Well, the final results today were more predictable and formulaic than they were yesterday, when the winners including the sixth seeded Ravens and the Panthers, a team with a losing record (although I rather expected Carolina to win).
The Bengals predictably lost in Indianapolis to the Colts, and the Lions predictably lost to the Cowboys in Dallas, although the Lions at least made a solid run and came pretty damn close to winning, and kept it interesting until the end.
For Cincinnati, another loss came mostly because of offensive futility. The Bengals defense hung tough and kept the game close. But once the Colts began to get some points later in the game, Cincinnati simply had no answers. They could not move the ball effectively, let alone get into scoring position or convert opportunities. They watched Indianapolis build on a 13-10 lead, to make it 20-10. A Viniatieri field goal made it 23-10. Another field goal made it 26-10, and time was running out.
That sounds like the build-up to an epic comeback story, doesn't it?
Only, no comeback was to be had today. At least, not in Indianapolis, as the Bengals essentially went down without a fight. There were images of disappointed and frustrated players on the Cincinnati sideline, but there were no images on the tube of Bengals players creating huge opportunities or acting out heroics, and the game simply ended. The Colts ran out the clock, and Bengals players walked off the field with another loss, and their season over.
The Colts will now travel to Denver for a showdown between last generation's premiere quarterback, and the quarterback that is beginning to look like the premiere quarterback for the younger generation. Manning versus Luck in the playoffs.
Should be interesting!
In the NFC Wildcard game, the Lions shot out ahead of the Cowboys, scoring a couple of first half touchdowns to take a commanding 14-0 lead. Dallas managed to score a touchdown in the one and only play in that first half when the offensive line clearly beat out the tough Detroit defenders. But even then, the Lions managed to notch a field goal for a little extra cushion just before halftime.
It continued that way early in the second half as well. Detroit kept the Cowboys off the scoreboard, and padded the lead a little more with another field goal, to make it 20-7.
Then, the Cowboys came alive, and had a furious rally in the fourth quarter to not only get back into it but, very late in the fourth, to take a lead, 24-20. Tony Romo looked composed and confident, while the Lions rugged defense suddenly looked flustered and unable to stop the Cowboys from rolling!
It began with a one-yard run from DeMarco Murray late in the third, to make it a one possession game.
A few minutes later, Dallas placekicker Dan Bailey kicked a 51-yard field goal through the uprights, and it was a tight, 20-17 contest.
Finally, late in the fourth quarter, Tony Romo was able to cap off a Cowboys drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone to Terrance Williams, and a Dallas Cowboys lead for the first time in the game.
When the Lions got the ball back, they were unable to respond. On fourth down, Matthew Stafford was brought down for a sack that cemented the win for the Cowboys.
Overall, Romo had a solid game, completing 19 of 31 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns in a solid effort for the Cowboys, who will now travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field.
One thing should be mentioned, however, was that there was a very controversial call that went against Detroit late in the game. Anthony Hitchens of Dallas was defending Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew when Stafford threw a pass to him. It was 3rd down and 1, and the Lions clearly needed to convert. Hitchens was all over Pettigrew, and prevented him from even having a chance at completing the catch. Initially, the refs called it interference and then, rather suddenly and inexplicably, that call was reversed.
For the Lions, this defeat establishes a NFL record eight straight franchise playoff games without a win. That is the kind of record that no one wants to have, of course.
Here's an article of mine that was published on the Guardian Liberty Voice yesterday:
Bengals Handed Yet Another Loss in the Playoffs:
http://guardianlv.com/2015/01/bengals-handed-yet-another-loss-in-the-playoffs/
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