Hello and welcome to tonight’s coverage of the remaining NFL Divisional Round Games.
First up is the Packers @ Cowboys at 9.40pm while Kansas City hosts Pittsburgh in a delayed kick-off at 1.20am.
I’m Steve O’Rourke and thanks for joining me for these games.
The sad news about the Steelers/Chiefs game being postponed is that we now won’t have a meaningful 6pm game again until 10 September.
That’s a long time (and also my birthday so swings and roundabouts).
Here’s my preview of tonight’s games:
I appear to be in the minority on both picks, however. So, who have you got?
And it’s the Cowboys who will get the game underway from their 25-yard line.
Field Goal – Cowboys 3-0 Packers
A promising opening drive from Dallas stalls when it matters and Dallas has to settle for a Dan Bailey field goal for the game’s opening points.
That wasn’t a gimme field goal either
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 7-3 Cowboys
Aaron Rodgers takes advantage of a free play to hit his namesake Richard for the game’s first touchdown. That was as easy as you like for Green Bay.
Okay… that was the oddest penalty we’ve had in a while:
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 14-3 Cowboys
Aaron Rodgers drives the Packers down once more but this time it’s Ty Montgomery who runs it in from three-yards.
It’s early stages but you get the feeling Dallas must score on their next drive.
They’re not quite out of it yet so:
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 21-3 Cowboys
Three drives, three touchdowns for Green Bay as Dallas continue to let them move the chains on third down. It’s a second score for Montgomery.
How good has Rodgers been?
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 21-10 Cowboys
There I was, thinking to myself, ‘how will the Cowboys do if they abandon the run?’
Quite well actually as Dez Bryant makes two big catches back-to-back to score the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the game.
That drive went 75 yards in just 94 seconds.
A fumble on the kick return puts the Packers in terrible field position and they’re forced to punt for the first time today. Dallas have their best field position of the day. With four minutes left, can they score again before half-time?
Field Goal – Packers 21-13 Cowboys
Despite how well the Packers have looked, we’re technically back to a one score game. A good comeback from Dallas to be fair.
HALF-TIME – Packers 21-13 Cowboys
And the Dallas defence makes back-to-back three-and-out stops to stay in the game.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they do have to kick to Green Bay to start the second half.
The second-half is under way and Green Bay will start from their own 25-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 28-13 Cowboys
The Packers start the second half the same way they started the first with a really quick touchdown drive and it’s a 15 point game again.
Jared Cook catches Aaron Rodgers fourth touchdown pass of the game.
Over to you Dak.
PICK!
Dak Prescott finds Micah Hyde as Dallas are driving to bring it back to a one-score game and that might just be that for America’s Team.
PICK!
Maybe not! It looks for all the world like Green Bay will score their fifth touchdown but Aaron Rodgers throws his first touchdown in five games and Jeff Heath makes the pick.
Once more, two big Dez Bryant catches extends the play and we come to the end of the third quarter.
Dallas down 15 with 15 to play.
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 28-20 Cowboys
Jason Witten has his first career postseason touchdown and it’s a one-score game again. Prescott went six for six on passing plays on that drive.
I know it’s a school night, but don’t you dare go to bed just yet.
No, it’s not your imagination, the Packers have slowed down since their explosive start:
TOUCHDOWN – Packers 28-26 Cowboys
Prescott finds Bryant in the endzone and the Cowboys are going for two!
2-Point Conversion – Cowboys 28-28 Packers
Dak Prescott keeps it himself on the draw and we have a level game.
There is the small matter of an Aaron Rodgers drive to come, however.
That touchdown was set up by this spin move by Zeke Elliott. Poor Clay Matthews:
Seven quarterbacks were taken ahead of Dak Prescott. Seven
Field Goal – Packers 31-28 Cowboys
An incomplete pass on third down gives the Packers a 56 yard field goal for the lead and Mason Crosby just makes it.
1.30 left in the game.
The Cowboys are already within field goal range with 44 seconds left on the clock.
Field Goal – Cowboys 31-31 Packers
Dan Bailey nails it from 52 seconds. Finally a playoff game that’s lived up the name.
40 seconds left on the clock.
A 36-yard throw by Aaron Rodgers on third-and-20 looks to have set up a game-winning field goal with three seconds left for Green Bay
Mason Crosby’s kick was good, but the Cowboys had called a time out.
Here comes attempt number two from 51.
FULL-TIME – Packers 34-31 Cowboys
Mason Crosby hits the field goal and the Packers will play the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.
What is there left to say about Aaron Rodgers.
Right, that’s it from me.
You’re on your own for the Chiefs and Steelers. It’ll have to go some way to live up to what we’ve just seen, however.
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