The Saturday Wild Card Games of the NFL Playoffs came off just as the Las Vegas handicappers predicted that they would as far as the spread goes. Both favorites won and covered. However, the totals were set way too high and the under won the wager on both games.
Cincinnati Quarterback Andy Dalton could only manage 127 yards passing as a flat Bengal team lost to the Houston Texans who did not look all that much better. Houston took the day but neither team displayed championship style in this game. After an 11-1 start, the Texans lost 3 of their last 4 games and also blew the home field advantage when they lost to the Colts on Dec. 30.
Matt Schaub went 29-38 for 262 yards and running back sensation Arian Foster rushed for 140 on the ground. Final score: Texans 19-Bengals 13
Houston has won the Wild Card Match but now must go up to Foxborough to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots where they will no doubt be the underdogs.
It was announced shortly before kickoff that the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, Christian Ponder had an injured shoulder and would not be starting against the Packers on Saturday. Immediately after the announcement the line on the game moved from 8 to 12…..in about 2 minutes!
Backup Quarterback Joe Webb had not thrown a pass all season except in practice and his inexperience showed as he sailed balls over his receivers heads and threw others into the ground in front of them. He only completed 11of 30 passes for 180 yards. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers connected on 23 of 33 throws for 274 yards and one touchdown.
Adrian Peterson ran for only 99 yards against the Packers on Saturday, just as predicted by Green Bay DE Clay Matthews before the game. Peterson had topped 200 yards in each of the 2 previous meetings of the clubs and was a major factor in the Vikings victories over the Packers earlier in the season.
Veteran Safety Charles Woodson returned to the roster on Saturday after being sidelined for the last 9 weeks of the season and his presence on the field combined with the always stellar play of Clay Matthews was enough to slow down the Vikings offense all evening long.
Final Score: Packers 24 Vikings 10.
The Packers next travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
