Pack survive Eagles; Ravens stop Chiefs

It took a nice game on defense, a couple missed field goals and a great game from a 6th round pick, but at the end, it was the Green Bay Packers moving on, and the Philadelphia Eagles that were not.

James Starks ran for 123 yards, Aaron Rodgers threw 3 touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-16. The Packers will play Atlanta in the Divisional Round Saturday night.

Philadelphia got a break when Green Bay muffed a punt, but Pro Bowl kicker David Akers was wide right from 41 yards out. Philly got nothing on their second drive, and Green Bay got going. With only 8 seconds left in the 1st quarter, following a 27 yard run by Starks, Rodgers hit Tom Crabtree for a touchdown.

On their next drive, the Packers picked up right where they left off. Getting everyone involved, Rodgers led Green Bay to first and goal, where Rodgers hooked up with James Jones on a curl pattern. Although a 44 yard pass set up a Philly field goal, the Packers led 14-3 at halftime.

Early in the third Darryl Tapp of the Eagles forced a fumble and Philly recovered, setting up a 24 yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Jason Avant. Suddenly, the score was 14-10, and we had a ball game.

But on their next drive, the Packers got 2 15+ yard passes and a 19 yard run by Starks, which got the Pack to the Eagles 9. However, a penalty pushed the Packers back, but it didn't bother them. Rodgers dumped off a screen pass to Brandon Jackson, who squeezed through the Eagles defense and found the end zone.

Philadelphia got to the Green Bay 35, but coach Andy Reid sent on the punt team. It gave the Eagles the field position edge, but David Akers couldn't take advantage, missing a 34 yard kick wide right and keeping it a 2 score game.

However, Green Bay would get nothing and Philadelphia would find the Green Bay one yard line, where Michael Vick punched it in on 4th and goal. An illegal contact penalty had the Eagles back 5 yards on the 2 point conversion, and it failed the second try. The score was still 21-16.

Green Bay punted and gave Philadelphia the ball with 1:45 remaining. On 1st down Vick connected with DeSean Jackson on a 28 yard pass, and he hit Riley Cooper for 11 yards on 3rd and 10. The Eagles were at the Green Bay 27, but instead of spiking the ball on first down, Michael Vick called for a go.

Vick saw Riley Cooper in 1 on 1 coverage and heaved it up, but defensive back Tramon Williams stepped in front of the pass and grabbed it, preserving the win for Green Bay.

Other headlines
Second half turnovers doom Chiefs, propel Ravens to second round contest with Steelers.

Punt return, receiving touchdown from Rishard Mathews lead Nevada over Boston College 20-13 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

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