The comeback story ends

Everyone expected the Packers to send anyone and everyone on defense after Michael Vick.  It worked for the most part.  Vick still had a good game nearly throwing for 300 yards and a score.  The problem with Philadelphia, as it is most of the time with them, they couldn’t run the ball.  As a team they averaged just under 4 yards a rush.  Green Bay was not going to let the Eagles use the screen game to their advantage either.  Philadelphia was still in position to win the game.  Unfortunately the one flaw with Michael Vick reared its ugly head at the end.  The last throw from Vick was an unnecessary one on 1st down.  Throwing for the endzone with just over 30 seconds left resulted in an interception to end the game.  Experience Vick has, but he hadn’t played in a playoff game in six years.  That to me had a factor in some of his decision making.  Head coach Andy Reid didn’t have any plan it seemed to stifle the Packers pass rush.  Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. was causing so much trouble that the Eagles pulled their starting right tackle in the 4th quarter.  It just wasn’t Philadelphia’s day.  Their kicker David Akers missed two field goals that would’ve given the Eagles the lead.  Alas, the Packers were the better team and Aaron Rodgers might have a running game to complement him in the name of James Starks.  The rookie made a name for himself on the biggest stage and that will be a key for Green Bay going forward.  

Baltimore played their game

Going into halftime it seemed that Baltimore was going to have their hands full with the rushing attack of the Kansas City Chiefs.  Jamaal Charles had rushed for a long touchdown run in the first half and the Ravens seemed to have no answer for one of the best rushing attacks in the league.  Baltimore had a trick up their sleeve though.  They stacked the box early and often in Kansas City’s second half possessions.  Taking away the run.  Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell was then put in a situation to make something happen, but couldn’t do it.  His three interceptions came at crucial times in the game.  Two fumbles by Charles and Dexter McCluster didn’t help either.  Cassell was out matched by a great defense and Joe Flacco was superb in his sixth playoff start in just his third season.  What’s also amazing is that all of Flacco’s playoff starts have been on the road.  His playoff record is now 4-2.  Going forward the Ravens should not be overlooked.  They weren’t with this favorable matchup, but they made an adjustment at halftime that led to the only blowout of the weekend.

They really do want to win

I kept thinking all week that the Jets were going to find some way to lose to the Indianapolis Colts.  All the talk was about Rex Ryan coached teams were 1-5 against Peyton Manning.  With the way the Jets have been playing all year, I wasn’t sure which team was going to show up.  Not surprisingly the Jets defense had held Peyton in check for most of the game.  Peyton was held to just 225 yards passing and one touchdown.  What was surprising is the Jets had at least five defensive backs against the Colts on almost every play.  The strategy worked and the Colts passing game was held in check.  What was surprising was the Mark Sanchez led game winning drive at the end.  All of New York could be heard taking a deep breath with every pass.  The good Sanchez had arrived and was converting on every key throw to lead the Jets within field goal range of their kicker Nick Folk.  Again New York was on pins and needles with Folk promptly nailing it right down Broadway.  Just when you think you know how it will end, Mark Sanchez shows how great he can be on the most important drive of the game.  The Colts had a Hall of Fame kicker in Adam Vinatieri nail the go ahead field goal, but left too much time on the clock for the Jets to go right down the field and win it with time expired.  The “team to beat” still has a rough road ahead, but they feel more at home being the underdogs.

Not really an upset

I said last week, “don’t expect a blowout” and what happened?  A high scoring close game.  New Orleans was within striking distance for most of the game, but when you have eight players on defense that can’t tackle one guy, you’ve already lost the game.  All the credit in the world goes to the Seattle Seahawks.  Yes, everyone outside of Seattle had New Orleans winning this game, but don’t start calling it an upset.  Last I checked the Seahawks are a NFL team and they did win their division.  Granted it’s the worst in the league, but they still won it fair and square.  The New Orleans Saints didn’t have the same fire on defense as they had last year.  Drew Brees did all he could to get them points, but the Saints defense was awful.  Marshawn Lynch’s 67 yard touchdown run was both amazing and comical.  It is the iconic moment of Wild Card Weekend and it also signified that there will be a new champion this year.  New Orleans was playing like they were last year, but it was for not as Seattle wanted to prove to everyone that they belonged.  Seattle should be considered a good team the rest of the way.  They beat an offensive juggernaut and had a perfect gameplan to score 41 points on the defending champs.  There’s only one explanation for this game.  Seattle was just better.