Game: Kansas City @ Indianapolis Scoring Summary

 

Review: The Colts surprisingly upset the Chiefs after coming back from a 28-point deficit and winning this wild card game 45-44. This comeback marks the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history, also leaving the Chiefs with their eighth straight loss in the post season.

The most valuable player in this game was Colts quarterback Andrew Luck with 443 yards and four touchdowns.

Game Leaders:

COLTS

Pass- Luck: 29-45, 443 yards, 4 tds

Rush- Brown: 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 td

Rec- Hilton: 13 receptions, 224 yards, 2 tds

CHIEFS

Pass- Smith: 30-46, 378 yards, 4 tds

Rush- Davis: 18 carries, 67 yards, 1 td

Rec- Bowe: 8 receptions, 150 yards, 1 td

Scoring Drives:

First Quarter:

KC TD Dwayne Bowe- 6 yard pass from Alex Smith (Ryan Succop PAT) 7

IND TD T.Y Hilton- 10 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

KC FG Ryan Succop- (19 yards) 3

Second Quarter:

KC TD Donnie Avery- 79 yard pass from Alex Smith (Ryan Succop PAT) 7

KC TD Anthony Sherman- 5 yard pass from Alex Smith (Ryan Succop PAT) 7

IND FG Adam Vinatieri- (37 yards) 3

KC TD Knile Davis- 4 yard run (Ryan Succop PAT) 7

Third Quarter:

KC TD Knile Davis- 10 yard pass from Alex Smith (Ryan Succop PAT) 7

IND TD Donald Brown- 10 yard run (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

IND TD Donald Brown- 3 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

KC FG Ryan Succop- (42 yards) 3

IND TD Coby Fleener- 12 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

Fourth Quarter:

IND TD Andrew luck- 5 yard fumble recovery (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

KC FG Ryan Succop- (43 yards) 3

IND TD T.Y. Hilton- 64 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri PAT) 7

FINAL SCORE: Colts 45 Chiefs 44

Facts:

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri became the first player in NFL history to score 200 points in the post season, now sitting at 205 points. This game marks the first win in a playoff game for the Colts without Manning since January 7, 1996. It only gets worse for the Chiefs leaving them 0-4 to the Colts in playoff matchups.

Game: San Francisco @ Green Bay

Game: San Francisco @ Green Bay 

Preview: The Green Bay Packers host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC wild-card showdown that could be one of the coldest playoff games in NFL history. The National Weather Service forecast called for a high temperature in Green Bay Today of 2 degrees, with north-northwest winds making it feel more like minus-15 to minus-20.The coldest NFL game on record is the 1967 championship game, known as the “Ice Bowl” won by the Packers 21-17 over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on New Year’s Eve. The temperature dipped to minus-13, and the wind chill that day was minus-48.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers has three straight failures in game-planning to stop Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers' versatile quarterback. Back in the 2012 opener, Kaepernick came in for one play and sprung a 17-yard run, which set up David Akers' 63-yard field goal to end the half. Four months later, the 49ers unleashed Kaepernick on Capers, using the read-option to total 323 rushing yards, 579 total yards and 45 points. Kaepernick finished with 417 combined yards (record 181 rushing) and four touchdowns (two rushing). Hellbent on ensuring the read-option wouldn't embarrass his defense again, Capers spent an offseason preparing to stop the evolving trend in the 2013 season opener. While the Packers contained the look and mostly shut down the run, Kaepernick instead put up career numbers passing the football, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns.Overall, Kaepernick has accounted for 878 yards (203 rushing) and seven total touchdowns in the last two games against the Packers.

The Packers finished 2013 ranked 24th in points (26.8 per game) and passing yards (247.3) and 25th in total yards (372.3) and rushing yards (125.0).There's simply very little that Green Bay's defense can claim to be above-average at, especially with Clay Matthews on the sidelines. The 49ers may not rack up yards  24th in the NFL this season, but they can score (25.4 per game), win in the running game (137.6) and protect the football (second in the NFL in giveaways with 18). This will likely be another bad matchup for the Packers defense. Capers must find a way to limit his defense's predictable shortcomings on Sunday. Running the football will be important to both sides but may be more so for the Packers.

Green Bay hasn't had problems throwing against the 49ers, who have given up 283 passing yards a game to the Packers over the last three meetings. And considering San Francisco allowed nearly 750 passing yards in the last two games of 2013, that trend will likely continue Sunday. This season, Green Bay went 0-4 when rushing for less than 100 yards in a game. On the flip side of that equation, the 49ers allowed 139.3 rushing yards a game in their four losses in 2013. And in the 12 wins, that average dropped to just 81.5. The 49ers rank fourth overall in rushing defense and ninth in yards per carry allowed. The Packers have run the football considerably better this season, ranking in the top 10 of rushing for all but one week of 2013. But large chunks of their rushing yards have come against the likes of the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and the  Dallas Cowboys.The 49ers' front seven is an entirely different animal. A winning performance today will likely require Green Bay's best effort on the ground. The Packers have rushed for just 70.6 yards a game in the last three with the 49ers, including just 63 in the 2013 opener. Overall, Green Bay has just 49 total rushes over those three games—which highlights both the ineffectiveness of the run against the 49ers and Mike McCarthy's unwillingness to stick with it. 

Spread: -3

Prediction: Unless the 49ers crumble under the frozen conditions, the Packers won't be good enough on defense to hang with a bonafide Super Bowl contender. 49ers win this one 34-20.

Game: San Diego @ Cincinnati

Preview: The 11-5 Bangles are playing  host to the 9-7 Chargers this after noon at Paul Brown Stadium. . Quarterback Philip Rivers has the quickest release in the NFL and he used it to complete 69.5 percent of his passes for 4,478 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The San Diego Chargers barely squeaked by into the playoffs this year needing help from the Jets and the Bengals along with the officials to beat the Chiefs in week 17 and snag the sixth seed in the AFC Playoffs. 

 Phillip Rivers clashed with the Cincinnati defense already this season on December 1^st in San Diego with the Bengals winning 17-10.  The score was tied at seven all at the half but the Bengals controlled the second half The Chargers turned the ball over three times in the loss while the Bengals turned the ball over twice. The key to winning today is for Rivers to keep composure in the second half of the game. 

Other key players for the Chargers consists of Ryan Mathews having his best season yet rushing for 1,255 yards and Danny Woodhead rushed for 429 yards and had 76 receptions. Antonio Gates stayed healthy and had 77 receptions and Keenan Allen had 71 receptions for 1,046 yards. The Chargers offense averaged 24.8 points and a fifth best in the NFL 393.3 yards per game and they were 4^th in the NFL In passing yards at 270.5 per game. Eric Weddle led the Chargers defense with 115 tackles, Donald Butler had 84 tackles, and Marcus Gilchrist had 77 tackles. The Chargers defense allowed 21.8 points and 366.5 yards per game.

Andy Dalton has led the Bengals to a 11-5 season record along with a undefeated home record of 8-0. Dalton so far has thrown for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns on the season, both of which being record setting stats for this young QB. 

Young Players also play a key role in this Bengals team like Rookie running back Giovani Bernard gave the Bengals a new dimension, piling up 1,209 yards on runs and catches, the second-most by a rookie in team history. Rookie tight end Tyler Eifert was sixth on the team in receiving with 39 catches for 445 yards. Burfict, a second-year player, led the team in tackles. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who missed most of his rookie season in 2012 because of injury, moved into a starting role late in the season because of injuries but Kirkpatrick bounced back having a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, during a 34-17 win over the Ravens in their last regular season game. 

Spread: Cincinnati (-6.5)

Prediction: This game does not resemble freezer bowl conditions, but the threat of freezing rain/snow will not be ideal for the Bengals and Chargers creating a low scoring game. The advantage goes to the Bengals who are home grown in these conditions also with a talented Andy Dalton. The Bengals will prevail with a final of 21-20.

Injury Report:

CHARGERS: 

Name	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Lissemore, Sean	DE-DT	Shoulder	LP	LP	-	-
Matthew, Ryan	RB	Ankle	DNP	DNP	-	-
Reyes, Kendal	DE	Ankle	DNP	DNP	-	-

BENGALS:

Name	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Collins, Anthony	T	Ankle	DNP	DNP	-	-
Cook, Kyle	C	Foot	DNP	LP	-	-
Crocker, Chris	S	Knee	-	LP	-	-
Eifert, Tyler	TE	Kneck	DNP	LP	-	-
Gilberry, Wallace	DE	Concussion	DNP	LP	-	-
Green, A.J	WR	Knee	DNP	LP	-	-

Game: New Orleans @ Philadelphia

 

Preview: The 10-6 Eagles are hosting the 11-5 Saints tonight at Lincoln Financial Field in a freezing 29 degree weather forecast. Quarterback Nick Foles is trying to guide the Eagles to their fifth straight home win to make them 4-1 in their last five playoff games at Lincoln Financial Field. If the Saints win this game, it will be their first road win in the post season in franchise history.

Nick Foles took the starting quarterback role when Michael Vick suffered a hamstring injury against the Giants. With Foles being their starting quarterback, he finished his regular season bringing the Eagles record to 10-6 and he recorded 2,891 yards and 27 touchdowns. Foles led the Eagles to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season.

The Eagles have two offensive threats. LeSean McCoy, who topped the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards while receiving 52 passes for 539 yards for a league-best 2,146 total yards. The other offensive threat is DeSean Jackson who caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards. Both of those players recorded 9 touchdowns.

Drew Brees has led the Saints to a 11-5 season record. Brees recorded 5,162 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Brees throws to Tight End Jimmy Graham the most. Graham recorded 1,215 yards and an NFL-best 16 touchdowns off of 86 receptions. The Saints team season leader for rushing is Pierre Thomas who recorded only 549 yards and 2 touchdowns off of 147 carries. With Foles and Brees both having high statistics, this will definitely be a shoot-out between them two.

Spread: Philadelphia -3

Prediction: This will definitely be a higher scoring game. You have two good quarterbacks who love to throw the ball. This will be a shoot-out to the very end. Eagles 31 Saints 28

Injury Report:

SAINTS:

Name	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Bush, Rafael	S	Ankle	DNP	LP	FP	probable
Dawson, Keyunta	OLB	Calf	-	-	DNP	questionable
Thomas, Pierre	RB	Chest	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out

EAGLES:

Name	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Anderson, Colt	S	Knee	FP	FP	FP	probable
Avant, Jason	WR	Shoulder	FP	FP	FP	probable
Boykin, Brandon	CB	Hip	FP	FP	FP	probable
Kendricks, Mychal	LB	Knee	FP	FP	FP	probable
Vandervelde, Julian	C	Back	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Wolff, Earl	S	Knee	DNP	FP	FP	questionable