who made eight receptions for 150-yards, and a 79-yard strike to Donnie Avery. Knile Davis came in for the injured Jamaal Charles and performed well by combining for 100-yards, both rushing and receiving, with two touchdowns. Andrew Luck completed 29 of 45 passes for 443-yards and four touchdown passes, including two to T.Y. Hilton, who set franchise records by making 13 catches for 224-yards. Hilton also caught the game winning touchdown pass from 64-yards out. The Chiefs still had a chance to win, but when Smith’s pass to Bowe fell incomplete on fourth and 11 with 1:55 remaining, Indianapolis hung on for the win.
New Orleans Saints 26 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 24 (NBC)
- Trailing 20-7 in the third quarter, the Eagles came back to take the lead, but they could not stop Drew Brees and the Saints from putting together a drive to set up Shayne Graham for the game winning 32-yard field goal as time expired. Drew Brees overcame two interceptions by completing 20 of 30 passes for 250-yards and a touchdown pass to Lance Moore and Mark Ingram rushed for 97-yards on 18 carries with a score of his own. In his playoff debut, Nick Foles completed 23 of 33 passes for 195-yards and a pair of scores while LeSean McCoy gained 77-yards on 21 carries with a touchdown. The New Orleans defense, who is ranked fourth in the NFL, limited Philadelphia’s second ranked offense to 256-yards, which was their second-lowest total of the season.
Sunday, Jan. 5
San Diego Chargers 27 vs. Cincinnati Bengals 10
- Cincinnati held a 10-7 halftime lead, but the Chargers erupted for 20 unanswered second half points to dispose the Bengals in rain soaked Paul Brown Stadium. Philip Rivers completed 12 of 16 passes for 128-yards and a touchdown pass to Ladarius Green. San Diego gained almost 200-yards on the ground, including 54-yards on 15 carries from Danny Woodhead and 52-yards on 13 carries from Ryan Mathews. Woodhead added a touchdown and Ronnie Brown ran for the game clinching score with 2:17 remaining in the game. Brown led the Chargers in rushing with 77-yards on only eight carries. Andy Dalton completed 29 of 51 passes for 334-yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham and he connected with wide receiver Marvin Jones eight times for 130-yards. However, Dalton threw a pair of interceptions while getting sacked three times as the Bengals committed four turnovers. Cincinnati lost their fifth consecutive playoff game while San Diego extended their win streak to five in a row.
San Francisco 49ers 23 vs. Green Bay Packers 20
- In a frigid game that featured six lead changes, Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers put together a 14 play, 65-yard drive in the final five minutes of the game to set up Phil Dawson for the game winning 33-yard field goal as time expired. San Francisco knocked Green Bay out of the playoffs for the second straight season. Kaepernick completed 16 of 30 passes for 227-yards and a touchdown pass to Vernon Davis while rushing for 98 more. Michael Crabtree caught eight passes for 125-yards and Frank Gore scored a touchdown while rushing for 66-yards on 20 carries. Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 26 passes for 177-yards and a touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson while Eddie Lacy carried the ball 21 times for 81-yards.
Divisional Playoff matchups
Saturday, Jan. 11
New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, Jan. 12
San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers
San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
