2012–13 NFL playoffs

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"2013 NFL playoffs" redirects here. For the playoffs following the 2013 regular season, see 2013–14 NFL playoffs.

2012–13 NFL playoffs
DatesJanuary 5–February 3, 2013
Season
New Orleans, Louisiana
Defending championsNew York Giants
(did not qualify)
ChampionsBaltimore Ravens
Runners-upSan Francisco 49ers
Conference
runners-up
NFL playoffs
← 2011–12 2013–14 →

The

Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.[1]

All playoff teams in both conferences won at least 10 games, the first time since 2005. This was also the most recent NFL postseason to feature a game that went into double overtime. It was also the first time since 1999 that no Pennsylvania-based NFL team made the playoffs.

Unless otherwise noted, all times listed are Eastern Standard Time (UTC-05)

Participants

Within each conference, the four division winners and the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The four division winners are seeded 1–4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5–6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round. In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth-seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference received a first-round bye. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst-surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5). The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games met in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the championship round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.[2]

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Denver Broncos (West winner) Atlanta Falcons (South winner)
2 New England Patriots (East winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
3 Houston Texans (South winner) Green Bay Packers (North winner)
4 Baltimore Ravens (North winner) Washington Redskins (East winner)
5 Indianapolis Colts (wild card) Seattle Seahawks (wild card)
6 Cincinnati Bengals (wild card) Minnesota Vikings (wild card)


Bracket

Jan 6 – M&T Bank Stadium Jan 12 – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
5 Indianapolis 9
4 Baltimore 38**
4 Baltimore 24 Jan 20 – Gillette Stadium
1 Denver 35
AFC
Jan 5 – Reliant Stadium 4 Baltimore 28
Jan 13 – Gillette Stadium
2 New England 13
6 Cincinnati 13 AFC Championship
3 Houston 28
3 Houston 19 Feb 3 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
2 New England 41
Wild Card playoffs
Divisional playoffs
Jan 5 – Lambeau Field A4 Baltimore 34
Jan 12 – Candlestick Park
N2 San Francisco 31
6 Minnesota 10 Super Bowl XLVII
3 Green Bay 31
3 Green Bay 24 Jan 20 – Georgia Dome
2 San Francisco 45
NFC
Jan 6 –
FedExField
 2 San Francisco 28
Jan 13 – Georgia Dome
1 Atlanta 24
5 Seattle 24 NFC Championship
5 Seattle 28
4 Washington 14
1 Atlanta 30


** Indicates double-overtime victory
This bracket:

Schedule

In the United States,

Fox then televised the rest of the NFC games. CBS broadcast the rest of the AFC playoff games and the Super Bowl. All games were broadcast by Dial Global
radio.

Round Away team Score[3] Home team Date Kickoff
(
UTC-5
)		 TV
Wild Card playoffs Cincinnati Bengals 13–19 Houston Texans January 5, 2013 4:30 pm NBC
Minnesota Vikings 10–24 Green Bay Packers January 5, 2013 8:00 pm
Indianapolis Colts 9–24 Baltimore Ravens January 6, 2013 1:00 pm CBS
Seattle Seahawks 24–14 Washington Redskins January 6, 2013 4:30 pm
Fox
Divisional playoffs Baltimore Ravens 38–35 (2OT) Denver Broncos January 12, 2013 4:30 pm CBS
Green Bay Packers 31–45 San Francisco 49ers January 12, 2013 8:00 pm
Fox
Seattle Seahawks 28–30 Atlanta Falcons January 13, 2013 1:00 pm
Houston Texans 28–41 New England Patriots January 13, 2013 4:30 pm CBS
Conference Championships San Francisco 49ers 28–24 Atlanta Falcons January 20, 2013 3:00 pm
Fox
Baltimore Ravens 28–13 New England Patriots January 20, 2013 6:30 pm CBS
New Orleans, Louisiana
 Baltimore Ravens 34–31 San Francisco 49ers February 3, 2013 6:30 pm CBS

Wild Card playoffs

Saturday, January 5, 2013

AFC: Houston Texans 19, Cincinnati Bengals 13

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 7 3313
Texans 3 6 7319

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: January 5
  • Game time: 4:30 pm
    sideline reporter)[5]
  • Recap
Game information

For the second year in a row, Houston defeated Cincinnati in the first game of the playoffs, outgaining them in total yards 428–198 and holding their offense to just two field goals in nine drives (including 0/9 on third downs). The win was especially satisfying for Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who was playing in his first playoff game in his nine-season career.

On the Texans' second drive of the game, they moved the ball 65 yards and scored on a 48-yard field goal from Shayne Graham (a former Bengal). Then, after forcing a punt, they drove the ball all the way to the Bengals 9-yard line, but once again settled for a Graham field goal a few minutes into the second quarter.

Following another Cincinnati punt, the Bengals took their first lead of the game when Leon Hall intercepted a pass intended for James Casey on the left sideline and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. But the Texans took it back with a 61-yard drive to the Bengals 4-yard line, 46 coming from Arian Foster, that resulted in Graham's third field goal, making the score 9–7 at the end of the half.

Early in the third quarter, a fair catch interference penalty on Bengals Chris Lewis-Harris gave Houston the ball on the Cincinnati 49-yard line. Houston then drove 51 yards, featuring a 22-yard completion from Schaub to Andre Johnson, and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Foster. The Bengals struck back with Andy Dalton's 45-yard completion to A. J. Green setting up Josh Brown's 34-yard field goal to cut the score to 16–10. Cincinnati managed to force a punt on Houston's next drive, but with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, Johnathan Joseph (another former Bengal) intercepted Dalton's pass and returned it 16 yards to the Bengals 24-yard line. This led to Graham's fourth field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Bengals receiver Brandon Tate returned the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to the 39-yard line, sparking a drive that ended with Brown's 47-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to one score, 19–13. Cincinnati then forced a punt and drove into Texans territory, but on fourth down and 11 from the Houston 36-yard line, rookie receiver Marvin Jones was tackled by Joseph and Shiloh Keo three yards short of the first down marker. Houston then took over and held the ball for the final 2:44 of the game to clinch the victory.

Foster finished the game with 32 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown, along with eight receptions for 32. He became the first player ever to rush for over 100 yards in each of his first three career playoff games. Tight end Owen Daniels was the top receiver of the game with nine receptions for 91 yards, while Green had five receptions for 80 yards to lead Cincinnati. With this loss, Cincinnati's playoff win drought was extended to 22 years and remains the longest among all 32 NFL teams.

This was the second consecutive postseason meeting (and second overall) between the Bengals and Texans. Houston won 31–10 in the 2011 AFC Wild Card playoffs.

NFC: Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10

Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 0710
Packers 7 10 7024

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

The Vikings got into the playoffs by a win in their season finale as quarterback Christian Ponder helped lead the team to victory. However, Ponder had suffered a shoulder injury during the win and was declared inactive for Minnesota's playoff game against the Packers. Joe Webb, who had not played in a single game during the 2012 season and had not started at quarterback since 2010, was given the start.

Minnesota's Marcus Sherels returned the opening kickoff 37 yards to the 35-yard line. From there, the Vikings drove to the Packers 15 with eight running plays, including a 17-yard scramble by Webb. Rookie kicker Blair Walsh finished the drive with a 33-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 3–0 lead. After an exchange of punts, Green Bay drove 82 yards and scored on an 8-yard touchdown run by DuJuan Harris with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. Harris was initially ruled down at the 1, but the call was changed to a touchdown by Mike McCarthy's replay challenge.

In the second quarter, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit James Jones for 20 yards and Greg Jennings for 32 on a 72-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. After forcing a punt with under two minutes left in the half, Rodgers completed passes to Jordy Nelson for 22 yards, Jennings for 14, and Nelson again for 23 before fullback John Kuhn completed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, making the score 17–3 at halftime.

Green Bay scored another touchdown on their opening drive of the second half, moving the ball 80 yards in 12 plays and closing it out with Rodgers' 9-yard toss to Kuhn. Meanwhile, all that lay in store for the Vikings was three consecutive turnovers. First, they drove to the Packers 38-yard line, but then linebacker Clay Matthews forced a fumble while sacking Webb and recovered it. Then, following a punt, they drove to the Green Bay 46, only to lose the ball again on an interception by Sam Shields. The Vikings defense forced another punt early in the fourth quarter, but Sherels muffed the kick and Green Bay's Dezman Moses recovered the ball. Later on, another drive into Green Bay territory was ended with no points when the Vikings failed to convert a fourth down and four on the Packers 43-yard line.

Minnesota eventually managed to score a touchdown on a 50-yard pass from Webb to receiver Michael Jenkins. But by then, there was only 3:39 left in the game.

Rodgers completed 23 of 33 passes to ten different players for 274 yards and a touchdown. Harris was the team leader in rushing yards (47) and receptions (five for 53 yards). Matthews had four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Shields had seven tackles and an interception. Webb finished with 180 passing yards, with one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing for 68 yards. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the top rusher of the game with 99 rushing yards. He also caught a pass for eight yards. Jenkins had three receptions for 96 yards and a score. Webb completed only 11 of 30 passes with a touchdown and an interception in what was his last game as a quarterback; the Vikings converted him to a wide receiver for the 2013 season.

This was the second postseason meeting between the Vikings and Packers. Minnesota won the previous meeting at Lambeau 31–17 in the 2004 NFC Wild Card playoffs.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

AFC: Baltimore Ravens 24, Indianapolis Colts 9

Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 6 309
Ravens 0 10 7724

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: January 6
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 71,379[7]
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Despite racking up 419 yards and 25 first downs, Indianapolis was unable to dent the end zone against a stingy Ravens defense, who recorded three sacks, forced two turnovers, and limited them to just four field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Baltimore's offense rolled up 441 yards and 24 points.

Both teams blew scoring chances in the first half. After forcing a punt on the opening drive (which Jacoby Jones returned 34 yards to the 48), Baltimore drove all the way to the Colts 11-yard line. But then defensive end Cory Redding stripped the ball from Ray Rice and Lawrence Guy recovered it for the Colts. Then Indy took over and drove to the Ravens 30, only to lose their own fumble when quarterback Andrew Luck was sacked by Paul Kruger and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee dove on the ball.

In the second quarter, a 22-yard reception by Ravens receiver Torrey Smith and an 18-yard run by rookie Bernard Pierce set up a 23-yard field goal by Justin Tucker. Following an exchange of punts, Luck completed 4/4 passes for 50 yards on a drive that ended with Adam Vinatieri's 47-yard field goal to tie the game. Jones responded with a 37-yard kickoff return. Four plays later, Rice caught a screen pass from Joe Flacco and ran it 47 yards to the Colts 2-yard line. On the next play, fullback Vonta Leach scored a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Ravens a 10–3 lead with 55 seconds left in the half. But Luck quickly led his team back, completing 4/5 passes for 62 yards to set up Vinatieri's 52-yard field goal, cutting the score to 10–6 at halftime. For Vinatieri, the NFL's all-time leader in postseason scoring, it was the longest playoff field goal of his career.

Midway through the third quarter, Flacco's 46-yard completion to Anquan Boldin moved the ball to the Colts 15-yard line. Following an incompletion and a false start penalty, he hit tight end Dennis Pitta for a 20-yard touchdown throw, increasing the lead to 17–6. Indianapolis responded with another drive deep into Ravens territory, but it was halted on the 8-yard line where Vinatieri kicked his third field goal of the game (and 48th postseason field goal of his career).

Early in the fourth quarter, Colts linebacker Pat Angerer recovered a fumble from Rice, leading to another drive into the Ravens red zone. But this time they came up empty when Vinatieri missed a field goal from 40 yards out. This was Vinatieri's first postseason miss against Baltimore. He had been 18/18 when playing against the Ravens up to this point.

The miss turned out to be devastating. Just two plays later, Pierce ran the ball 43 yards to the Colts 18-yard line, and then Flacco finished the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Boldin, giving the team a 24–9 lead. Then their defense closed out the game by forcing two turnovers inside their own 40. First, they stopped the next drive when cornerback Cary Williams intercepted a pass from Luck on the Ravens 15-yard line and returned it 41 yards. Then, after a punt, Indianapolis turned the ball over on downs at the Baltimore 37 with 2:10 left in the game.

Flacco finished the game 12/23 for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Boldin caught five passes for a franchise playoff record 145 yards (all in the second half). Pierce rushed for 103 yards, while Rice had 70 rushing yards and a 47-yard catch. Jones returned four punts for 57 yards, two kickoffs for 60 yards, and caught an 8-yard pass. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who returned for this game after missing most of the season with injuries and had recently announced his intention to retire after the postseason, finished with a team leading 13 tackles and a pass deflection. Kruger had four tackles and 2.5 sacks.

For the Colts, Luck finished his first playoff game completing 28 of 54 passes for 288 yards and an interception, while also rushing for 35 yards. Receiver Reggie Wayne caught nine passes for 114 yards.

This was the third postseason meeting between the Colts and Ravens. Indianapolis won the prior two meetings, the last being 20–3 in the 2009 AFC Divisional playoffs.

NFC: Seattle Seahawks 24, Washington Redskins 14

Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 13 01124
Redskins 14 0 0014

at

FedExField, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Seattle overcame a 14-point deficit in the first quarter to earn their first playoff win on the road since 1983. Seattle has now won three straight playoff games against Washington, who were playing in their first home playoff game since 1999. Coincidentally, the Seahawks also ended another playoff futility streak against the Redskins in the 2005 season (game played in 2006) when they beat them 20–10 at home in the divisional game for their first playoff victory at all (home or road) since 1984 on their way to their first Super Bowl appearance. Robert Griffin III faced off against Russell Wilson for the second such instance of both teams starting with rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs, in the Super Bowl era; after T. J. Yates and Andy Dalton had previously done so for the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals respectively, in the 2011–12 playoffs.[9]

Washington stormed out of the gate with touchdowns on their first two drives. After receiving the opening kickoff, they drove 80 yards, featuring a 30-yard reception by Pierre Garçon and an 18-yard run by Alfred Morris. Griffin finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to reserve running back Evan Royster. Then the Redskins defense forced a three-and-out, and Richard Crawford gave them good field position with a 12-yard punt return to the 46-yard line. Washington subsequently moved the ball 54 yards and scored on Griffin's 4-yard toss to tight end Logan Paulsen. On the drive, Griffin, who was playing with a severely sprained lateral collateral ligament in one of his knees, further injured the joint. He remained in the game until the fourth quarter but was nowhere near 100% after the opening two Redskins' drives of the game.

But Seattle dominated the rest of the game, holding the Redskins to a final total of just 202 offensive yards. The Seahawks responded with a 66-yard drive, including a 19-yard scramble by Wilson, that ended on a field goal by

Earl Thomas intercepted a pass from Griffin on the Seattle 26-yard line. Wilson's subsequent completions to Doug Baldwin and Zach Miller
for gains of 33 and 22 yards set up Hauschka's second field goal, cutting the score to 14–13 at the end of the half.

Seattle started the third quarter with a drive to the Redskins 1-yard line, but then Lynch lost a fumble that was recovered by Washington defensive end

Bruce Irvin sacked Griffin for a 12-yard loss. On the next play, Griffin fumbled the snap and as he went to try to recover it, he collapsed to the ground as he tore the already sprained LCL and the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee. Seahawks defensive end Clinton McDonald
recovered the ball on the Redskins 5-yard line, setting up Hauschka's third field goal to make the final score 24–14. Washington responded with a drive to the Seattle 20, but turned the ball over on downs with 1:08 left in the game.

Wilson finished his first playoff game 15/26 for 187 yards and a touchdown, along with 67 rushing yards. Lynch rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for nine yards. For the Redskins, safety Reed Doughty had 11 tackles and two sacks. Morris was their top rusher with 80 yards.

After the game, an MRI revealed Griffin suffered partial tears of his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his knee and had to undergo surgery to repair it.[10] In response, Washington coach Mike Shanahan faced criticism for not pulling Griffin from the game earlier, despite warning signs he was playing injured.[11]

This was the third postseason meeting between the Seahawks and Redskins. Seattle won both prior matchups, including the most recent being 35–14 in the 2007 NFC Wild Card playoffs.

Divisional playoffs

Saturday, January 12, 2013

AFC: Baltimore Ravens 38, Denver Broncos 35 (2OT)

Main article: Mile High Miracle
Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OT2OTTotal
Ravens 14 7 770338
Broncos 14 7 770035

at

Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Game information

Baltimore cornerback Corey Graham's interception from Peyton Manning set up Justin Tucker's 47-yard game-winning field goal 1:42 into double overtime to stun the heavily favored Broncos. This brought Denver's 11-game winning streak to an end and sent the Ravens to their third AFC title game in the last five years. It was the sixth double overtime game in history, the first since 2003 (a game that coincidentally also featured head coach John Fox), and the fourth-longest game in NFL history at a total of 76:42 of game time,.[13] With the loss, the Broncos became the ninth #1 seed in the last eight years to lose their first playoff game.

Broncos receiver Trindon Holliday opened up the scoring by returning a Sam Koch punt 90 yards for a touchdown, the first postseason punt return score in franchise history. Things seemed to get even better for Denver when Jacoby Jones fumbled the ensuing kickoff and was downed on the 6-yard line. But two plays later, Tony Carter was hit with a 25-yard pass interference penalty on third down. Then Joe Flacco tied the game with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. The situation only got worse for Denver on the next drive, as Graham picked off a deflected pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, making the score 14–7. But Manning rallied his team back, completing 5/7 passes for 69 yards on a 74-yard drive that ended on his 15-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley.

Later in the second quarter, a 32-yard reception by Broncos receiver Eric Decker set up Manning's 14-yard touchdown pass to Knowshon Moreno. Denver then forced a punt and drove to the Ravens 34-yard line, but this time they failed to score as Matt Prater missed a 52-field goal. Taking the ball back on their own 42 with 1:16 remaining, Flacco hit Anquan Boldin for 11 yards and tight end Dennis Pitta for 15 before finding Smith in the end zone on a 32-yard score, tying the score at 21 at the end of the half.

Holliday quickly broke the tie just 13 seconds into the third quarter by returning the second half kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown, making him the first player ever to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in a postseason game. Later in the quarter, Manning lost a fumble while being sacked by Pernell McPhee, and Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger recovered it on the Broncos 37-yard line. Running back Ray Rice took it to the end zone from there with five consecutive running plays (one of them for 32 yards), the last one a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game back up at 28.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Denver drove 88 yards and scored on a 17-yard pass from Manning to Demaryius Thomas, taking a 35–28 lead with just over seven minutes left in regulation. Baltimore responded with a drive to the Broncos 31-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs with 3:16 left. The Ravens defense had to use all their timeouts on Denver's ensuing drive, but managed to force a punt and get the ball on their own 23-yard line at the 1:09 mark. After an incomplete pass and a 7-yard scramble, in the signature play of the game, Flacco tossed a 70-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Jones, sending the game into overtime. The last-second scoring play (and the game itself) was dubbed the "Mile High Miracle."[14]

After the first three drives of overtime ended in punts, Graham intercepted a pass from Manning on the Broncos 45-yard line. On the last play of the first overtime period, Rice's 11-yard run moved the team into field goal range. A few plays later, Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal to win the game.

Flacco threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Smith caught three passes for 98 yards and two scores. Rice rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown. Graham had eight tackles, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Linebacker Ray Lewis had 17 tackles, the most by any player in the postseason up to this point, while linebacker Terrell Suggs recorded 10 tackles and two sacks. For Denver, Manning completed 28 of 43 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions. Holliday's 90-yard punt return and 104-yard kickoff return were the longest ever in each NFL postseason category, though his record for the kickoff return touchdown lasted only a few weeks before being broken by Jones' 108-yard touchdown return in the Super Bowl. Holliday's 248 total special teams return yards were an NFL postseason record as well, breaking a record previously owned by Andre Coleman and Desmond Howard.

This was the second postseason meeting between the Ravens and Broncos. Baltimore won the last meeting 21–3 in the 2000 AFC Wild Card playoffs.

NFC: San Francisco 49ers 45, Green Bay Packers 31

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 14 7 3731
49ers 7 17 71445

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Game information

In his first career playoff game, 25-year-old 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, setting both the NFL single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback and the 49ers postseason record for rushing, regardless of position.[16][17] He also passed for 263 yards and two scores. Overall, San Francisco racked up 579 yards, including a franchise record 323 rushing yards, and scored a touchdown in every quarter to earn their second consecutive trip to the NFC Championship Game.[16]

However, Kaepernick didn't get off to a good start. Less than two minutes into the game, he threw a pass that was intercepted by Sam Shields and returned 52 yards for a touchdown. But he quickly rallied his team back, completing a 45-yard pass to running back Frank Gore before taking the ball into the end zone himself on a 20-yard run. Later in the quarter, Green Bay took a 14–7 lead with Aaron Rodgers' 44-yard completion to James Jones setting up an 18-yard touchdown run by DuJuan Harris. The Packers then forced a punt, but returner Jeremy Ross muffed the kick and C. J. Spillman recovered it for San Francisco on the Packers 9-yard line. Two plays later, Kaepernick tied the score at 14 with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree. Then Tarell Brown intercepted a pass from Rodgers, setting up Kaepernick's second touchdown pass to Crabtree, this one from 20 yards out.

With 2:39 left in the half, Rodgers' 20-yard touchdown pass to Jones tied the score at 21. But on the 49ers next drive, a pair of runs by Kaepernick for gains of 19 and 17 yards enabled David Akers to kick a 36-yard field goal, sending the teams into their locker rooms with San Francisco leading 24–21.

In the third quarter, Green Bay drove 76 yards in nine plays, featuring a 30-yard reception by Greg Jennings and scored a Mason Crosby field goal. But the tie turned out to be short lived. On the third play of their next drive, Kaepernick faked a handoff, rolled right, and took off for at the time his career long 56-yard touchdown run, retaking the lead at 31–24. Then, after a punt, he completed a 44-yard pass to tight end Vernon Davis, setting up Gore's 2-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Following another punt, Kaepernick led the 49ers back for more points, this time on a 93-yard drive. First he ran for a 16-yard gain, and later he completed a 17-yard throw to tight end Delanie Walker. On the next play, Gore's 26-yard burst moved the ball to the Packers 27-yard line. Anthony Dixon eventually finished the 11-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 45–24.

With under a minute left, Rodgers threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jennings. But any hope of a miracle comeback was dashed when Walker recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt.

Crabtree was the top receiver of the game, with nine catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Gore rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, while also catching two passes for 48 yards. Linebacker Patrick Willis had seven tackles and a sack. Rodgers completed 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, while also rushing for 28 yards. Kaepernick finished the game responsible for more yards gained (444) then the entire Packers team (352)

This was the final playoff game at Candlestick Park.

This was the sixth postseason meeting between the Packers and 49ers. Green Bay had won four of the five prior meetings, including winning 25–15 in the 2001 NFC Wild Card playoffs.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

NFC: Atlanta Falcons 30, Seattle Seahawks 28

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 0 72128
Falcons 10 10 7330

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information