Sunday, January 15, 2012

NFL Playoffs: Packers Dethroned; Ravens Hold Off Texans

The National Football League playoffs continued on Sunday with two divisional playoff games.


American Football Conference:


At Baltimore:


Quarterback Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes (one yard to Kris Wilson and 10 yards to Anquan Boldin) while defensive backs Lardarius Webb and Ed Reed came up with interceptions in the last 7 1/2 to help preserve the Baltimore Ravens' 20-13 home win over the Houston Texans, spoiling a solid performance from Texans running back Arian Foster who ran for 132 yards (the first running back to gain 100 or more yards in a playoff game against the Ravens) and a touchdown.


National Football Conference:


At Green Bay, Wisconsin:


Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns, two to Hakeem Nicks (66 yards in the first quarter, then 37 yards on a Hail Mary play at the end of the first half--two of his seven catches for 165 yards) and one to Mario Manningham (four yards) as the New York Giants upended the Green Bay Packers 37-20 on the road, handing the Packers their only home loss of the season and ending their one-year reign as Super Bowl Champions.  The Giants' defense forced four Green Bay turnovers.


Next Sunday, the Giants will travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game (3:30 PM Pacific Time, Fox).


The Ravens will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts for next Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots (12:00 Noon Pacific Time, CBS).

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