With the Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 wild-card games over, we now how clarity of a sort for next week's divisional playoff match-ups.
The clarity comes because the Saturday wild-card games were the No. 6 seeds facing the No. 3 seeds. If either of those games had been No. 5 vs. No. 4, we'd have to wait until at least one of the results of today's games before we would know what the time and date of at least some of match-ups would be. While still awaiting the results of the Sunday games, we have a lot of information on the Divisional playoff round.
The Houston Texans, playing in their first playoff game ever, took it to the Cincinnati Bengals, defeating them soundly, 31-10. The rookie connection of QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green couldn't stand up to the vicious Texans defense. Not only did the Bengals not score a passing TD, Dalton threw three interceptions.
Although the Texans still surely miss their starting QB, Matt Schaub, they relied greatly on star RB Arian Foster, who rumbled 24 times for 153 yards, 6.4 yard average, and two TDs. T.J. Yates did well enough in the win, passing 20 times, with 11 completions and 1 TD, along with no interceptions. The Texans were also helped by star WR Andre Johnson's 5 receptions for 90 yards, an 18.0 yard average and 1 TD.
Meanwhile, in the other Saturday wild-card game, the Detroit Lions had to be feeling good at halftime, leading the New Orleans Saints 14-10. Then, the Saints offense went wild and thrashed the Lions in the second half, winning the game 45-28.
The Saints did not punt once during the game. The Saints set a postseason record for total yards with 626, beating a record set 49 years ago. Meanwhile, QB Drew Brees threw for 466 yards, the most in a regulation playoff game, along with 3 TDs. He was 33 of 43 passes and had no interceptions.
It wasn't all passing either. The Saints mixed things up with 167 yards rushing, spreading the ball between Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory.
Meanwhile, Detroit's QB Matthew Stafford, who joined Brees and New England's Tom Brady with over 5,000 yards passing this season, was 28 of 43 for 380 yards and 3 TD, but he also threw 2 interceptions.
Update: the New York Giants destroyed the Atlanta Falcons, 24-2. Eli Manning was 23 out of 32 for 277 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs. Brandon Jacobs led the way on the ground with 14 rushes for 92 yards; Ahmad Bradshaw had 14 rushes for 63 yards.
Update: Based on the performance of Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow in the last few weeks of the season, everyone predicted a Steelers win in the wild-card card between the two. However, without RB Rashard Mendenhall and with a hobbled Ben Roetherlisberger, the Broncos came away with an overtime victory. The magic was back as well: Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an amazing 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos stunned the Steelers 29-23 in the AFC wild-card game on Sunday.
The modified playoff overtime rules did not come into play, as the Broncos scored a TD, not a FG.
AFC wild-card round
SATURDAY, JAN. 7: No. 6 Cincinnati (9-7) at No. 3 Houston (10-6), 4:30 ET (NBC) @ Reliant Stadium Winner: Houston
SUNDAY: JAN. 8: No. 5 Pittsburgh (12-4) at No. 4 Denver (8-8), 4:30 ET (CBS) @ Sports Authority Field at Mile High Winner: Denver
AFC divisional round
SATURDAY, Jan. 14: No. 4 Denver at No. 1 New England (13-3), 5 ET (CBS) @ Gillette Stadium
SUNDAY, Jan. 15: No. 3 Houston at No. 2 Baltimore (12-4), 1 ET (CBS) @ M&T Bank Stadium
AFC Championship Game
SUNDAY, JAN. 22: CBS (TIME TBD)
NFC wild-card round
SATURDAY, JAN. 7: No. 6 Detroit (10-6) at No. 3 New Orleans (13-3), 8 ET (NBC) @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome Winner: New Orleans
SUNDAY, JAN. 8: No 5 Atlanta (10-6) at No. 4 N.Y. Giants (9-7), 1 ET (FOX) @ MetLife Stadium Winner: New York
NFC divisional round
SATURDAY Jan. 14: No. 3 New Orleans at No. 2 San Francisco (13-3), 4:30 ET (FOX) @ Candlestick Park
SUNDAY, Jan. 15: No. 4. New York at No. 1 Green Bay (15-1), 1:30 ET (FOX) @ Lambeau Field
NFC Championship Game
SUNDAY, JAN. 22: FOX (TIME TBD)
SUPER BOWL XLVI
SUNDAY, FEB. 5 At Indianapolis (NBC, 6:30 ET) @ Lucas Oil Stadium
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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