New Orleans Saints 45, Arizona Cardinals 14
This game certainly dropped down a peg after early returns showed promise for Anquan Boldin getting to take part. APT was relying on this for the pick, but it doesn't seem it would have made a difference. The Cardinals kicked off the weekend with an explosion, in the form of a 70 yard run by Tim Hightower on the first play. But if you would have known before hand that the run would account for 70% of Arizona's total rushing for the day, you wouldn't have thought much of the outburst. The Cardinals averaged 2.2 yards per carry the rest of the day, playing mostly from behind despite the early lead.
The question coming into the game was obvious. We had two explosive offenses and two up-and-down turnover-based defenses. The question became, which Defense would step up enough to give its team the edge. For one perspective, the Cardinals and Saints each had a chance to show their defensive abilities against Divisional Round opponents earlier in the season. The Dallas Cowboys moved right through the Saints Defense before putting it in cruise control in the second half. The Vikings were made inept by a rare bout of Cardinal pressure.
This day was different. The Cardinals picked up right where they left off in the second half last week against Green Bay. Their defense showed little to no resistance, allowing the Saints to pile up 35 first half points. The Saints on the other hand, though not reflected statistically, put just enough pressure in Kurt Warner's face to disrupt a rhythm-based passing game.
For all intensive purposes, this game lasted about 10 football minutes. The Saints quickly answered the opening touchdown, marching down field 72 yards in 5:24. On the ensuing Cardinal drive Warner hit Jerheme Irvin in stride across midfield and it looked as if the offense was off to the races again, before Rudy Gay stripped the ball and the ever-present Darren Sharper claimed it for the Saints. This was turned in to a quick touchdown. Once the Cardinals were stopped 3 and out and the Saints easily made it 21-7 it was clear this game was over.
Player of the game: Reggie Bush
Indianapolis Colts 20, Baltimore Ravens 3
Saving APT from an 0-4 week was Peyton Manning and his predictably methodical Colts offense. This game came down to two things. Peyton Manning's intelligence and will being stronger than most any defense he has ever been up against, and a continued lack of discipline by the Baltimore Ravens.
This game featured the #2 team in the NFL in penalty yards per game with the Ravenous Ravens at 65.2 yard per game. The Colts sat on the opposite end of that list, finishing the season with the fewest yards per game at 31.2. Like clockwork, the Ravens accumulated 64 yards in penalties in this game, while the Colts a paltry 25. Within the 64 yards of the ravens was a pass interference call on Corey Ivy, at 17-3 in the 3rd quarter, erasing an interception by Ed Reed, the Raven's last gasp before the Colts completely deflated them. Earlier in the drive Reed had intercepted Manning, but the intended receiver, Pierre Garcon, raced back down field and stripped Reed of the football, the Colts recovering. This drive ultimately ended in the FG that created the final score.
Player of the Game: Pierre Garcon He only put up 34 yards on 5 catches, but the Colts' rookie was playing with a very heavy heart, as he still searches for the whereabouts of some of his Haitian relatives, and put up the hustle play of this year's playoffs by stripping Ed Reed.
Minnesota Vikings 34, Dallas Cowboys 14
This was another game that started like you might have thought, but lost its luster once the home team grabbed momentum. The Cowboys were the hot team coming in, and when you are the hot team coming into a tough stadium like the Metrodome, you have to get out early. The Cowboys did just that, shredding the Vikings defense with the pass, the run, everything was working for the Boys and they cruised to an easy victory....wait...or not. The Cowboys did look to be in charge early, with three drives, which if you watched them, looked very impressive. However, they only amounted to 3 points. They lost the first drive to a strip sack by Ray Edwards. The second drive was stalled by another fumble, which the Cowboys recovered, but set up a perfectly missable 48 yard field goal for Shaun Suisham, who wouldn't dare disappoint by making it. The third drive stalled on another sack by Ray Edwards, leading to a 33 yard field goal for Suisham.
In the meantime, the hot Cowboys defense looked like it meant business. They stopped the Vikings 3 and out, including a Demarcus Ware sack on the first drive. But the second drive was like a flash of light, as Brett Favre launched a perfect 47 yard touchdown strike to Sidney Rice down the left sideline. The best part for the Vikings, no one ever told Gerald Sensabaugh the ball was in the air. Not only did he continue to simply stare at Rice as the perfect pass nestled itself in his breadbasket, Sensabaugh didn't even bother to notice the catch as he simply jogged next to Rice toward the end zone, seemingly not knowing the ball was ever there. When Brett Favre directed a decisive 10 play, 80 yard TD drive countering the Suisham FG, this game was decided.
The Cowboys defense gave up 3 points for the next quarter and a half, but the Vikings pass rush rendered a formerly streaking Cowboys offense inept. Marc Columbo, in his second game back from an ankle fracture was no match for Ray Edwards until he was injured. After Flozell Adams left the game due to injury, Jared Allen got in on the party, schooling 3rd year T Doug Free. Kevin Williams pushed through the middle and there was nothing for Tony Romo to do.
Player of the Game: Ray Edwards (3 sacks, 4 TFL, 6 QBHits)
New York Jets 17, San Diego Chargers 14
In a weekend where no one would have been surprised to see 2 or 3 upsets, it was only the unlikely New York Jets that continued to trudge through the playoffs. And they did it the old fashioned way. This game was a tale of two halves, although the 7-0 halftime score doesn't quite show it. The Chargers owned the first half. The Jets offense mustered only 81 yards, while San Diego moved with only some resistance through the vaunted Jets Defense. The only problem being the 7 points they got out of it. Nate Kaeding came in as the All-Pro Kicker, hitting 69 straight field goals inside 40 yards. So, as expected, Kaeding put the Chargers ahead early with a 36 yard FG in the 1st quarter. But wait...he misses left, and watching it, the ball didn't spend much time between the uprights during its entire flight. The Chargers gave the Jets all they needed...a chance.
The Jets opened the second half, showing life, as they leaned on Thomas Jones for 20 yards, and of all people, Quinton Jammer for a 3rd down pass interference call, and Jay Feely made it 7-3 from 46 yards out. Then the Defense followed suit, holding the Chargers to drives of 3, 4, and 1 play, including 2 enormous interceptions. The first followed a Mark Sanchez interception. After the Chargers drove into Jet territory, having a big play called back on a Malcom Floyd clipping call, Darelle Revis went up and made a great play to knock a ball from the hands of Vincent Jackson. So impressed with the play were the football gods, that they allowed the ball to bounce upon Jackson and Revis' bodies until Revis was able to grab hold of it for a pick. The Jets drove far enough to allow Steve Weatherford to pin the Chargers deep and Jim Leonhard intercepted the first pass Phil Rivers threw, leading to a Jet touchdown.
The game was put out mostly out of reach on a breakout run by Shonn Greene. The Chargers showed late signs of life, though another missed FG from Kaeding (his 3rd though one was a 57 yarder) preceded their late TD. Unlike many, I don't blame Kaeding for the loss, although 3 missed FGs and a 3 point deficit seem to point that direction. But you can never underestimate the impact a 2 score lead has on a Defense. I believe that had Kaeding made it a one score game, you would have seen a different Jet Defense on the Chargers last drive.
Player of the Game: Shonn Greene
APT
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