NFL Wild Card Playoffs: Seahawks, Ravens move in to next level

Associated Press Published:

Associated Press

Seattle 24, Washington 14

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Seattle Seahawks finally won a road playoff game Sunday, taking a 24-14 NFC wild-card victory over the Washington Redskins, who lost Robert Griffin III to another knee injury in the fourth quarter.

Marshawn Lynch ran for 131 yards, and Russell Wilson completed 15-of-26 passes for 187 yards and ran eight times for 67 yards for the Seahawks, who broke an eight-game postseason losing streak away from home.

Seattle will visit the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.

Lynch's 27-yard run with 7:08 remaining gave the Seahawks (12-5) the lead. On Washington's next series, Griffin reinjured the right knee he sprained about a month ago while trying to field a bad shotgun snap.

The knee buckled badly, and the Seahawks recovered the fumble and kicked an insurance field goal.

Kirk Cousins replaced Griffin, but Washington (10-7) was unable to come back.

RG3 three two 4-yard touchdown passes in his first career playoff game to give the Redskins a 14-0 lead before the Seahawks closed to 14-13 through three quarters.

Griffin capped the Redskins' only two drives of the first quarter against the NFL's top-rated scoring defense with short tosses to running back Evan Royster and tight end Logan Paulsen.

The Seahawks allowed 15.3 points per game this season and the 14-point deficit was their largest of the season.

The second quarter belonged to Seattle, with Wilson throwing a 4-yard TD pass to running back Michael Robinson and Steve Hauschka kicking a pair of field goals.

Hauschka's 32-yard field goal 2:55 into the second quarter made in 14-3 and his second kick, a 29-yarder as the half expired, pulled the Seahawks with a point.

Seattle maintained its offensive efficiency starting the third quarter, driving 69 yards to the Redskins 1, but Lynch fumbled and Washington's Jarvis Jenkins recovered.

Griffin was 10-of-17 for 84 yards, but after the first quarter he threw for only 16 yards plus an interception. The Redskins quarterback also ran three times for 12 yards..

Ravens 24, Colts 9

BALTIMORE -- Ray Lewis' last ride now will take him to Denver.

Anquan Boldin, Joe Flacco and a staunch Baltimore defense made sure of that Sunday.

Boldin set a franchise record with 145 yards receiving, including the clinching touchdown in the Ravens' 24-9 victory over Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game. The win delays star linebacker Lewis' retirement for at least another week as Baltimore (11-6) heads to Denver next Saturday.

The Broncos beat the3 Ravens 34-17 three weeks ago.

"I wanted Denver," Boldin said. "Because they beat us."

Lewis, who made 13 tackles, even lined up at fullback for the final kneel-down in his last home game of a 17-year career. He then went into a short version of his trademark dance before being mobbed by teammates.

He followed with a victory lap, his right arm, covered by a brace, held high in salute to the fans after playing for the first time since tearing his right triceps on Oct. 14 against Dallas.

"There's no greater reward than for me to take this last victory lap, for me to see my team, because we have a vision," Lewis said. "We're not trying to end here. This is just my last game at Ravens stadium, and it's the most awesome thing you could ever ask for in any professional career."

The loss ended the Colts' turnaround season in which they went from 2-14 to the playoffs in coach Chuck Pagano's first year in Indianapolis (11-6). Pagano missed 12 weeks while undergoing treatment for leukemia and returned last week.

Comments

Signed in as

By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed. The Record Courier doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.

Want to leave your comments?

Sign in or Register to comment.