Green Bay Packers running back James Starks carries the ball to score a touchdown past Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the second half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game.
Advertisement
The Packers’ running game came to life in the second half and the defense posted sacks at important moments as Green Bay won a road playoff game for the first time since 2010.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams left Sunday’s game against Washington after suffering a knee injury in the third quarter.
Rodgers opened 1 for 8, and Green Bay’s first four drives ended this way: punt, safety, punt, punt. The Las Vegas oddsmakers were so unmoved by these trends that they promptly made the Packers just a one-point underdog.
The Arizona Cardinals host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff Round on Saturday, January 16 start time at 8:15 PM ET, at University of Phoenix Arizona, Glendale, AZ.
If the Packers get victory accomplished in Washington today, their season – subpar compared to expectations – gets extended one more week of hope, of dreams of Green Bay’s record 14th world championship.
Seattle will play next weekend at Carolina, where the Panthers had a first-round bye in balmy mid-50s weather.
The Redskins got back on the board with Cousins keeping it on a three yard run to take back the lead in the third quarter. “We have to prove to ourselves we can win the big games”, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said.
Rodgers completed 21 of his 36 pass attempts for 210 yards and two touchdowns. “It hasn’t been discussed at all”, said Cousins, 29 for 46 for 329 yards with one throwing TD and one lost fumble. The team finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak and won the NFC East when many expected them to be at the bottom of the division.
Two plays later, Rodgers found Adams in the back of the end zone for a score with 28 seconds left in the half. The former Alabama standout converted with an 11-yard run, and when he got the ball on the next snap, he ran 30 yards to the Washington 4.
Washington led 5-0 in the first quarter, but the advantage could have been larger.
Oddly enough, the scoring was started with a safety, when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked by Preston Smith, to give the Redskins a 2-0 lead. DeSean Jackson caught a pass and initially was ruled to have scored, but replay showed the ball never crossed the goal line.
Advertisement
And then, spurred by using the hurry-up approach he loves, Rodgers played like a two-time NFL MVP.
