NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round Review

The AFC and NFC Championship Games are set for the coming weekend after all four favored teams won their playoff games in the Divisional Round this pat weekend.

It will be the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots in the AFC while in the NFC Championship Game, the Seattle Seahawks will host the San Francisco 49ers.

                                                      AFC Divisional Round Games

LeGarrette Blount

New England Patriots 43, Indianapolis Colts 22 - New England running back LeGarrette Blount continued his amazing string of games by rushing for 166 yards on 24 carries and scored four
touchdowns to lead the Patriots to the easy home playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Patriots ran for 234 yards and Stevan Ridley (52 yards rushing) scored two running touchdowns while the New England defense intercepted Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (331 pass yards with two TD) four times.

Peyton Manning

Denver Broncos 24, San Diego Chargers 17 - The Broncos withstood a furious Chargers' fourth quarter 17-point rally to win the playoff game in Denver behind a pair of TD passes from QB Peyton Manning (230 pass yards with one interception) and a rushing score by RB Knowshon Moreno.
The Broncos avenged their only home defeat in the regular season by controlling the football for 35 minutes in the game while amassing 133 yards on the ground.
After building a 17-0 lead heading into the final quarter, the Broncos nearly blew the big lead as the Chargers scored 17 points sandwiched around the Moreno touchdown to get to within 24-17 with just under four minutes remaining. Chargers QB Philip Rivers (217 passing yards) threw for two scores, both to wide receiver Keenan Allen, in the loss.


                                                      NFC Divisional Round Games

Marshawn Lynch

Seattle Seahawks 23, New Orleans Saints 15 - The Seahawks rolled out to a 16-0 lead after three quarters and then held off the visiting Saints for the playoff win as kicker Steven Hauschka made three field goals and running back Marshawn Lynch (140 yards on 28 carries), who scored twice on runs of 15 and 31 yards to lead the way.
The Saints recovered an onside kickoff in the final minute right after a nine-yard scoring pass from QB Drew Brees (309 pass yards) to WR Marques Colston with just 26 second remaining cut the deficit to 23-15, but the Seattle defense held firm to end the game.



San Francisco 49ers 23, Carolina Panthers 10 - The 49ers got the road victory behind stellar defense (five QB sacks and two interceptions) to knock out the Carolina Panthers and advance to the NFC Championship Game for the third consecutive year.

Colin Kaepernick

San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick (196 pass yards) threw for a touchdown and also ran four yards for another score while kicker Phil Dawson made three field goals to pace the win. Carolina outgained the 49ers 325-315 in total offense, but two big goal line stands by the 49ers defense proved to be the difference. Panthers QB Cam Newton passed for 267 yards with one TD pass and two picks in the loss.