Green Bay used the last two quarters of this NFC Wild Card game to score 18 unsanswered points en route to a 35-18 victory over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. With this win, the Packers advance to the NFC Divisional round where they will travel to the Grand Canyon State to play the Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers (11-6) offense had a slow start in the first half, but they made up for it in the second half. Players like quarterback AARON RODGERS (21 of 36 for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns and no picks) running backs JAMES STARKS (12 carries for 53 yards and 1 score) and EDDIE LACY (12 carries for 63 yards and 1 score), and receivers JAMES JONES (7 catches for 81 yards) and RANDALL COBB (62 yards total offense and 1 score) made sure that the Redskins heard from them in the second half.
As for the Redskins (9-8), they had their chances which included an 11-point lead in the second quarter. Just when they had big plays or beneficial plays, right around the corner was a bad or missed play, or a punt from TRESS WAY.
The Redskins could have really used this win, because they haven’t won a first-round playoff game since January 7, 2006 when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card round of the 2005 playoffs. Plus, the Redskins haven’t given their fans much to cheer about in the playoffs since their glory days in the 1980s as well as the last time they won a Super Bowl back in 1991, Super Bowl XXVI.
The Redskins put the first points on the board for either team, when their outside linebacker PRESTON SMITH (2 tackles, including 1 sack/safety) worked his way into the backfield to sack Rodgers in the end zone for a safety/sack. With 10:27 left in the first quarter the Redskins took a 2-0 lead. That sack/safety by Smith set up a 25 yard successful field goal by DUSTIN HOPKINS to give the Redskins a 5-0 lead with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter.
That safety by Smith was the first safety ever in Washington Redskins playoff history. The rookie out of Mississippi State can say that he is the first player to ever record a safety in Redskins postseason history. And that is an accomplishment, because the Redskins have been around since 1937—–they were called the Boston Braves from 1932-1936—–and in those 79 years some great defenders have worn the Redskins uniform.
Early in the second quarter, the Redskins were able to atone for the DESEAN JACKSON touchdown that was wiped out in the first quarter. Cousins on 3rd and 10 from the GB 24 yard line, threw a pass that traveled down the seam and over the head of Packers strong safety MICAH HYDE, with the ball finally ending up the hands of tight end JORDAN REED (9 catches for 120 yards and 1 score). With 13:02 left in the first half the Redskins took a 11-0 lead after Hopkins missed the extra point.
The Packers finally got on the board, when Rodgers took advantage of a defensive substitution error by the Redskins defense by throwing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Cobb versus coverage from Redskin cornerback WILL BLACKMON. With 9:04 left in the second quarter the Packers cut the Redskins’ lead to 11-7.
The Packers further cut into the Redskins’ lead when kicker MASON CROSBY put his 43 yard field goal straight down the middle of the uprights. With 2:54 left in the first half the score went to 11-10.
The Packers after so much elapsed time in the first half, finally took the lead in this game. That lead came courtesy of receiver DAVANTE ADAMS (4 catches for 48 yards and 1 score) who accepted a 10 yard pass from Rodgers near the top let and back corner of the end zone. With around 30 seconds left in the first half, the Packers took a 17-11 lead. 
The Redskins snatched the lead back with a KIRK COUSINS (29 of 46 for 329 yards, 1 touchdown pass and no pick) quarterback sneak of 3 yards into the end zone. With 9:41 to go in the third quarter Washington took a 18-17 lead.
But over five minutes later, the Packers countered that Cousins touchdown run with a score of their own. Which was a 4 yard off left tackle touchdown run by Starks. With 4:12 to go in the third quarter the Packers had the lead at 24-18.
Starks was also the main man on the Packers’ next scoring drive. He carried 5 times for 40 yards with his last run of the drive being an elusive and determined 22 yard run to the WAS 2 yard line. That 22 yard gain by Starks set up an up the middle 2 yard touchdown run by Lacy. Lacy’s touchdown run and receiver JARED ABBREDERIS’S two-point conversion reception gave the Packers a 32-18 lead with around 12:30 to go in the game.
The Redskins on their second to last drive of the game, really had no chance of coming back to win this contest in the first place. But they really had no chance when Packers outside linebacker MIKE NEAL (3 tackles, including 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble) grabbed Cousins around the ankles which in turn made the quarterback drop to the turf at the WAS 20 for a 16 yard sack with 2:46 left in the game.
Then less than a minute later, the Redskins got the ball back after a fumble recovery by their cornerback BASHAUD BREELAND. But once again Washington put their fans through a drive (6 plays) that resulted in no points.
The Packers got the ball back and Rodgers took one kneel down and that was all she wrote.
