***** National Football League Playoff Game Capsules *****
(Wild Card Weekend)
=== Reed, Baltimore stifle Miami in Wild Card win ===
Final Score: Baltimore 27, Miami 9
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Ed Reed had two of Baltimore's four
interceptions, running one back for a touchdown, and the Ravens defense
stifled Miami to record a 27-9 win over the Dolphins in an AFC Wild Card
contest. With the victory, Baltimore advances to play the Tennessee
Titans next weekend. The Ravens forced five turnovers and limited Miami to
276 yards, continuing their remarkable turnaround from last season.
Baltimore went 5-11 in 2007, finishing last in the AFC North, but under
first-year head coach John Harbaugh, they went 11-5 in the regular season.
Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 135 yards, completing only 9-of-23
passes, but did not have an interception and ran for a touchdown to help
Baltimore win its first playoff contest since 2001 -- when the Ravens also
beat Miami in a Wild Card-round matchup. LeRon McClain ran for 75 yards and
a score, while Willis McGahee compiled 62 yards on the ground in Baltimore's
win. Miami also came into Sunday's contest having completed a massive
turnaround under a first-year coach. After a franchise-worst mark of 1-15
last season, Tony Sparano helped the Dolphins go 11-5 this year, giving
the team its first division title since 2000 and its first postseason berth
since 2001. But Chad Pennington threw an uncharacteristic four picks,
having been intercepted only seven times all season, while passing for 252
yards and a TD on 25-of-38 completions. Miami was held to just 52 yards
rushing, as Ronnie Brown had a team-high 19 yards on the ground, in addition
to catching Miami's sole touchdown pass.
=== Eagles set up rematch with Giants after topping Vikings ===
Final Score: Philadelphia 26, Minnesota 14
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Westbrook took a short screen pass 71
yards for a touchdown to shatter a two-point second-half deadlock with 6 1/2
minutes to play, and the Philadelphia Eagles went on to post a 26-14 victory
over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Wild Card bout. Westbrook was bottled up
for the most part until his game-changing catch-and-run -- picking up 121
yards from scrimmage, with 38 of that coming on 20 carries. Donovan McNabb
was 23-of-34 passing for 300 yards with an interception, while Asante Samuel
came up with the big play on defense with a 44-yard interception return for a
score for the Eagles, who were able to nudge their way into the conference's
final wild card spot by going 4-1 down the stretch. DeSean Jackson had one
catch for 34 yards that helped set up an Akers field goal, and he also put
the Eagles in position for points throughout the game with 109 yards on five
punt returns. Philadelphia posted victories over a pair of NFC division
winners in Arizona and the New York Giants during their push to make the
playoffs, then capped the strong run with a 44-6 pasting of the rival Dallas
Cowboys last Sunday to seize the sixth and the final seed with a 9-6-1 record.
Adrian Peterson had 83 yards rushing on 20 carries, with a pair of touchdowns,
while Jackson finished 15-of-35 passing for 164 yards, with a costly pick, for
the Vikings, who won five of their last six games to capture their first NFC
North title since 2000 and end a four-year playoff drought.
=== It's in the Cards: Arizona edges Atlanta in Wild Card play ===
Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Kurt Warner threw two touchdowns and the
Arizona defense came up with two big plays as the Cardinals downed the Atlanta
Falcons, 30-24, in NFC Wild Card play.
Warner went 19-for-32 with 271 yards and an interception while Anquan Boldin
and Larry Fitzgerald each had a touchdown catch for the NFC West-champion
Cardinals (10-7), who played their first home playoff game since the team
relocated from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1988 and the franchise's first home
playoff game overall since 1947, when the team was playing in Chicago.
"A lot of people said coming into this game we were the worst playoff team to
get in (to the postseason)," said Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt. "We
rallied around that."
Edgerrin James had 16 carries for 73 yards while the defense came up with a
fumble return for a touchdown and a safety for Arizona, which was making its
first postseason appearance in 10 years. Tim Hightower had a rushing touchdown
in the win.
"You don't want to be somebody that is full of potential but never reach
that potential," said James. "We have so much potential on this team, so why
not go out and live up to our potential."
Arizona will now take to the road for its next playoff game as the team will
play either Carolina or the New York Giants. Should the Minnesota Vikings
prevail in tomorrow's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona will take
on New York, but if the Eagles win the Cardinals will face Carolina.
=== No LT? No problem! Sproles leads Bolts past Colts in Wild Card tilt ===
San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Darren Sproles filled in for an injured
LaDainian Tomlinson and carried the Chargers to a dramatic overtime victory
over the Indianapolis Colts, as his 22-yard touchdown scamper in the extra
session gave San Diego a 23-17 decision in an entertaining AFC Wild Card
matchup.
Sproles scored another rushing touchdown while adding 105 yards on the ground,
45 yards on five catches through the air, and 178 combined return yardage for
the Chargers (9-8), who are riding a five-game win streak, including a 52-21
thumping over AFC West rival Denver in a regular season finale that played as
a de facto playoff clash.
Tomlinson, who was questionable with a groin injury, logged 25 yards and a
touchdown on five carries but did not play in the second half. Philip Rivers
had 217 yards passing with an interception on 20-of-36 throws, while Antonio
Gates, who was also a game-time decision with an ankle injury, hauled in a
team-high eight receptions for 87 yards.
Peyton Manning, who picked up his third MVP award earlier this week, threw for
310 yards and a touchdown on 25-of-42 efficiency, but it wasn't enough as the
Colts (12-5) had their nine-game winning streak snapped.
"The Chargers made the plays when it counted," Manning said. "Obviously a
disappointing loss."
Reggie Wayne caught four balls for 129 yards and a touchdown, while Anthony
Gonzalez finished with six grabs for 97 yards for Indianapolis, which was
ousted by the Chargers in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Joseph Addai led an anemic running game with 44 yards and a score on 16
carries, as the Chargers had a 167-64 advantage on the ground.
"Give San Diego a lot of credit. They picked up the intensity and put pressure
on us a little bit in the second half," Colts head coach Tony Dungy said.
San Diego will visit the top-ranked Tennessee Titans or AFC North champion
Pittsburgh next weekend, depending on the outcome of Sunday's Baltimore/Miami
bout.
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