For the three quarterbacks that have generated the most column inches between them, Rodgers, Brees and Tebow, the campaign for Superbowl glory has come to an end. Instead, it has been the year of the defence, with 2 top defensive displays knocking off prolific offensive teams, and two watertight defenses coming together in a slugfest in Baltimore.
The one result that went to the form book was in New England, where the Patriots led by Tom Brady, who has found some dominating form in the latter part of the season and into the postseason, tore apart Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
For reaction on the outstanding 49ers victory, see my prevoius blog here.
But let's start at Green Bay, where the Superbowl favourites and NFC #1 seeds the Packers were looking to overcome a resurgent New York Giants team led by Eli Manning.
In essence, Green Bay lost to the better team, and lost by a convincing scoreline. The majority of the credit should go to the Giants defence who forced Rodgers and his receivers into some uncharcteristic mistakes. The fact that Rodgers, as he was in the 38-35 contest against the Giants in the regular season, was the top rusher in the Packers team with 66 yards, tells you how much the Giants closed down the options for the top QB in the league, forcing him to make the plays himself.
There were fumbles from Greg Jennings (one of which was not spotted by the referee and was judged he was down prior to the ball being released, leading to a scoring play), John Kuhn and Ryan Grant.
Many questions will get asked about whether the Packers were ready. Rodgers himself hadn't played for 3 weeks after sitting out the final game of the regular season for Matt Flynn to step in and produce one of the finest QB displays of the season. Greg Jennings was returning from injury after 5 weeks out as well. Compare this to the Giants, whose momentum relied on the fact they have played every week, building on some solid defensive displays since losing to the Packers on December 4th.
That defence combined with the offensive form of receivers Cruz, Manningham and Nicks each giving Eli Manning a variety of good options across the field, the Giants have proved to be a well-oiled match winning team in the last few weeks. No team will want to play them at the moment, but that's exactly what the San Francisco 49ers have to do next week at Candlestick Park.
A bad day at the office for the Packers, and the Giants roll on. The last time the Giants won at Lambeau Field in the postseason, they went on to lift the Lombardi trophy against the New England Patriots. There will now be a lot of people reckoning that that will be the likely match-up this time around.
So how about the Patriots?
Tom Brady and co produced a first half against the Broncos that dispelled any illusions that Tim Tebow could mix it with the elite QB's in the game. Brady taught Tebow a lesson, and that puts it mildly.
With 5 TD passes in the first half, Brady then went on to complete 1 more to tie the postseason record for 6 TD passes in a game. In doing so, he also racked up his 36th TD pass in postseasons, going third in the all-time list. With Rodgers and Brees now out, Brady is now the one truly elite QB left in the reckoning, although Manning may have something to say about it.
Brady provided a masterclass in QB play against the Broncos
Tebow and the Broncos managed only one TD in the match, early in the 2nd quarter to make the score 7-14, only for Brady to respond with 3 more. Tight end Rob Gronkowski continued his amazing form scoring 3 TD's, claiming 145 of the total 509 yards of Patriots offensive gains.
The Patriots look to be in ominous form and will now face the AFC #2 seeds Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game next week, at Foxboro.
The Ravens overcame the Houston Texans in a game that saw two of the best defences in the league square up in Baltimore.
Many people picked the Texans in this one, simply becasue of the outstanding defence, particularly from key players like Brian Cushing and the outstanding JJ Watt. Both those players had stand out games in a contest that was all about stopping the other guys and see what we could get in offence. Both teams have inconsistent QB's. In Joe Flacco, the Ravens have yet to see the potential that their QB has shown only glimmers of this season. But in the first quarter, it was Flacco who stepped up, throwing short touchdown passes to tight end Kris Wilson and wide receiver Anquan Boldin to give the Ravens a 17-3 lead after 15 minutes.
It was the veteran Ray Lewis who led the Baltimore defence to force rookie Texans QB TJ Yates into throwing 3 interceptions. But the Ravens defence couldn't stop Texans running back Arian Foster. Having not given up more than 100 yards to any player this season, the Ravens couldn't stop Foster rushing for 132 yards in an outstanding display in an otherwise pretty toothless offence.
It was the mistakes that ultimately let this one go the way of the Ravens. But if they have aspirations of reaching the Superbowl next week, they'll have pick up their game offensively and score more than the 227 yards they achieved yesterday.
With the possible exception of Baltimore, all the remaining teams in the postseason have the potential to go on to Superbowl glory. The Patriots must now be considered the favourites, but the way the form book has gone so far this postseason, nobody will be holding their breath.
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