Seattle- The Green Bay Packers have advanced to the NFC Championship, beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-23 in a thriller.
In the first quarter, the Packers struck first when Aaron Jones busted for an 18-yard scamper and three plays later Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Davante Adams to go atop over the Seahawks, 7-0. After two three-and-outs for Seattle, on the third possession, the Hawks got themselves going. Russell Wilson threw a couple of short passes to Tyler Lockett, who took advantage of zone coverage and found a soft spot in the middle of the field. However, the Seahawks’ offense stalled and had to kick a field goal to cut the lead down to four, 7-3.
In the second quarter, Rodgers went down the field and capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Aaron Jones to extend the lead to eleven, 14-3. On the ensuing drive, the Seahawks earned three first downs and seemed to be moving the ball effectively but the Packers defense stopped the Seahawks on a third and eight, forcing the Seahawks to attempt a 50-yard field goal. The Jason Myers kick would miss right.
Rodgers went back to work on the next possession and connected with Adams five times on the drive. The Seahawks had no answer with stopping Adams and that was Rodgers bread and butter. With a third and goal and under two minutes left in the first half, Jones scored a one-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the game, making it 21-3 at the half.
The Seahawks were rewarded the ball first in the second half and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch to make it a 21-10. However, the Packers responded right back with Rodgers dropping a 40-yard touchdown strike to Adams to extend their lead 28-10. Seattle was desperate and Wilson tried to make something special happen every play. Wilson called his own number on three third and shorts on the ensuing possession after the Packers scored and it paid off big. Wilson ended the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass in the back of the endzone to Tyler Lockett to cut the lead down to a two-possession game, 28-17. Early in the 4th quarter, Wilson Time started to happen again, as he took his team down the field and Lynch finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The Seahawks failed on the 2-point conversion attempt, leaving the score 28-23.
With under two minutes, the Seahawks could not stop the Packers on a third and eight, as Jimmy Graham ended the Seahawks season as he caught a pass for the first down. With the win, the Packers will face the 49ers in the NFC Championship.
