17/01/2012 American Football

Good evening. This weekend saw the divisional round of this year's NFL

play-offs, and coming up, we have the highlights of four cracking

games. We already had our fair share of drama last week.

It is a grade D four wild-card weekend football! -- a great day

for wildcard weekend football! Wow! Could miss! It was incredible!

Wildcard we can certainly whetted the appetite and left us with this

line-up we feature in tonight's show. We will see the Demba Ba

gross travelling to New England happening -- hoping to keep their

play-off dream alive. In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers welcome the

New York Giants to legendary Rambo's stadium. And San Francisco

And guiding us through, Mike Carlson. It is that same old

question, every time we get to the divisional round and the teams have

had a week off, is it good or bad for them? Are it depends. I think

the home field advantage means more and you don't get the extra week to

prepare for a team because you don't know which team you will play

before the wildcard games are finished. But if you have real

injury problems, like Green Bay, it helps to have the extra week to get

healthy and many will have their players much improved after that

week off. We could get Jennings back as well. It also means it has

been two weeks without any real play for the starters and that can

be a disadvantage as well. On the other hand, you have a team like

the Giants, who had to win their way in this season, had a dominant

performance last week and they will be a team coming in with real

momentum. As you say, they kept that going through the wildcard

weekend last week. They played to a busy for his home crowd in New York,

it now they face the prospect of a proverbial brick wall.

Super Bowl fortified champions the pack. We only have this to hold the

cheese hedge charge. One of the few teams to court orders to break

sweat this season by the New York Giants. -- to cause at all Rogers

to break a sweat. Should they require inspiration, they needn't

only think back to their Everton conference win on a Lambeau Field.

We joined it after field goals for bring up a third and long for the

Giants. Manning has been so good on third down. Well that continue? He

has got all day! And the first down his Nicks. A 15 yard completion

from Number 10. It is wide open, pass complete! And that is Nicks!

He is inside the 10. Touchdown for the Giants. No flag. They get the

completion but the safety comes in and he has to make that plain. We

see that everybody along. He thinks a shoulder will be enough to get to

the ground but it is not. Good on the ground but after his knee and

elbow were down on the ground... That will give Aaron Rodgers a

march to the Super Bowl. They go right back to him and this time the

giant stands him up. Now third down and five. And Rodgers has room in

front of him. These teams met in early December and Rodgers was the

top rash man for the pack. Nelson Philips has got the football! --

this played go. An official said this was knee-down and no fumble.

But it looked like the ball was out before the knees were down. It has

been challenged. REFEREE: The ruling on the field

stands. He can't believe it out frankly, I can't be there! -- I

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the 10th... The rookie out of by didn't work. The Giants were

initially unable to take advantage of their position but they New York

were able to add a field goal. We rejoin with the Giants in

possession and only 41 seconds get out of bounds and he will do it.

Hardback that effort to get all the way out of bounds! He ran for 23

yards and stopped the clock with touchdown! Unbelievable! Hakeem

Nicks! He catches it off his helmet. That remarkable catch gave the

Giants a 10-point lead. Jennings was wide open down the field as

this touchdown was prevented earlier. After an exchange of field

goals, we rejoice in with the Packers and possession, still

Webster! That's a live ball and it's the Giants ball. It is knocked

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quick strike after the takeover around... Key can't find anywhere

to go. Heathrow's downfield and tipped the incomplete. -- he throws.

That is a huge call that gives Green Bay a fresh set of downs.

They said, blow to the head. I don't know where that was. He hit

him and once he did, he fell in to it has been that kind of day for

him. Rodgers will run and has plenty of room now. He does not

slide and stays upright inside the finished yet. But again, a big call

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by Green Bay nearly came off, but touchdown. 14 yards from Brandon

Jacobs. Brandon Jacobs cut said back and the only one left to make

the play is Charles will cent. -- Charles Wilson. After another Green

Bay turnover, the Giants were able to advance to the NFC Championship

game. This is a big win and normally after an important one, I

will keep the football. It is an import -- it is hard to get wins in

Lambeau Field, especially in the playoffs, they have had an

unbelievable season so it is a special win. New York football,

Giants, baby! Eli Manning showing his pedigree

and I think he said it all, a big shock. The it was one small step

for Manning,... What about his opposite number? Aaron Rodgers has

been taking headlines all through been taking headlines all through

the year but misfired. It is rare to see him so discombobulated by at

the fence, and the Giants did a great job of getting him off the

track -- by air defence. The list is incredible, eight drops by

receivers. Rogers and Jennings were not quite on the same page, goes to

the wrong side twice. -- Aaron Rodgers. Just the unforced drops.

Michael Finley had a couple. Nelson he has Phillips coming and Croft

said. And don't blame the tackle, because he pushed him in. He does

this great job of making himself skinny and getting through and

knocking the guard over. Great defence by the giant but some great

offence as well. Eli Manning showing his pedigree. We are used

to see him going to bid to cruise at this stage of the season but

they have more weapons we can see it. A lot of the time, the Packers

were rushing and it didn't bother him. Hakeem Nicks stepped up in

this game. He is trying to torpedo him, but he is too big and strong

and he bounces off and spins and goes towards the touchdown. On the

hail mary, again, no play, he stands behind Hakeem Nicks. He is

too short. It is like Rodney Harrison holding Tyrie is on. -- on.

Fantastic to see. So the Giants pulling off a shock to progress to

the NFC Championship game. The identity of their opponents was

decided in a slightly warmer climes in California, whether San

Francisco 49 has welcomed many people's Super Bowl favourite, the

Saints that hasn't already been said. Offensively, they are a

machine, in the air and on the ground, where their underrated run

the game is a triple threat. -- running the game. Away from home,

they faced the challenge of matching their strength with their

opponents. We believe in ourselves, no matter what happens today.

Believe we are going to win this game. It you wanted, if you have to

believe. 14 weeks without conceding a rushing touchdown that shows the

unity of the defence. A 30 years ago this week, the first Super Bowl

victory for the 49ers was inspired by playing in a Conference final

that will forever be known as the Francisco were characterised by

some physical home defence. After the 49 has deferred possession from

the kickoff, but Jimmy Graham and Pierre Thomas were forced back to

the locker room. Thomas coughing up the ball in the process, he was

unable to return. Drew Brees also got to feel some Californian he'd.

We join the action with San Francisco in possession on their

yards! Vernon Davis is going to be in front of Justin peel, separation

straightaway. Malcolm Jenkins comes up to makes a play and actually

blocks him, they are both down. Vernon Davis just strides into the

line. He is on the far right side of the field. Piffle Drew Brees,

getting to throw the vertical ball down the seam and makes the

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- watch 21 on the pass projection. That is one of the best pash

Russia's on the New Orleans Saints. of the run. He lost the ball before

the ball, resulting with a field goal which extended their lead. We

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join the Saints on their next try Fumble. The Saints turn it over for

a 4th time today. The ball was stripped, he was touching the

challenge black. Benny is down. Does he have control of the ball --

that me. The receivers knee was down. Therefore it will be second

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there. As soon as the progress is stopped, the 49ers are coming after

Saints. And after a three and bad for the 49ers, the Saints started

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territory by Marques Colston. His first them. Drew Brees fires it

downfield. Marques Colston makes a spectacular catch for a Saints of

Of Marques Colston get both feet in. -- Marques Colston get both feet in.

The Saints lost possession at the end of the first part to hold their

scoring momentum. And this fumble at the start of the second half was

their 5th turnover of the game, resulting in one of two field goals

added by the 49ers. San Francisco then came up with some big

defensive plays to limit the Saints to a solitary field goal. We rejoin

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the action at the new Orleans 35 20, the 10, touchdown! Darren

Sproles! 44 yards! Take a look right here and Jimmy Grant

downfield. He knows he will not get the ball of. Turn, swivel. Boom!

That right there is a kick. And a first lead are today. They trail by

Vernon Davis! A 37 yard completion! What a throw by Alex Smith!

49ers are in field-goal range. Just have and defensive huddle. -- an

Smith is in! Touched down! What a great play call. And Kyle Williams,

the wide receiver, who came in motion and put the crack block

coming in from the left side. He blocked Cameron Jordan and then

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by five and they start from their pass attempt by Brees. His 53rd!

Saints need a touchdown with 48 Jimmy Graham makes the catch! And

66 yards down from Brees to Graham! They had safety held there behind

but he still throws it to Jimmy Grant and makes a heck of a catch!

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32 seconds remaining. -- and now would need to get approximately the

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Vernon Davis! Touchdown! Guy throws! What an unbelievable game

by Vernon Davis and what a great catch. He gets hit as soon as the

rut gets there. It is great for him to be able to hold on to that ball.

This has been the most amazing finish to a game I have seen in a

long time. One more time from the advance. I had to take it upon

myself to step up and make place. Games like this, critical situation,

we were down, so I had to make it happen. We have to get to where we

He made it happen all right. What an incredible finish and a shock as

well? The best last five minutes I can remember as well. Again, and

all for like that Green Day-New York Games. The Saints came out and

they could not do what they normally do. The 49ers were not

giving up to them. And it was like last year when the Saints lost to

Seattle. Roman harbour was caught in a couple of bad catches.

mentioned previously the famous catch, 1981. In many ways, this

will go down in the history books in a similar way for the 49ers?

He was crying. Vernon Davis had a tremendous game and, as I said, the

Saints could not match up with him and they kept trying to. I couldn't

believe they left that coverage. Alex Smith drops the rap perfectly

and he beats Jenkins off the line in the scrimmage for speed. And the

linebacker now lets him go. That is the touchdown that won the game. I

didn't think he would win the game. Maybe they should have used more

time but I think they could go 85. He should have done that but nobody

would have thought they would come back in bottom out of touch. Yeah.

It is just not the Drew Brees which I used to seeing. You made the

comparison to the Giants game. If you take a look at the way Drew

Brees was passing, it was that same kind of thing of occasionally

making bad decisions, like here, and sometimes throwing balls that

were that -- just a bit off. Because the others were doing a

great job of switching. But they shifted just before the snap so

Brees thought there would be a safety at that end of the field.

When he throws the rap, Colston moves as well. He would love to

have that one back. -- when he throws the ball. It was right on

target, but what was impressive with those drives, if Saints rushed

four, you went back to where there was room. He knew where Bobby

Lovgren shop was an the Saints should not have been covering

Vernon Davis. That is why they lost. Yes. Alex Smith joined us a few

years ago for hours Super Bowl coverage and he could not be a

nicer guy. Standing in the way of the Broncos

Beware this man. Rob Gronkowski became the first man in history to

get these touchdowns. Now, there's a new kid in town! Anybody who

thought that Tebow time had expired was sadly mistaken. The reaction to

last week's overtime win prompted over 9,000 tweets per second.

Despite a regular season thrashing, at the Broncos and their

inspirational quarterback will be full of confidence as they roll

into fox broke. Let's head to the Gillette Stadium with our

commentators. We joined the action with the Patriots early in the

Touchdown, New England! Less than two minutes. There's nobody in the

middle and Wes had a tough time against Chris Harris in Denver but

he wins the first battle today near the goal line. Step up to the plate.

The man everybody has been talking about - Tim Tebow. His fumble

handed possession back to New official agrees! Touchdown for new

England. He didn't take the bait, Brady. It is going to be a

challenge. It will be looked at. REFEREE: After review, the ruling

on the field stands. Denver's defence did finally announce

themselves and again, with this interception from Tom Brady. The

pass was intended for Rob it in to the endzone? Or does he

drive everybody into which? -- into he runs like that. Touchdown, New

England! Watching engulf this pass. It is a clever design and it is the

formation that allows them to get outside leverage. Nobody inside

because it is being cleared out. Following that, the Patriots

defence continued to pressurise the Broncos, with Tebow being sacked

twice in succession, with the ball going once again back into the

was contact. Deion Branch, just enough for separation and what Afro.

On the next drive, this incomplete pass was dropped and forced the

Broncos to punter. In this form, though, the Patriots weren't

interested in running down the clock to half-time. They drove the

ball goes back to the 19 yard line before Tom Brady found Gronkowski

for another touchdown. This was Gronkowski's third receiving

touchdown of the match, tying the NFL post-season record. We join the

touchdown. Tom Brady has just tied the all-time post-season for game

worse as he was sacked three times in the first quarter, but the

Patriots defence of dominating proceedings. There was a field goal

apiece before the Patriots control of the game was exemplified by this

near-perfect punt from Tom Brady late in the game. It was just too

much for some of the Broncos players. Lashing out here with just

England of rewriting the history books on their way to a 45-10 web

and Tom Brady posting and NFL record for post-season. The air was

good execution. There were things we could have done better but it is

good to get up when. They have been playing well but we came in and

started fast and it was a big win started fast and it was a big win

for us. In a huge win. So Tim Tebow time has expired, but what a

statement of intent from Tom Brady and the Patriots. Denver had

momentum but the Patriots had Brady, and the witches in Salem cast a

spell to undid Tim Tebow. They are a nightmare for any team they play.

This guy Gronkowski is a monster. If you are going to play a fullback

and quarterback, we will play the tight end at quarterback. Tom Brady

started throwing the ball to Gronkowski, who is 6 ft 5, hands

like a wide receiver. This is just a great catch, as he is falling. He

is so strong, he can bump off people, catch the ball. The

momentum carried him into the endzone. This is a great job of

getting separation. And three touchdown catches in the first half,

as many as any tight end has ever had in a play-off game. Just an

outstanding performance and then they kicked off to them, that was a

mistake. The Broncos did not want to be playing catch-up but they

were in that mode of all game. never got a chance to react with

those two in tandem, what a partnership that is, it will take

some stopping between now and the Super Bowl. So about whiter and it

tie follow their -- between the Giants and the 49ers as for the NFC

title. Just one place that did the play of Conference finals. -- 1

placed left in the play-off Conference finals. The Baltimore

Ravens Light to buck the trend. Whilst the NFL might have gone past

crazy this season, they like to grind and pound. At fearsome

defensive unit and with like them speed of a rookie receiver, they

have a downfield grip to keep any secondary honest. After 10 years,

the Texans have finally crossed the bridge into the playoffs. I have

been a dream ride there. The Texans have accomplished the number of

firsts this season. They have never recorded a winning seasonal paid in

the Post until this year. To reach the Conference final, they will

need that this one more Milestone. Houston have never beaten the

Ravens in their entire franchise Ravens in their entire franchise

history. They got off to a good start, putting three points on the

board early doors. We join the game with Paul to mop hunting after a

three-and-out. handle that when you have got a

player right on top of the year. Touchdown! Kris Wilson, the number

3 tight end. Kris Wilson is not a target very often here, and again,

he just a slow blocks. Even though the ball was behind him, he did a

on their next possession. Will rejoin later in the quarter with

think TJ Yates just made up his mind, he was going to throw it to

Johnson whether he was covered or Into the second quarter, Houston

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have added three points and are TJ Yates just has to let this go.

His left-hand never touches the is going to go to the right behind

because. A nice block on the edge by number 85. Coming around the

corner, vicars. Well done by the guys from Texas. Luckily, the

Texans missed this chance to come within a point when this came back

of the cross bar. -- off the crossbar. We rejoin the 4th would

be his studs with the ball again. - someplace else with the football.

You can't have better bracket coverage. TJ Yates had no business

turnover, adding another three points to make a 20-13. Seven

points down, TJ Yates has the ball again, but with time running out.

In his younger Korea, TJ Yates has two 4th quarter winning drives. --

the ball. Was Johnson down? The officials are saying he is. 38 yard

interception in this, his 10th career play-off game. -- 8th.

again, just a high floater, could coverage and indeed by Jimmy Spik

and then Ed Reed doing what they Free safety is supposed to do, play

the deep outside and becomes so that and they say sure handed pick.

To be the elite team, you've got to beat the elite team. We know that.

Ravens on three. 1, 2, 3. The Ravens, impressive in the

dressing-room as they are run the pitch. TJ Yates impressed this last

week but it since the post-season party ended this week. He looked

like what he has, which is an Iraqi quarterback in his Fifth NFL start.

-- which is a rocky. In retrospect, you see when he was throwing to

Andre Johnson and Johnson had a little room, he was drilling the

ball in there, but he telegraphs that one. This one he just floats

up to a man who is double covered, no way that will be completed. Then

he tries to go deep and Ed Reed is one of the best ball hawks in

football. You have got the gang had been experienced quarterback

getting that otherwise played very well and might have won that game -

- a very young quarterback. You have people who know what they are

doing and they have a great match- up, they went up to Foxe Brad and

beat the Patriots two years ago in the playoffs. The Ravens are

deservedly through. It sets up a fantastic time next weekend, as the

Ravens crowd to the Patriots in the AFC, and the 49ers ers are at home

again, hosting the Giants in the NFC. You can listen to live

NFC. You can listen to live coverage next Sunday from 7:50pm in

the evening on 5 Live extra. Mike and I will be back on Monday night

at the slightly earlier time of 11:20pm with the best of the action,

so be sure to join us. It should be so be sure to join us. It should be

another fantastic weekend as the NFL season move to within one step