Packers, Colts earn conference title game berths

Published 12:56 am Monday, January 12, 2015

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay rallied from an 8-point deficit as Aaron Rodgers threw for two second-half touchdowns to beat Dallas 26-21 Sunday in an NFC divisional-round playoff.

The Packers (13-4), helped immensely by a video reversal with 4:06 remaining, went undefeated at Lambeau Field this season. They head to Seattle for the NFC title game. The Seahawks (13-4) beat Green Bay in the season opener 36-16.

Dez Bryant’s leaping catch at the Packers 1 on fourth-and-2 was reversed by referee Gene Steratore after Green Bay challenged.

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Instead of first-and-goal for Dallas (13-5), the ball went over to the Packers.

The Cowboys’ first postseason trip to Green Bay since the 1967 Ice Bowl for the NFL championship was their first road defeat of the season after eight victories.

All-Pro Rodgers, bothered by a left calf injury hit Davante Adams for a 41-yard score to make it 21-20, and threw a 13-yard bullet to backup tight end Richard Rodgers for the lead.

COLTS 24, BRONCOS 13

DENVER (AP) — Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and Indianapolis upset Peyton Manning and Denver in the AFC playoffs.

The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFC conference championship next weekend in New England. The Patriots (13-4) rallied past Baltimore 35-31 Saturday in the other AFC divisional playoff.

The Broncos (12-5) were left to deal with the hangover of yet another playoff debacle — and maybe questions about Manning’s future and that of coach John Fox, as well.

Manning, who joined the Broncos in 2012 after his release from Indy, has gone one-and-done in the playoffs a record nine times in his otherwise stellar career. That includes twice in Denver, where he’s 38-10 in the regular season but just 2-3 in the playoffs.

Overall, Manning is 11-13 in the postseason and this was one of his worst playoff performances ever.