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SPORTS Tuesday 14 January 2020
Packers hold off Seahawks 28-23 to reach NFC title game

By DAVE CAMPBELL other before faking the
AP Pro Football Writer pick and zagging away.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Seahawks cornerback Tre
Aaron Rodgers and the Flowers was caught in the
Green Bay Packers have confusion, allowing Adams
relied more on character to break free for the 20-
and resilience than offense yard score.
or defense this season, lag- OH, NO, LAMBEAU
ging well behind past edi- Seahawks fans have plenty
tions in aesthetics. of bad memories of their fa-
This divisional round win vorite team’s performanc-
over Seattle, though, was es in Green Bay, with the
a vintage Rodgers perfor- losing streak at Lambeau
mance. He helped the Field now at nine straight
Packers pull within a game games. The last such win for
of the Super Bowl with an Seattle was on Nov. 1, 1999.
array of clutch completions There was the hot mike
at the most critical of mo- that picked up Matt Has-
ments. Rodgers connected selbeck’s ill-fated boast
with Davante Adams eight during the overtime coin
times for 160 yards and two toss that the Seahawks
touchdowns, Green Bay’s would win, preceding his
spruced-up defense fend- Green Bay Packers' Preston Smith sacks Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson during the second half of pick-six in the 2003 playoffs.
ed off a spirited Seahawks an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. There was the blowout in
rally, and the Packers held Associated Press the snow in the 2007 play-
on for a 28-23 victory Sun- watching felt like that, too.” supremely confident in us,” “He tested our cardio and offs, which turned out to
day night to reach the NFC The Seahawks never got Rodgers said. The Seahawks heart and endurance to- be Brett Favre’s final win
championship game for the ball again. had just a plus-seven scor- day,” Smith said. for the Packers. There were
the third time in six years. Rodgers sealed the win ing margin during the regu- Lynch, who has 12 rushing also the regular season loss-
“It’s one of those feelings with two third-down throws: lar season, making quite touchdowns in 13 career es with Wilson in 2015, 2016
that starts to creep up in a 32-yard strike to Adams the habit of second-half postseason games to tie and 2017.
warmups, when you really on third-and-8 with 2:19 left rallies. Wilson did some of for fourth in NFL history, had INJURY REPORT
feel like you’re locked in,” and then for 9 yards to Jim- the finest work of his eight- only 26 yards on 12 carries. Seahawks: LG Mike Iupati
Rodgers said, “and I was my Graham on third-and-9 year career in 2019, helping “We made it exciting,” Wil- was out with a neck injury,
glad it translated to the right after the two-minute the Seahawks stay on track son said. “We just wish we and Jamarco Jones left in
field.” Aaron Jones rushed warning to take down a Se- despite a steady stream of would have left here with a the second quarter with a
for 62 yards and two first- ahawks team that was 8-1 injuries, including the late win.” concussion. That forced
half scores for the Packers on the road this season en- setbacks in the backfield STRONG START rookie Phil Haynes into ac-
(14-3), who will travel next tering the game. that prompted the emer- The Seahawks brought their tion. ... Clowney, who has
weekend to take on top- “I’m just going to enjoy a gency call for Marshawn pass rush to life with seven fought through a core
seeded San Francisco. Rod- nice glass of scotch to- Lynch. Racking up 64 yards sacks while grinding out a muscle injury this season,
gers, who went 16 for 27 for night,” Rodgers said, “and rushing on seven scrambles 17-9 win at Philadelphia last was holding his midsection
243 yards in his 17th career get on to the film of San and completing 21 of 31 week in the wild card round, in the second quarter and
postseason start, Rodgers Fran and get ready for a passes for 277 yards, Wilson with Jadeveon Clowney briefly absent for the first
has 38 touchdown passes tough opponent.” directed touchdown drives making his presence felt in- TD run by Jones. Packers:
in the playoffs. That’s good Rodgers exacted some of 69, 84, 79 right out of the cluding a hit that knocked RT Bryan Bulaga, one of six
for fifth in league history. payback for five years ago, gate after halftime. Lynch Eagles quarterback Carson players the team reported
“He’s definitely hungry for when the Packers blew a finished two of them with Wentz out of the game with this week as being limited
another Super Bowl. He 16-0 halftime lead in the scores, and Wilson threw a concussion. The Packers by illness, was active for but
deserves it, so we’re doing NFC championship game on the run to Tyler Lockett, mostly kept Rodgers much did not play. Jared Veld-
everything in our power to at Seattle and were beat- who had 136 yards on nine better protected, though, heer replaced him.
put him in that position,” en 28-22 in overtime. The receptions, for the other and a Seahawks defense UP NEXT
said Adams, who set Green Seahawks lost their next one. “Every time I looked that forced 32 turnovers in Seahawks: head into the
Bay’s postseason record for game to New England up, he was making some- the first 14 games played offseason, needing replen-
receiving yards. when Wilson was infamous- body miss in the pocket, a fourth straight time with- ish their depth on the of-
Russell Wilson carried the ly intercepted late at the creating and extending out a takeaway. The Pack- fensive line and on defense
Seahawks (12-6) on yet goal line and haven’t been plays,” LaFleur said. “That’s ers had three touchdown while Wilson remains in his
another comeback, this back to the conference what he’s done his whole drives of 75 yards apiece prime. Packers: advance
time from a 21-3 halftime title game since then. career.” Lynch’s second over the first three quarters, to their third NFC champi-
deficit, but the Packers Rodgers is running out of touchdown with 9:33 left plus a 60-yard march pre- onship game in six years.
forced a punt shortly be- time faster than Wilson, cut the lead to 28-23, but ceded by a missed 50-yard They lost 37-8 on Nov. 24 to
fore the two-minute warn- though, nine years after his Jaire Alexander blew up field goal try from Jason the 49ers, who beat Min-
ing on the second sack of only championship. Though the 2-point conversion at- Myers. Rodgers hasn’t had nesota 27-10 on Saturday
the game by Preston Smith. many of Green Bay’s per- tempt with a sack on an much help beyond Adams in their divisional round
That was Green Bay’s fifth formances haven’t been unblocked blitz. The Pack- and Jones this season, but game. All four of Green
of the game. “Five minutes pretty, with so many hold- ers gave the ball back to he and LaFleur did a mas- Bay’s appearances in the
left, we’re getting the ball on-at-the-end wins, Rodg- the Seahawks with a sec- terful job of getting them NFC title game with Rodg-
back, the thing’s going to ers and Matt LaFleur have ond consecutive punt, this the ball with some Graham ers at the helm have been
be over. We’re going to sure meshed well in the time with 4:54 left at the mixed in. On the opening on the road. They won at
win it,” Wilson said. “I think coach’s rookie season. Seattle 22, but Wilson ran possession, Adams and Chicago after the 2010
everybody in the stadium, “Let’s be honest, I don’t out of tricks in his seemingly Geronimo Allison ran an- season to reach his only Su-
and I think everybody know that even our fans felt bottomless bag of them. gled routes toward each per Bowl.q