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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Hunter Felt

NFL playoffs: Green Bay Packers 35-18 Washington – as it happened!

James Starks
Green Bay Packers’ James Starks celebrates a touchdown during his team’s 35-18 win over Washington. Photograph: Nick Wass/AP

Final thoughts

All four road teams were favored heading into Wild Card Weekend and, for the first time in NFL history, all four road teams won. The NFC Divisional Round is set with the Green Bay Packers playing the Arizona Cardinals while the Seattle Seahawks will be playing the Carolina Panthers. Stick with the Guardian for coverage of the second round of the NFL Playoffs and well beyond. This will be the end of our live coverage for today, mostly because there’s no more football to be played, but we want to thank everyone for following along us, particularly those who contributed emails and tweets. Ciao!

The Green Bay Packers will be headed to Arizona to face the Cardinals in the NFC Divisional Round next weekend!

Packers win!

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, FINAL

Packers take over on 4th down after a final Washington drive wastes everybody’s time. They take a knee! The Packers win!

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 1:04, 4th quarter

Football things happen but they are meaningless.

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 1:51, 4th quarter

Eddie Lacy runs to the Green Bay 32 but the ball may have come out and Washington may have recovered it.

Meanwhile. Robert Griffin III is saying his goodbyes on the Washington sidelines.

Ruling on the field: It was a fumble and Washington recovered.

They were just playing possum. Alternate theory: Washington wasn’t really a playoff team.

Turnover on downs (Washington)

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 2:00, 4th quarter

A penalty on Reed pushes Washington back 5 yards. At 3rd & 9, Reed can only get six yards. 4th & 3.

AND COUSINS IS SACKED BY MIKE NEAL AGAIN! Packers take over at their wond we’re done here.

Updated

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 3:37, 4th quarter

Cousins throws incomplete on 1st down, then throws to Thompson to get them to the Green Bay 5. Aaron Rodgers gets McCarthy to challenge this, saying it was incomplete, but the call is confirmed.

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 3:48, 4th quarter

Well that was impressive, Cousins and Thompson connect for 38 yards to the Green Bay 47. On the next drive, the same combo gets 7 yards. At the Green Bay 40, Garcon picks up 20 yards and and Datone Jones gets called for roughing the passer. The penalty on Green Bay puts Washington at the Green Bay 11.

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 4:39, 4th quarter

I think we can just go ahead and assume that.

Washington starts their futile drive on their own 15.

Field goal! (Green Bay)

Green Bay 35-18 Washington, 4:39, 4th quarter

Mason Crosby’s field goal is good.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 4:43, 4th quarter

The rest here is just going to be falling action. Starks runs for no gain. Washington takes a timeout. Starks run for an additional yard. Washington takes another timeout. It’s 3rd & 9 for the Packers.... Starks can’t quite get the first down.

The field goal unit comes out. Washington takes a final timeout, perhaps to discuss vacation plans.

Turnover on downs (Washington)

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 5:02, 4th quarter

Washington has to go for it here... and NICK PERRY SACKS KIRK COUSINS FOR A SIX YARD LOSS. Packers have possession at Washington’s own 17 yard line.

Updated

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 5:08, 4th quarter

Cousins is throwing, he doesn’t have a lot of other options. Garcon catches his 1st down pass and picks up 5 yards. Cousins throws to Thompson for 9 yards, that’s good for a first down and more.

1st & 10 at their own 23. Cousins throws incomplete three straight times and they’re in a 4th & 10.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 6:03, 4th quarter

The good news for Washington is that Green Bay’s drive stalls there, the bad news is that time is dwindling. Packers punt... Crowder catches it at the 9 yard line.

That’s a lot of ground to make up.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 8:13, 4th quarter

On 2nd & 12, Rodgers throws incomplete BUT he draws a defensive pass interference call which gives him a first down. It’s 1st & 10 for Green Bay at their own 27.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 8:56, 4th quarter

Way’s punt pins the Packers down to the 9. That’s good news for Washington, another score here and this one is over. Also good news, Lacy is pushed back to the 7 yard line.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 8:56, 4th quarter

Randall stays in the game. 1s & 10 and Cousins is SACKED by Nick Perry, a 9 yard loss! 2nd & 19, Cousins throws incomplete. 3rd & 19, Cousins throws incomplete.

Washington punts. Huge disaster of a drive there.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 10:29, 4th quarter

Apparently Cousins was thinking the same thing, he throws to Reed for a gain of 22 yards! They’re at the Packers 37.

Injury on the play, however, it’s the Packers’ Damarious Randall.

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 11:05, 4th quarter

Alfred Morris, who has the most Victorian name in this matchup, runs for two yards. 2nd & 8, Cousins connects with Thompson, just shy of a first down. Back in the huddle they go, the clock continues to tick. Morris takes off for 12 yards to the Washington 41.

Can they continue to afford to run the ball?

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 12:23, 4th quarter

I’m just going to go out on a limb here and say that Washington would like to score on this possession, which will start at their 20 yard line after another you-know-what.

Touchdown & 2 Point Conversion (Green Bay)

Green Bay 32-18 Washington, 12:23, 4th quarter

An encroachment penalty on Washington makes it 2nd & 5 at the Washington 24. Starks runs all the way to the 2-yard line. Eddie Lacy comes in for the next carry, which is a rushing touchdown.

And HERE is the second point conversion attempt from Green Bay. I’m for this. (Note: I would have deleted this if they didn’t make it, but they totally did. Abberderis made the catch.)

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, 14:31, 4th quarter

James Starks crosses the 40 yard line, not the best start for the 4th quarter for Washington. 1st & 10 at the 39. Starks picks up another 7 yards. 2nd & 3 on the Washington 33. Packers in the pistol. They give it to Starks again and he gets another first down.

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, end of the 3rd quarter

Green Bay is at their own 38 line, but Starks get pushed back 3 yards. 2nd & 13... but that’s nothing when Rodgers is in a groove. He finds Randall Cobb for 15 yards to bring them to midfield to end the third quarter.

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, 1:00, 3rd quarter

Packers start at their own 24. Cobb picks up around 3 yards.

They’ll need to rely on the ground game more if Adams can’t return. Cobb picks up 3 yards more here. A manageable 3rd & 3 here and Rodgers unleashes a pinpoint throw to James Jones for a first down.

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, 3:15, 3rd quarter

On 1st & 10, Cousins’s throw is too high. 2nd & 10. Washington pick up a handful of yards thanks to Pierre Thomas. 3rd & 8, Cousins attempts to target an open Ryan Grant, but the throw’s mistimed and that’s gonna be a 3 & out for Washington, who punts.

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, 4:12, 3rd quarter

Crosby’s kickoff is short, Micah Hyde takes it to Washington 25. Can they counter-punch?

We’re going to see quite a bit more scoring here, I imagine, from both teams.

TOUCHDOWN! (Green Bay)

Green Bay 24-18 Washington, 4:12, 3rd quarter

The Packers are at the Washington 4, but not for long, JAMES STARKS RUNS IT IN FOR A TOUCHDOWN! Crosby’s extra point is good, Green Bay is back on top.

We’ve got a barn-burner folks. (Whatever that’s supposed to be.)

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 5:04, 3rd quarter

EDDIE LACY GETS TO THE 5 YARD LINE! Kuhn’s block gives him all the space he needs. FedEx Field is starting to quiet down again.

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 5:43, 3rd quarter

So 4th & 1 on the Washington 45... LACY GETS IT! AND MORE! It’s a 10 yard run and the dangerous Packers keep the drive alive!

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 7:10, 3rd quarter

1st & 10: Rodgers throws incomplete. 2nd & 10: YET ANOTHER NINE RUN PICKUP, Randall Cobb this time. Kuhn can’t get that one extra yard this time however. Does McCarthy go for it?

He keeps the offense on the field. Packers try to trap Washington into another “too many men” call, but no dice. Instead they have to take a timeout.

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 8:00, 3rd quarter

Adams limps off the field. It’s a right knee injury, could be a major disaster for Green Bay.

Back to the game, running back John Kuhn picks up the first down. Green Bay at their own 31. Rodgers throws incomplete to James Jones. 2nd & 10, Jared Abberderis picks up 9 yards. 3rd & 1, can Washington get a stop...

Nope, Kuhn runs to the Green Bay 46. New set of downs for Green Baby.

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 9:38, 3rd quarter

The crowd is loud, they’ll be louder if Washington can get a 3 & out here.

Rodgers passes to Davante Adams, who almost gets the first down but then... falls down, holding his knee. And this does not look good

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 9:41, 3rd quarter

Green Bay will start at their own 20 after a touchback, which I still haven’t found a less boring way to describe.

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 9:41, 3rd quarter

Maybe the Packers should have gone for two?

TOUCHDOWN (Washington)

Green Bay 17-18 Washington, 9:41, 3rd quarter

Cousins-to-Crowder gets it to the Green Bay 3 and, from there, Cousins decides to run it in himself! Touchdown Washington! They retake the lead! And they make the extra point this time!

Updated

Green Bay 17-11 Washington, 11:16, 3rd quarter

Morris then runs for 19 yards, to the Green Bay 33. Thomas is stuffed for 4 yards, but passes to Thompson and Crowder get them to the Green Bay 24.

It’s 4th& 1 and Gruden decides to go for it rather than kick the field goal. The strategy pays off, BIG TIME, Reed gets all the way to the Green Bay 7.

Green Bay 17-11 Washington, 14:53, 3rd quarter

And we’re back!

Washington will start at their own 27, oh wow, Cousins throws to Garcon for 21 yards.

Pop Culture Zeitgeist Tweet Of The Game

You’re welcome.

Although now that I’ve included this tweet, I realize that I’m obliged to remember to do so throughout the rest of the game.

Halftime thoughts

It didn’t enter my mind, but I’m not good at doing simple math on the fly. I could see the argument here, but NFL tradition is not to go for such things this early in the game.

This also feels like a good time to say that we’re using your comments throughout this liveblog, email them to hunter.felt@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.

Updated

Halftime!

They started the game a bit off, but it’s very clear that the Packers are in a groove here and that absolutely has to worry Washington. They do get the ball back to start the second half, however.

Green Bay 17-11 Washington, end of the first half

Crosby’s kickoff is returned by Ross to the 20. Washington decides to just take the knee here. So we’re heading into halftime!

Green Bay 17-11 Washington, :28, 2nd quarter

I think it’s fair to officially say that the Packers offense is completely back.

TOUCHDOWN (Green Bay)

Green Bay 17-11 Washington, :28, 2nd quarter

DAVANTE ADAMS WITH A HUGE 20 YARD FIRST DOWN CATCH! He brings Green Bay all the way to the Washington 10 with time winding down. Rodgers’ first throw is incomplete but on the second he throws to a wide wide WIDE open Davante Adams for the touchdown that gives Green Bay the lead!

The extra point is good. This crowd is... not loud.

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, :45, 2nd quarter

So instead it’s 2nd & 5 for the Packers from their own 45. Starks is brought down at midfield, but it’s still good for a first down.

Yep, we’re going shotgun again. Rodgers-to-Rodgers connection for 6 yards, and then again for 5 yards.

Third time is not a charm for the Same Last Name Duo. It’s 2nd & 10 at the Washington 38 but Rodgers throws to Jones who picks up 8 yards. 3rd & 2 and Washington is charged with a timeout because there’s an injury on the field within the two minute warning, it’s lineman Chris Baker.

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, 2:00, 2nd quarter

Green Bay starts at their own 40 after a punt return. Rodgers passes to Jones who appears to lose control of the ball, but the officials call the play dead. Two minute warning time.

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, 2:31, 2nd quarter

Cousins passes to Garcon, who picks up 4 yards and Green Bay uses its third timeout.

3rd & 2... Cousins throws incomplete, Washington will punt. Whatever coach Mike McCarthy was telling his defense during the timeouts did the trick, I suppose.

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, 2:31, 2nd quarter

Alfred Morris gets 3 yards on 1st down.

Green Bay takes another timeout here. Sure, why not?

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, 2:54, 2nd quarter

It sounds weird to say a team should be okay with a drive that cuts you lead into a single point, but man did it look like it was clear that Rodgers was going to lead the Packers to a touchdown on that last drive.

Washington will start their drive on their own 20 after a touchback.

Field goal (Green Bay)

Green Bay 10-11 Washington, 2:57, 2nd quarter

2nd & 5 after that penalty. Starks picks up just 3 yards. Washington has a chance to make a key stop here... And they pressure Rodgers to the point where he throws it away. They keep the Packers to a field goal. Crosby makes it, which isn’t good for Washington, but that could have been way worse.

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 4:19, 2nd quarter

1st & 10 at the Washington 32. Rodgers throws to the endzone... but over Cobb’s head. 2nd & 10. Shotgun formation. Rodgers throws to Lacy, who gets hit. There’s a flag on the play, it’s offsides on Washington.

5 yard penalty and a replay of second down.

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 4:58, 2nd quarter

Seems like Washington would be the ones taking a timeout there, kind of strange. It doesn’t help, Rodgers has to throw incomplete on the first play coming out of the timeout. Rodgers targets Cobb again, and why wouldn’t he, and Cobb delivers a 12 yard run that takes the Packers into the Washington’s 43 yard line.

And then Jones picks up nine yards and, on the next play, Eddie Lacy runs it in to the Washington 32. That’s enough for a first down. This is looking bad for Washington.

Fumble!

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 6:05, 2nd quarter

And Washington are responding with a drive of their own. On 2nd & 10, Cousins finds Thompson for 25 yards! Washington are at the Green Bay 39!

AND THEN DISASTER STRIKES

Green Bay’s Mike Neal sacks Kirk Cousins who fumbles the ball and GREEN BAY RECOVERS! Neal hands the ball to the officials! Green Bay takes a timeout.

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 7:48, 2nd quarter

Pierre Thomas gets little over a yard on first down. Cousins-to-Reed only gets 2 yards. 3rd & 6...

And Kirk Cousins gets a throw off before Clay Matthews can get at him and he hits Garcon for 12 yards. Nice awareness there. Washington are at their own 36 with a fresh set of downs.

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 9:04, 2nd quarter

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 9:04, 2nd quarter

So yes the actual Packers offense did in fact turn up. It didn’t help that Washington helped keep Green Bay’s drive alive with that “too many men” penalty.

Crosby’s kicks it off and I’m guessing touchback and, yep, touchback. Washington will start at their 20.

TOUCHDOWN! (Green Bay)

Green Bay 7-11 Washington, 9:04, 2nd quarter

Starks picks up 6 yards. Randall Cobb weaves his way to the Washington 12. First down. 1st & 10, Rodgers throws incomplete but it’s no big deal because on the very next play he connects with Cobb for a touchdown! There are flags on the play, but they’re on the defense and Green Bay is going to wisely decline them and take the touchdown.

Oh, and Crosby makes the extra point.

THAT WAS SUPER FAST

Green Bay 0-11 Washington, 11:07, 2nd quarter

Rodgers connects to Davante Adams, welcome to the actual game Davante, for a 9 yard gain. To the Washington 26. They’re going no huddle here. Starks picks up enough for the first down. Washington 25.

Green Bay 0-11 Washington, 12:03, 2nd quarter

James Starks loses a yard on his carry. Not a great start, guys. Rodgers throws to James Jones for 7 yards. That’s a better start. Then they get a free first down when Washington gets caught with too many players on the field.

Green Bay’s at their own 31 mark after the 5 yard penalty. Rodgers FINALLY connects on the deep ball, a 34 yard pass to James Jones to the Washington 35.

Green Bay 0-11 Washington, 13:02, 2nd quarter

We’ll see, they’ll start this drive at their own 20 after a Hopkins touchdback. A better start than the last few possessions.

Green Bay 0-11 Washington, 13:02, 2nd quarter

Good news for people who love odd numbers.

TOUCHDOWN (This one counts)

Green Bay 0-11 Washington, 13:02, 2nd quarter

Incredible one-handed grab by Reed who probably saved Cousins from a pick six. A new fresh of downs into Green Bay territory, Cousins hits Garcon for 13 yards to the Green Bay 24.

Alfred Morris gets stuffed for a 4 yard loss on the next play, however. Cousins hits Chris Thompson for a four yard gain and on Cousins’s next throw he decides to throw to Jordan Reed on purpose.

AND REED TAKES IT IN 24 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN! This one stands. But Hopkins misses the extra point, so not EVERYTHING goes right for Washington here, but they’ll still take it.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, end of the 1st quarter

The Packers punt again. Jamison Crowder returns it to the Green Bay 49, but a flag on the play pushes Washington back to their 36.

Morris picks up 7 yards on 1st down. Cousins throws incomplete on 2nd down and, on 3rd down, almost throws an interception that’s instead somehow caught by Jordan Reed who TAKES IT 20 YARDS to the Green Bay 37. He didn’t mean to throw it to him, it seems, but he’ll take it. That will take us to the end of the first quarter.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 1:36, 1st quarter

Poor starting position for the Packers once again. Can Aaron Rodgers put up one of his old drives? Nope. Randall Cobb picks up a single yard on 1st down, Rodgers throws two straight incompletions and that’s another 3-and-out. Rodgers is now 0-for-his-last-y on throws.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 2:28, 1st quarter

“No Way” Tress Way! pulls off a 60 yard punt, pinning Green bay to their own 13 yard line.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 2:33, 1st quarter

Cousins is sacked and stripped by Clay Matthews on first down, but Washington retains possession of the ball. It’s a 2nd & 22 now for Washington, pushed back to their own 20. Pierre Thomas picks up 7 yards. Cousins, pressured by Julian Peppers, throws the ball away on the next down. Great showing there by the Packers veterans on the defense. Washington punts again.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 3:57, 1st quarter

Masthay’s punt goes 46 yards. Washington will start on their own 32.

This first quarter is a perfect example of why momentum is an overrated thing in football.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 4:13, 1st quarter

Hopkins kicks off, Jeff Janis returns it to around the 20 yard mark. Eddie Lacy picks up a yard on 1st. Rodgers’s next throw is an attempt to connect with Richard Rodgers, but the Rodgers-Rodgers Connection ends up short. 3rd & 8...

Rodgers throws incomplete. Wow, the Green Bay offense is absolutely sputtering right now.

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 4:54, 1st quarter

Safety, reversed touchdown, field goal... Kinda an ugly start, yeah.

Field goal instead! (Washington)

Green Bay 0-5 Washington, 4:54, 1st quarter

Morris gets stuffed for a slight loss on 1st & goal. 2nd & goal: Morris loses a yard. It’s 3rd & goal. Big, big, BIG victory if Green Bay can hold Washington to a field goal here after apparently allowing a touchdown.

And then there’s a delay of game offense on Washington. That’s a 5 yard loss. They are literally going backwards here. And Cousins’s 3rd down pass hits Pierre Garcon in the endzone but he can’t reel it in.

Hopkins comes in to make the 25 yard field goal, which he does.

No touchdown (call reversed)

Green Bay 0-2 Washington, 6:53, 1st quarter

DeSean Jackson’s foot doesn’t break the goal line, so instead it’s 1st & goal on the Green Bay 1.

TOUCHDOWN! (Maybe)

Green Bay 0-8 Washington, 6:53, 1st quarter

Washington at the Green Bay 39. Alfred Morris gets them a new first down on two consecutive carries. They’re at the Green Bay 29.

Cousins to DeSean Jackson, we’ll be seeing that combo a lot here, that picks up 3 yards. Cousins is distributing the ball really well here, he hits Reed next. Reed goes off for 11 yards.

And there’s Cousins to DeSean Jackson again. Jackon is wide, wide open and he goes the full 15 yards into the Green Bay endzone for a touchdown!

Or not, they’re reviewing it.

Green Bay 0-2 Washington, 10:20, 1st quarter

Rashad Ross returns the Green Bay kickoff to Washington’s 45. Good starting field position. Even better field position? Cousins connects with tight end Alex Smith for a gain of 16 yards.

Green Bay 0-2 Washington, 10:33, 1st quarter

Rodgers showed incredibly poor awareness there, he had to have gotten rid of the ball quicker than that so close to his own endzone.

Safety!

Green Bay 0-2 Washington, 10:33, 1st quarter

So, Green Bay will be starting their drive at their 8 yard line. Rodgers throws it to James Jones, but it’s a bit too high. Lacy picks up maybe a yard on 2nd down. This isn’t going so well.

On 3rd & 9... there’s a false start penalty. A 4 yard penalty pushes them back, repeat third down. 3rd & 13. Rodgers GETS SACKED! IT’S A SAFETY!

Green Bay 0-0 Washington, 11:47, 1st quarter

Way’s punt goes 53 yards and Green Bay returns it to their 17... but there’s an illegal block call that puts them halfway back to the goal.

Green Bay 0-0 Washington, 12:03, 1st quarter

Washington’s first possession here. Jordan Reed picks up 3 yards. Running back Alfred Morris picks up an additional 2 yards. Cousin’s next pass is incomplete to Reed. Good throw but Reed can’t make it and Tress Way punts.

Green Bay 0-0 Washington, 13:29, 1st quarter

Tim Masthay’s punt only goes 35 yards, Washington will start on their own 33.

Well, it’s better than Washington’s actual nickname.

Green Bay 0-0 Washington, 13:29, 1st quarter

Rodgers passes to James Jones who picks up 11 yards for a first down. Rodgers’s next pass is incomplete. 2nd & 10. This time he hands it off to Eddie Lacy who picks up about a yard before being swallowed up by the Washington defense. 3rd & 9. Rodgers’s next throw.... ALMOST intercepted. Instead it’s just incomplete and that will do it for Green Bay’s first possession, they punt.

Opening Kickoff

Green Bay 0-0 Washington, 15:00, 1st quarter

Dustin Hopkins kicks it off for Washington. It’s a touchback, so the Packers will be starting at their own 20.

Green Bay wins the coin toss and has elected to receive.

Already we’re getting close to opening kick here. It’s windy here at FedEx Field, so hey we might get more wacky field goal antics today!

Poor dude, he sounds like Tim Wakefield after the end of the 2003 ALCS. (I am allowed exactly one Red Sox reference per liveblog, figure I might as well cash it in early.)

I already do not want to hear another “Ace Ventura” reference as long as I live. Okay, granted that was true before the missed kick but it’s like super, extra true now.

The Kickness Unto Death

Predictions

I’m going to go with the trend and say that the road team holds on one more time this weekend. I expect the Real Aaron Rodgers and the Real Kirk Cousins to return today. I’m going to guess 27-21, I don’t expect the Green Bay defense to make this a low scoring affair.

Your thoughts? Email them to hunter.felt@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.

NFC Playoff Picture

The Seattle Seahawks will travel to face the well-rested Carolina Panthers next weekend. The winner of our game will go on to visit the Arizona Cardinals.

Emails

Well that was all about the Number 3!!
A whole load of Field Goals, Russell Wilson and Blair Walsh..
You gotta feel for The Vikings though - I suspect Walsh’s prep for the critical kick wasn’t ideal - he seemed to be a bit hesitant in setting himself.
Anyway on to the Pack - I suspect we will lose this - alas - we’ve been messing it up all season.
ToffeeDan1

A brutal end. At least during the Bengals’ last-minute loss last night you could blame the team itself for unraveling. They didn’t deserve to win that game with that amount of self-sabotage. This was just a field goal that didn’t go. That is going to haunt Vikings fans in their dreams.

Emails

I fell hopelessly in love with green bay last season after a win vs the falcons. Aaron Rodgers’s fantastic accuracy at hitting targets under immense pressure got my heart racing. It’s fair to see I’m the Packers greatest fan in western Australia so I rose early, it’s five in the morning now, to hope Rodgers will make my lost sleep worthwhile.

Ezra Finkelstein, Perth

We’ll see, Aaron Rodgers has had a disappointing follow-up to his MVP year last season, but that will be quickly forgotten if he rounds into form in these playoffs.

An ugly, ugly end to an ugly, ugly game. Plus for the third time this weekend, the road team has gone on to advance. That’s a good sign for the Packers.

Seattle Seahawks win!

What an ending in Minnesota! The Seattle Seahawks had a 10-9 lead on the Minnesota Vikings with time running down, but the Vikings were able to get into chip-shot field goal range but kicker Blair Walsh missed the 27 yard field goal attempt, wide left! The Seahawks hold on for an improbable victory!

Preamble

So, the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is coming to an end. So far we’ve had a blowout, a bunch of blow-ups and one of the coldest (and thus poorly played) games in NFL playoff history (Vikings/Seahawks, which is winding down). With those out of the way, maybe we’ll finally get, you know, an actual well-played football game. We’ll see if Green Bay and Washington comply with our wishes.

Yes, Washington has made the playoffs. No one had any expectations when their season began, especially after the organization lost faith in starting quarterback Robert Griffin III. Somehow, backup Kirk Cousins turned his career around, putting up impressive numbers while cutting down on the interceptions. Washington took advantage of his improvement, not to mention an incredibly weak NFC East, and finished their season 9-7, winning their last four games. As a result, Washington is not only still alive, they are playing a home game in the postseason.

While Washington recovered from a horrid start to go on a late season winning streak, Green Bay has staggered into the postseason following an impressive 6-0 start to the regular season. The Packers, at 10-6, have a better record than Washington, but they’re the road team today because they conceded the NFC North to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. Aaron Rodgers and company have gone 4-6 in their last ten games, and needed an improbable Hail Mary to secure one of those wins. The Packers have to hope that they can “flip the switch” in the postseason, or at least hope that Cousins turns back into a pumpkin today.

Remember, we want to hear from you throughout today’s liveblog. Please, send us your predictions, commentary, opinions and memes either via email (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt). It’s the NFC Wild Card Game between the Green Bay Packers and Washington at FedEx Field. Kickoff is scheduled at 4:40pm EST, but we’ll be back well before then with updates from Minnesota, predictions and assorted commentary.

Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime why not check out Dave Caldwell’s look at how Packers fans don’t share the prevailing optimism about Green Bay’s playoff chances.

To capture the feeble NFC East, Washington won its last four games, three on the road. Green Bay, meanwhile, lost its last two games and six of its last 10. The Las Vegas oddsmakers were so unmoved by these trends that they promptly made the Packers just a one-point underdog.

Of Washington’s nine victories, exactly zero of them came against teams with winning records, though the team’s second-year coach, Jay Gruden, wisecracked at a news conference Monday: “Some of the teams would be over .500 if we didn’t beat them.”

(Well, only Buffalo, which finished 8-8, would be over .500 in that case, but whatever.)

This playoff matchup would seem like a waltz for the Pack – especially compared to the prospect of playing the Seahawks – but pessimism abounds among the Cheeseheads.

A poll on Packers.com, the team’s very own website, asked readers which team would win this Sunday. A mere 57%, far less than an overwhelming number, picked the Pack. Some 72% of people responding to a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel poll think the Packers won’t win one playoff game, let alone three or four.

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