Not exactly General Sherman's overwhelming Civil War march to the capital of Georiga but the Green Bay Packers impressively dispatched the NFC Eastern Divison Champion Philadelphia Eagles 21-16 Sunday in the Wild Card round to earn a return engagement against the conference's top seeded Atlanta Falcons this weekend. Playoff games often hinge on unlikely plays or unlikey heroes and this one had plenty of both. Rookie James Starks with his franchise rookie playoff rushing record effort of 123 yards came out of nowhere. Sure he piled up 73 against the San Francisco 49ers in early December but his practice habits were so poor he didn't even dress the following two weeks. Yet there he was crashing through the Eagle defense to become a unique playoff hero. I could never understand the "has never won a playoff game" knock on Aaron Rodgers, he's appeared in one for heaven's sake and ripped up Arizona to the tune of 423 yards and 4 touchdowns in last year's shootout. Sunday, he was remarkably efficient again, a passer rating of 122.5, with three touchdowns, giving him and NFL record 7 in his first two playoff starts, without an interception, making big plays both in and outside of the pocket. Undrafted rookie free agent Tom Crabtree found the end zone to open the scoring, Jarius Wynn had one of three sacks of Michael Vick. The list of unsung contributors this season for the Pack is a mile long. The big time playmakers also stepped up, Donald Driver with a team high five catches, Clay Matthews wreaking havoc on the pass rush and Tramon Williams with the game clinching interception in the end zone with :33 to play. You want more post-season head scratchers? How about Pro Bowl kicker David Akers missing twice, from 41 and 34 yards? A big two point try nullified when Brent Celek stepped out of bounds before making the catch. Michael Vick's heralded season coming to an end when he gambled on first and 10 from the 27 with an all-go route and underthrowing Riley Cooper to allow Williams to snare the pass. Most pundits claimed the Packers are a team to be reckoned with and I reckon they clearly got the better of the Eagles to advance. Here's the sounds from the Lincoln Financial Field locker room after the game.
Packers knock out Eagles



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