A wild card weekend that started with 3 double-digit losses ended with a controversial NFC playoff matchup in Dallas. A late no-call on a past interference penalty cost the Detroit Lions in a 24-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo found Terrance Williams for a game-winning touchdown to end the drive that immediately followed the controversial call, which the officials admitted to missing.
Romo finished throwing 19 of 31 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns, while his counterpart Matthew Stafford finished 28 of 42 for 323 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Stafford fell to 0-2 in the postseason, fumbling the ball to end the Lions' final drive.
The Cowboys kept their red-hot streak alive, after finishing the month of December at 4-0. Williams finished the night with 3 catches, including the game-winning TD, for 92 yards. Running back DeMarco Murray ran 19 times for 75 yards on the night.
Dallas will visit the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round next Sunday at 1:05 PM. The Packers start out as 5.5-point favorites.
The weekend began with the struggles of the Arizona Cardinals, led by 3rd-string quarterback Ryan Lindley. The Carolina Panthers held the Cardinals to an NFL playoff-low 78 yards in a 27-16 win. The Panthers' defense showed why they went from 27th to 10th in the league in total defense.
Despite finishing the season at 11-6, Arizona lost 5 of their final 7 games.
Jonathan Stewart ran for 123 yards and an early 1st half touchdown in the victory. Cam Newton threw for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns to Fozzy Whitaker and Mike Tolbert. The Panthers will visit the top-seeded, defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are early double-digit favorites.
In Pittsburgh, the Baltimore Ravens got 2 second-half touchdowns from Joe Flacco, leading them to them to a 30-17 win over the Steelers. The win marks the first postseason win in Pittsburgh for the Ravens, who will visit the New England Patriots in the divisional round on Saturday.
Flacco found Torrey Smith and Crockett Gillmore in the end zone to help the Ravens pull away in the second half. Baltimore had previously lost playoff games in Pittsburgh in 2008 and 2010.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger finished the game throwing 31 of 45 for 334 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Flacco was 18 of 29 for 259 yards and the 2 TDs.
The Steelers fell to 9-1 when facing the same team for a 3rd time in one season. Already playing without running back Le'Veon Bell, the Steelers were without Roethlisberger for a few plays in the 4th quarter. Bruce Gradkowski replaced him, throwing 2 of 3 for 22 yards.
Flacco's 7 road playoff wins are the most for a quarterback since the 1970 merger.
Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff struggles continued, falling to the Indianapolis Colts 26-10. The Bengals are now the first team in NFL history to lose 4 consecutive opening round games. Dalton tied Warren Moon for most opening round losses, dropping to 0-4 all-time. Marvin Lewis tied Marty Schottenheimer and Jim Mora for most consecutive playoff losses with 6.
Andrew Luck finished 31 of 44 for 376 yards and 1 touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief. T.Y. Hilton caught 6 passes for 103 yards, while Daniel Herron had 10 catches for 85 yards.
The Colts will visit former franchise quarterback Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos next Sunday in the divisional round.
Romo finished throwing 19 of 31 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns, while his counterpart Matthew Stafford finished 28 of 42 for 323 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Stafford fell to 0-2 in the postseason, fumbling the ball to end the Lions' final drive.
The Cowboys kept their red-hot streak alive, after finishing the month of December at 4-0. Williams finished the night with 3 catches, including the game-winning TD, for 92 yards. Running back DeMarco Murray ran 19 times for 75 yards on the night.
Dallas will visit the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round next Sunday at 1:05 PM. The Packers start out as 5.5-point favorites.
The weekend began with the struggles of the Arizona Cardinals, led by 3rd-string quarterback Ryan Lindley. The Carolina Panthers held the Cardinals to an NFL playoff-low 78 yards in a 27-16 win. The Panthers' defense showed why they went from 27th to 10th in the league in total defense.
Despite finishing the season at 11-6, Arizona lost 5 of their final 7 games.
Jonathan Stewart ran for 123 yards and an early 1st half touchdown in the victory. Cam Newton threw for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns to Fozzy Whitaker and Mike Tolbert. The Panthers will visit the top-seeded, defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are early double-digit favorites.
In Pittsburgh, the Baltimore Ravens got 2 second-half touchdowns from Joe Flacco, leading them to them to a 30-17 win over the Steelers. The win marks the first postseason win in Pittsburgh for the Ravens, who will visit the New England Patriots in the divisional round on Saturday.
Flacco found Torrey Smith and Crockett Gillmore in the end zone to help the Ravens pull away in the second half. Baltimore had previously lost playoff games in Pittsburgh in 2008 and 2010.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger finished the game throwing 31 of 45 for 334 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Flacco was 18 of 29 for 259 yards and the 2 TDs.
The Steelers fell to 9-1 when facing the same team for a 3rd time in one season. Already playing without running back Le'Veon Bell, the Steelers were without Roethlisberger for a few plays in the 4th quarter. Bruce Gradkowski replaced him, throwing 2 of 3 for 22 yards.
Flacco's 7 road playoff wins are the most for a quarterback since the 1970 merger.
Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff struggles continued, falling to the Indianapolis Colts 26-10. The Bengals are now the first team in NFL history to lose 4 consecutive opening round games. Dalton tied Warren Moon for most opening round losses, dropping to 0-4 all-time. Marvin Lewis tied Marty Schottenheimer and Jim Mora for most consecutive playoff losses with 6.
Andrew Luck finished 31 of 44 for 376 yards and 1 touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief. T.Y. Hilton caught 6 passes for 103 yards, while Daniel Herron had 10 catches for 85 yards.
The Colts will visit former franchise quarterback Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos next Sunday in the divisional round.
