Carolina Panthers, 27 Arizona Cardinals, 16
Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley did not belong on the field today. Some credit certainly goes to LB Luke Kuchely, DE Charles Johnson and the rejuvenated Panther defense, but Lindley's inept performance hindered the Cardinals in a historical fashion. Arizona managed only 77 yards, the lowest net offense in NFL Playoff history.
Turnovers kept the Cardinals alive in the first half; a muffed punt led to a short field touchdown and a long interception return by CB Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie led to another short field touchdown. Arizona actually went into the half leading 14-13.
Carolina wasn't perfect, QB Cam Newton was off target on a good amount of throws but hit enough to keep the Panthers moving. Newton also was a big part of the ground game with RB Jonathan Stewart that dominated the Cardinals vaunted but exhausted front 7 for 188 yards.
KEY PLAY: RB Fozzy Whittaker set the tone for the 2nd half with a screen pass to the right and cut across the entire field to the left corner of the end zone for a 39-yard TD to go up 20-14. Arizona KR Ted Ginn Jr fumbled away Arizona's next possession before it existed and Cam Newton and RB Mike Tolbert punched the remaining 5 yards for another TD. With the deer-in-headlights Lindley under center for Arizona, the outcome was never again in question.
MVP: RB Jonathan Stewart finally has cashed on some of the promise of his injury-plagued career with a 24-carry, 123 yard, 1 TD playoff performance to follow his 501-yard December.
Baltimore Ravens, 30 Pittsburgh Steelers, 17
In their principal rival's house, the 6th seed Baltimore Ravens under Coach John Harbaugh and QB Joe Flacco earned their 10th playoff victory in 7 seasons. The Ravens' O-line stuck together, and the D-line greatly beneifted from the return of DT Haloti Ngata who had missed the previous four games. Consistently winning both lines of scrimmage, the Ravens were in control away from home.
The Steelers desperatly missed superstar RB Le'Veon Bell. The trio of Dri Archer, Josh Harris and off-the-street Ben Tate generated very litle and the game was put on the arm of Ben Rothlisberger. Normally, that would be okay but the depleted Ravens' secondary including S Will Hill, CB LaDarius Webb and CB Rashaan Melvin turned in a surprisingly great performance.
There will be debate about Rothlisberger and TE Health Miller's back-to-back returns from incredibly hard hits to the head. Rothlisberger returned from his hit to the head and promptly through a blatant interception into obvious double coverage in the end zone.
KEY PLAY: Up 13-9 in the 3rd quarter, QB Joe Flacco hit WR Torrey Smith for the crucial seperating touchdown. Steelers LB James Harrison was inches from sacking Flacco after beating the tackle but G Kelechi Osemele made a game-changing block at the last possible millisecond, Flacco broke free and hit Smith.
MVP: For the rest of the AFC, this is the darkest timeline. Joe Flacco and postseason Ravens are back. While G Kelechi Osemele and RT Marshall Yanda almost deserve MVP for their great , QB Joe Flacco looked a top-tier QB for the first time since Super Bowl 47 going 18 for 29, 259 yards, 2 TDs, no INT and countless converted 3rd downs.
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