SCOREBOARD
SUNDAY, JAN. 6
L.A. Chargers at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. EST. Philip Rivers and
the Chargers (12-4) are making their first postseason appearance since 2013,
but were held to a season low in points in their last meeting with the Ravens
(10-6) -- a 22-10 loss last month. Baltimore rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson is
6-1 since taking over for Joe Flacco as
the starter. Under first-year coordinator Don Martindale, the Ravens allowed an
NFL-low 292.2 yards per game and ranked second in fewest points allowed with 17.9
per contest.
Philadelphia at Chicago, 4:40 p.m., EST. The defending
champion Eagles (9-7) have won five of their last six and are trying to become
the third No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl. Philadelphia's Zach Ertz set
a single-season record for tight ends with 116 catches. Mitchell
Trubisky and the Bears (12-4) posted the team's best record
since the 2006 squad went 13-3 on the way to a Super Bowl appearance. The NFC
North champions are in the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 team won
the division.
STARS
PASSING
- Andrew Luck,
Colts, threw two touchdown passes and finished 19 of 32 for 222 yards with an
interception in Indianapolis' 21-7 victory at Houston.
- Dak Prescott,
Cowboys, was 22 of 33 for 226 yards and a TD with an INT and also ran for 29
yards and a score in Dallas' 24-22 win over Seattle.
RUSHING
- Marlon Mack,
Colts, ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries to help Indianapolis top
Houston 21-7.
- Ezekiel
Elliott, Cowboys, had 137 yards rushing and a score on 26 attempts
in Dallas' 24-22 victory over Seattle.
RECEIVING
- Keke Coutee,
Texans, caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a TD in a losing cause as Houston
fell to Indianapolis, 21-7.
- Amari Cooper,
Cowboys, had seven receptions for 106 yards to help Dallas edge Seattle 24-22.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Tavon Austin,
Seahawks, returned five punts for 73 yards, including one for 51, in Seattle's 24-22
loss at Dallas.
- Trevor Daniel,
Texans, had a gross average of 46.8 yards and a net average of 42.8 yards on
five punts, with two downed inside the 20-yard line in Houston's 21-7 loss to
Indianapolis.
DEFENSE
- Kenny Moore
II, Colts, had a sack and an interception in Indianapolis' 21-7
victory at Houston.
- K.J. Wright,
Seahawks, had nine total tackles and an athletic, juggling interception in the
end zone to end a scoring threat by Dallas in Seattle's 24-22 loss.
STREAKS & STATS
The Colts, who opened the season 1-5, continued an impressive
run by winning their fifth straight and for the 10th time in 11 games. Saturday
was their first playoff appearance since the AFC championship game loss at New
England in the "Deflategate" game in the 2014 season. ... Seattle's
24-22 loss at Dallas ended a run of nine straight victories in playoff openers.
The Elias Sports Bureau said it was the longest streak in NFL history. ...
Seattle's Russell
Wilson finished with negative yards passing (minus-8) in the
first quarter of the Seahawks' 24-22 loss at Dallas. It was the only quarter of
Wilson's career, including playoffs, in which he had negative yards passing.
... Ezekiel Elliott has averaged 131.0 yards rushing in two career playoff
games. Only Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (142.5) has averaged more in the
playoffs since 1970.
HAPPY HOMECOMING
Andrew Luck wrote a happy ending to the latest chapter of
his comeback season, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns and the Indianapolis
Colts raced out to a big lead and cruised to a 21-7 win over
the Houston
Texans in the wild-card game. He put on a show in his hometown
in a stadium where he'd attended games throughout childhood and played in them
since high school, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns before halftime to
help the Colts (11-6) build a 21-0 lead. He denied feeling "at home"
at NRG Stadium, but acknowledged having warm feelings for the city he grew up
in and where his grandparents and many friends still reside. "But it's
still an away stadium," he said. "It was very loud, very energetic,
but fun to win, certainly."
FIRST TIMERS
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead
touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas
Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 wild-card win over the Seattle
Seahawks. The playoff win by the Cowboys (11-6) was the first for
Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott on their second try after losing a
divisional game as rookies two years ago.
SIDELINED
Cowboys receiver Allen Hurns appeared
to suffer a severe lower left leg injury in the first quarter of Dallas' 24-22
win against Seattle. Hurns was being dragged down by Seahawks safety Bradley
McDougald at the end of a 14-yard catch for a first down when
his lower left leg appeared to buckle. He was carted off the field and it was
announced as an ankle injury. ... Seattle kicker Sebastian
Janikowski injured his left thigh when he missed a 57-yard
field goal on the last play of the first half. ... Seahawks cornerback Neiko Thorpe left
in the first half with a shoulder injury. ... Colts safety Malik Hooker left
in the third quarter of Indianapolis' 21-7 win at Houston with a foot injury.
... Indianapolis safety Mike Mitchell injured
his calf in the third quarter and didn't return. ... Texans WR DeAndre
Hopkins said he played most of the game with a Grade 3 AC
sprain of his right shoulder after injuring it in the first half.
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