San Diego Chargers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 10
The Chargers looked strong early, with a solid touchdown drive to open the scoring by Danny Woodhead. It was an early indication of what was to come, although the Bengals would respond (at least at first).
The Bengals were able to muster a touchdown drive of their own to tie the game when Dalton tossed it to Jermaine Gresham for a 4-yard touchdown play in the second quarter. Then, the Bengals were able to get a field goal just before the half to take a narrow, 10-7 lead to open up the second half.
But in the second half, it was all San Diego.
Rivers found Ladarius Green in the end zone in the middle of the third quarter to put the Chargers up, 14-10. They never looked back, effectively dominating the rest of the game. They expanded on the lead with two field goals, and were up solidly, 20-10, top open the final quarter.
Cincinnati was trying desperately to do something to get back in the game, but it was San Diego that was able to strike next, and hammer the final nail in Cincinnati's coffin, with Ronnie Brown breaking free on a 58-yard run to the end zone that iced the game, and put out of reach any last hopes that the Bengals entertained of getting back into it.
The San Diego running game was highly effective against a normally stellar Bengals defense, pounding out 196 yards on the ground, between Ronnie Browns 77 yards on 8 carries, which included a touchdown, as well as Danny Woodhead's 54 yards on 15 carries, which also included a touchdown early, and finally, Ryan Mathews, who rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries.
On defense, the Chargers were able to shut down the normally prolific Bengals, who were just unable to get anything going all day. The Bengals had managed to score a total of 207 point in their previous five home games, an average of over 40 points a game.
But their total of 10 today was a season low for one of their home games, and their second lowest point total overall this season. It was not even close to being enough to be even competitive on this day.
The Chargers just wore the Bengals out. Now, the Bengals have lost three straight times in the first round of the playoffs, having failed to get it done yet another year. It was the sixth overall straight playoff defeat for the Bengals, who have not won a postseason game now since the 1990-91 season (the longest active streak in the league), back when Boomer Esiason was their quarterback, and Sam Wyche their coach, just two seasons after their memorable Super Bowl season in 1988.
They started to show consistency again the last few seasons, having made it to the postseason each of the last three seasons now. They were eliminated at Houston the last two seasons. This time, they were at home, after a seemingly strong regular season where they culminated an 11-5 record, and secured the AFC North division title. But it was all to no avail, as they were completely dominated in the end.
"Whatever you do during the regular season doesn't matter once you get to the playoffs,'' Andy Dalton said
Dalton completed 17 of 34 passes for 170 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble, and was sacked three times, in a forgettable performance.
Philip Rivers, by contrast, completed 12 of 16 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.
The Chargers won their first open air road playoff game since the 1994 AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh, when they qualified for their first, and so far only, Super Bowl.
San Diego is now brimming with confidence, having won their last four regular season games in a row, and now adding a fifth straight win in the postseason. They will head into Denver to meet their division rivals, the Broncos, in one of the two AFC Divisional games.
San Francisco 49ers 23, Green Bay Packers 20
There were times when this Packers team looked like their season was lost, when they were trailing both the Lions and the Bears by what seemed at the time to be an insurmountable margin.
But the Packers kept fighting, and eventually clawed their way back in the race, eventually forcing a winner takes all showdown for the NFC North title in the regular season finale in Chicago, which the Packers eventually won.
That secured home field in this one, and it seemed to be a prized possession, as the game promised to be potentially one of the coldest games in NFL history.
You might think that this would have proven to be a decent advantage against any opponent, and might help the Packers to win.
Not today, however. The 49ers were able to pull off a victory that put aside concerns that they might not perform well in cold weather, being a warm weather team and all.
San Francisco played well enough to win. They dominated in most categories, except for time of possession, and proved, once again, to be the better of these two teams. They have beaten the Packers now four straight times, having won the season opening showdowns between these two rivals in each of the last two seasons, as well as having won both playoff meetings the last two years.
Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 27 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown, in a losing effort. Kaepernick, in the meantime, went 16 of 30 for 227 yards and a touchdown, as well as one interception.
The 49ers tried to build their lead up slowly, moving the ball very well deep into Green Bay territory. But the Packers D tightened up each time, and forced field goals. Despite dominating, the Niners only held a 6-0 lead after the first quarter.
Green Bay answered with a touchdown to go ahead in the second, as Rodgers found Jordy Nelson for a 5-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave them a narrow 7-6 lead.
It did not last long. San Francisco had a very strong drive to respond, which was capped with a 10-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore, giving San Francisco the advantage again, 13-7.
The Packers were able to notch a field goal just before the half, to close the margin to 13-10.
After a scoreless third quarter by both teams, Green Bay had a solid drive early in the fourth quarter, with a one yard touchdown run by John Kuhn to put the Packers back on top, 17-13.
The 49ers once again responded immediately, with Kaepernick completing a 28-yard touchdown pas to Vernon Davis, to give the 49ers the lead once again.
Green Bay had a chance late in the game, deep in San Francisco territory, but they ultimately settled for a 24-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to nod the game up at 20 apiece with a little over 5 minutes left to play.
But the 49ers wound up with the ball last, wearing down the tired Green bay defense, and killing the clock to a mere few seconds left to try and win it outright in regulation with a 33-yard field goal attempt. San Francisco placekicker Phil Dawson drilled it through the uprights, and the 49ers had earned themselves a huge win at legendary Lambeau Field.
Some years ago, home games at Lambeau were an intimidating process for any team. But since 2002, the Packers, previously undefeated at home in Lambeau in the playoffs, have not lost five home games there. First in 2002, against Atlanta, then against Minnesota in 2004. They lost there twice to the Giants, in 2007 and again in 2011, and now, to the Niners. All of those teams save for the Giants either play indoors, or are warm weather teams. Perhaps the huge home field advantage of "the Frozen Tundra" either has been overstated, or is no more.
For the Packers, their up and down season ends in disappointment right away in the playoffs, while for the defending NFC Champion 49ers, their quest to get back to the Super Bowl continues with a game at Carolina next weekend.
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