MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

5 LA Rams (12-5) @ 4 Carolina Panthers (8-9): LAR 34-31

I heard a wise man say “Carolina is a pesky bunch” and that proves to be an accurate assessment. After jumping out to a 17-7 lead, and in field goal range, Rams Coach Sean McVay chose to go for it on 4th-and-3. The Panthers held Los Angeles, and a 16-yard touchdown run by QB Bryce Young (264 yards passing-td/ 20 yards rushing-td) turned a possible LA blowout into a 17-14 halftime game.

The two teams exchanged touchdowns four times in the fourth quarter, with QB Matthew Stafford (304 yards passing-3 td’s) overcoming inconsistency and a hand injury, to account for all 71 yards on the final drive, going 6-for-7 culminating in a 19-yard touchdown pass to TE Colby Parkinson, his third scoring catch in his last two games.

To begin the game, Carolina surprised fans by going for it on 4th-down deep in Panthers territory, and failing. 

Wide receiver Puka Nacua (10 receptions-111 yards-td/ 23 rushing-td) started the scoring 17 seconds later, catching a 14-yard scoring pass. Nacua later added a 5-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-0, and LA was on cruise control until McVay’s questionable decision.

Kam Curl and Nate Landman had 10 tackles each to lead the Rams defense. 

Carolina WR Jalen Coker (9 receptions-134 yards-td) caught the go ahead touchdown with 2:39 remaining before Stafford’s heroics.

The Rams move on to the Divisional Round with a trip to Chicago to face the Bears.

7 Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) @ 2 Chicago Bears (11-6): Chi 31-27

Two field goals, two interceptions of Caleb Williams, and two turnover-on-downs was all Chicago had to show for the first three quarters. The Bears offense found and flipped the switch, scoring on all four possessions in the fourth quarter, including three touchdowns.

Williams (361 yards pa-2 td’s/ 20 yards ru) hit WR DJ Moore (6 rec-64 yards-td)  for a 25-yard touchdown with 1:43 left to complete the comeback. Tight end Colston Loveland led receivers with 137 yards on eight catches and RB D’Andre Swift had 92 yards of total offense and a 6-yard touchdown for the Bears.

Jordan Love (323 yards pa-4 td’s) had the Packers out to a huge early lead, with touchdown passes to three different receivers, on the first three drives. Romeo Dobbs led Green Bay with 124 yards while Matthew Golden added 84 yards, with both scoring.

The difference in the game was the kicking game, as Green Bay K Brandon McManus missed both of his field goal attempts and an extra-point. Chicago advances to take on the Rams in Chicago.

6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) @ 3 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): SF 23-19

The 49ers eliminated the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles with a mix of trickery, just enough quality play from QB Brock Purdy, and a whole lot of RB Christian McCaffrey.

Purdy (262 yards pa- 2 td’s) overcame two second-half interceptions to hit McCaffrey (114 total yards-2 td’s) for a 4-yard touchdown with 2:54 remaining to complete the scoring. McCaffery also caught a 29-yard touchdown to begin the 4th-quarter, when WR Jauan Jennings took a lateral from fellow receiver Skyy Moore. Jennings connected with McCaffrey down the sidelines to give San Francisco its first second half lead, at 17-16.

Philadelphia had an off day but started their scoring with a ten play, 63-yard drive that culminated in a Dallas Goedert 1-yard touchdown run. The Eagles tight end also accounted for their only other touchdown, a 9-yard reception capping a 16-play drive covering 94 yards.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts managed just 168 yards passing and a score on the day, and only RB Saquon Barkley (131 total yards) had a productive game on offense.

Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell did all he could to keep the Eagles in the game, intercepting Purdy twice in the second half, but Philadelphia managed just one field goal the rest of the way.

San Francisco travels to Seattle, to take on the top-seeded Seahawks, with whom they split the season series.

NFC Divisional Playoffs:

6 San Francisco 49ers (13-5) @ 1 Seattle Seahawks (13-4) Saturday

5 Los Angeles Rams (13-5) @ 2 Chicago Bears (12-6) Sunday