Seattle Seahawks, 23 New Orleans Saints, 15
The weather in Seattle alternated from stormy downpours to blue sky sunshine and back again as the Seahawks were able to handle the Saints and fend of a furious, wild comeback attempt.
In the end, the Saints out-gained the Seahawks 409 yards to 277 but missed two field goals, lost a fumble and had zero points through the first three quarters.
QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston and the slew of Saint pass-catchers didn't really get the ball moving until the 4th quarter, already down 16-0. They chipped away with a touchdown drive and 2pt conversion, 8-16.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, K Shayne Graham missed a chance to add 3 more late in the 4th quarter and RB Marshawn Lynch placed the sluggish offense on his back with a 31-yard run, a stiff-arm harkening back to that fateful 2011 wild card game.
When the blue skies had returned the Saints were in desperation mode. They needed two touchdowns with 2:40 on the clock. Amazingly, they got one with 0:32 on the clock and subsqueqently recovered the onside kick. No miracles were to be had on this day. A trick play with an illegal forward pass ran the clock and Seattle breathed relief, and advanced.
KEY PLAY: In a vision right out of the Seattle offseason QB Russell Wilson pump faked to WR Percy Harvin, the entire Saints D bit and RB Marshawn Lynch was handed the ball in space, he pounded through the exposed Saints secondary for his 1st touchdown of the game. With the elements pounding down, a 10-0 lead was crucial.
MVP: RB Marshawn Lynch is the perfect compliment to the tough, physical Seattle D. Lynch bashed the Saints for 140 yards and 2 TDs, once again he not only produced and set the tone but delivered the knockout punch.
NewEngland Patriots, 43 Indianapolis Colts, 22
The New England Patriot run game has been impressive this year, nostalgic memories of the early Brady years. A bullying offensive line broke the Patriots backs (primarily RB LaGarrete Blount this time) for 234 total rushing yards. The Colts D was over-matched, and consequently the Colts offense pressed a little too hard.
QB Andrew Luck actually played fairly similar to the Kansas City game. He was lightning in a bottle on a few brilliant throws but other times looked rattled and forced into a few bad throws, four of which were intercepted (he threw three bad interceptions against KC, a forgotten stat). This time, there was no rhythm to be had for a comeback as Luck sat mostly on the sidelines watching the Patriots run the ball for touchdowns after his interceptions. After the game, Luck shaved the "neard" on his face and said he felt like a "lost puppy", not having expected to lose. Everyone knows we have not seen the last of Andrew Luck.
On the other end of the spectrum, QB Tom Brady was efficient with 198 yards, content to hand the ball off for Blount and RB Stevan Ridley's combined six rushing touchdowns. The Patriots ran the ball 46 times and passed 25, a far cry from the 2007-2012 pass-happy group that has come short of two Super Bowls.
KEY PLAY: Only 29-22 to start the 4th quarter, RB LaGarrete Blount's 73-yard touchdown run set the nail up and LB Jamie Collins' interception on the next play hammered it down.
MVP: RB LaGarrete Blount, 166 yards and 4 touchdowns, delivers one of the more impressive postseason performances thus far. The announcers mentioned a few times that he was "running with purpose". Normally, that phrase sounds cliche' but watching Blount run in this game, I find it to be an appropriate description.
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