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CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar reviews the Divisonal playoff games.
| Divisional Recaps |
|---|
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Philadelphia 33 |
at Chicago |
 |
Chicago 19 |
• Recap
• Game Summary
|
| Key Stat |
73 -- Net passing yards for the Bears, who completed only 11 of 22 passes with three interceptions. |
Player of
the Game |
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia: Completed 26 of 40 for 262 yards and two touchdowns, and also added eight carries for 37 yards and one touchdown. |
| Breakdown |
The Bears were badly outplayed in the final game at Soldier Field and looked like a team that took advantage of a fifth-place schedule to overachieve with a 13-3 record. Coach of the year Dick Jauron didn't have the answers to McNabb, as the Eagles' talented third-year signal-caller played another solid game to improve to 3-1 in the postseason. Offensive rookie of the year Anthony Thomas was held to 36 yards on 15 carries with wide receivier Ahmad Merritt gaining 47 of the Bears' 111 rushing yards on a second-quarter touchdown run on a reverse. |
|
 |
New England 16 |
at Foxboro, Mass. |
 |
Oakland 13 (OT) |
• Recap
• Game Summary
|
| Key Stat |
12 -- Combined mistakes made (five penalties, three sacks, three fumbles and one interception) for both teams, despite the persistent snowfall throughout the game at Foxboro Stadium. |
Player of
the Game |
Jermaine Wiggins, TE, New England: Despite having only 32 catches in 31 career games coming in, Wiggins emeged as Tom Brady's go-to guy with 10 catches for 68 yards, including eight catches in the fourth quarter and overtime. |
| Breakdown |
It's a shame that one of the best postseason games in recent memory had to turn on a replay reversal. Yes, it was a fumble, but thumbs down to the Raiders for giving up after the bad call. Brady completed 32 of 52 for 312 yards and looked poised when it looked grim for the Pats in the fourth quarter. David Patten caught eight passes for 107 yards to complement Wiggins' big game. Raiders middle linebacker Greg Biekert made 16 total tackles in a losing effort, though his missed tackle on Brady's scramble for a touchdown in the fourth proved costly. |
|
 |
Pittsburgh 27 |
at Pittsburgh |
 |
Baltimore 10 |
• Recap
• Game Summary
|
| Key Stat |
40:45 -- Time of possession for the Steelers, who outrushed the Ravens 154-22 and gained 21 first downs compared to just seven for the Ravens. |
Player of
the Game |
Amos Zereoue, RB, Pittsburgh: Filled in for the still-injured Jerome Bettis by rushing 24 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns. |
| Breakdown |
The Ravens' reign as champs ended with another abysmal offensive peformance. Elvis Grbac completed only 18 of 37 for 153 yards and three interceptions. Terry Allen rushed just four times for 11 yards, as Baltimore was forced to go almost exclusively with the pass after falling behind 20-0 late in the second quarter. Steelers safety Brent Alexander picked off two passes and Jason Gildon, Mike Jones and Joey Porter all pitched in with sacks. Plaxico Burress caught five passes for 84 yards and one touchdowns, including the nail-in-the-coffin 32-yarder from Kordell Stewart in the first minute of the fourth quarter. |
|
 |
St. Louis 45 |
at St. Louis |
 |
Green Bay 17 |
• Recap
• Game Summary
|
| Key Stat |
36.3 -- Quarterback rating for Brett Favre, who threw a career-high and playoff record-tying six interceptions. |
Player of
the Game |
Aeneas Williams, CB, St. Louis: Made six total tackles, recovered a fumble and picked off two passes, both of which he ran back for touchdowns. |
| Breakdown |
That the Rams blew out the Packers isn't entirely surprising. That St. Louis' defense outscored Green Bay's offense 21-17 is rather shocking. The Packers looked doomed from the start when Bubba Franks fumbled on the game's opening play, but was ruled down prior to losing the ball. Tommy Polley made eight tackles and tied Williams' effort by picking off two passes. Kurt Warner completed 18 of 30 for 216 yards and two touchdowns in an ordinary effort for him. Marshall Faulk rushed 16 times for 82 yards and one touchdown, and also added six catches for 47 yards. |
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