Divisional Round review
Another week, another New York Giants win I just can’t get my head around, we played them a few weeks ago and beat them, playing badly, yet they have got hot at the right time and could go on a 2007-esque run which may end up in a rematch with the New England Patriots.
New Orleans Saints 32-36 San Francisco 49er’s
What a game we start off with, the Drew Brees led New Orleans Saints made the trip to the west coast to play the 49ers, who have had an incredible season.
New Orleans seemed the one who had the playoff jitters early as they give up the ball three times early, including twice in their own redzone giving the 49ers a 17-0 lead through two Alex Smith Touchdown passes. The Saints got back into it quickly through a Jimmy Graham Touchdown, but the best was yet to come.
With 7 minutes to go, the New Orleans scored a touchdown through a 44 yard TD Pass from Drew Brees to Darren Sproles to give the New Orleans Saints a late lead. Alex Smith then led his team down the field and converted a 3rd and 7 run for a 28 yard touchdown with only 2 minutes left.
Brees had other ideas, as he threw another touchdown pass to Tight End Jimmy Graham, this time for 66 yards, and the place fell silent with 1 minute 30 remaining, the Saints bench went wild, and they converted a 2 point opportunity to give them a field goal lead, 32-29.
But Alex Smith was not done; he moved the 9ers slowly down the field with some exceptional throws. With 14 seconds on the left on the clock, at the 14 yard line, Smith dropped back and fired a pass into a well-covered Vernon Davis who caught the ball on the goal-line whilst being tackled by Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to take the 49ers to the championship game.
Tim Tebow Broncos 10-45 New England Patriots
After the exciting NFC game on Saturday game a beat down of epic proportions. New England scored early and often through 2nd year Tight End duo Rob Gronkowski (3 TDs, 10 catches and 145 Yards) and Aaron Hernandez (110 combined yards, 1 TD) and Tom Brady threw for a franchise record 6 TD passes.
Tim Tebow got hit repeatedly as the Patriots advance to yet another AFC Championship Game, a really lopsided game for the NFL playoffs.
Houston Texans 13-20 Baltimore Ravens
Coming of their first ever playoff victory, the Houston Texans were statistically the better side against the Baltimore Ravens except in one category, turnovers.
Rookie QB TJ Yates made too many mistakes for the Houston Texans to beat Baltimore. The Texans all but shut down Ray Rice forcing Joe Flacco to make plays, and he made just enough to give Baltimore the league.
Early fumbles by Jacoby Jones and an interception by TJ Yates but the Raven up 14-0 early and the Texans just couldn’t get full back into the game as Lardarius Webb twice and Ed Reed picked off Yates on throws he shouldn’t have made. The Ravens will now travel to New England in the AFC Championship Game.
New York Giants 37-20 Green Bay Packers
The defending champion Green Bay Packers faced off against the charging New York Giants in the final game of the weekend. An Eli Manning 66 yard TD pass to Hakeem Nicks in the first quarter to give the Giants a 10-3 lead before Aaron Rodgers answered back with a TD of his own to make it 10-10.
After a field goal by the Giants, Eli Manning at one last heave into the endzone before the half on a Hail Mary, and Hakeem Nicks again game down with it as time expired, giving the away side a 20-10 Half Time lead.
Uncharacteristic turnovers by Aaron Rodgers gave New York and opportunity to put the game to rest as Eli Manning found Mario Manningham in the endzone for a 4 yard TD, to give New York a 27-13 lead.
Donald Driver caught a TD to make the game close towards the end, but the final nail in the coffin came on an Aaron Rodgers Interception which was converted into a Touchdown a few minutes later as Brandon Jacobs secured the win.
Championship Preview
New York Giants 27-24 San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Ravens 10-28 New England Patriots
