Sports with Carson Eckerty

NFL Wild Card Weekend has come to close this sunday with no shortage of comebacks and shattered dreams. Eight teams battled for a spot in the playoffs this weekend but only four could advance. 

The first game this weekend was between the Kansas City Chiefs and the up and coming Indianapolis Colts. The game started with a Kansas City strike in the first four minutes of the game giving the Chiefs and early lead. But Andrew Luck and the Colts would not roll over, even after being down 31-10 at halftime the Colts would not give up. Despite throwing an interception in the first half, Luck came out in the second to throw three touchdowns and even run one in himself (while also throwing two more interceptions) to lead the Colts on unbelievable comeback to beat the Chiefs 45-44.

The second saturday game was fought by the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints came into the game as underdogs because of their road woes throughout the season. Phily on the other hand, was riding a hot streak coming into the game winning 7 of their last 8. Neither team was able to score in the first quarter, but the saints were the first to strike in the second with a 36 yard field goal to take a 3-0 nothing lead. At the end of the half the score didn't change much with Philadelphia leading 7-6. During half time Sean Payton, the Saints head coach must of given the Saints some major inspiration because they came out swinging in the second half scoring 2 touchdowns and 2 field goals to beat the Eagles 26-24.

The opening game on sunday was between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Neither team could get anything going in the first until the Chargers Danny Woodhead ran in a 5 yard touchdown in the last minute of the quarter. The Bengals dominated the second quarter putting a touchdown and a field goal to lead San Diego 10-7 at halftime. The second half was a completely different story with the Chargers scoring both a pair of touchdowns and a pair of field goals while holding the Bengals scoreless to win the game 27-10.

The final game of Wild Card Weekend brought the San Francisco 49ers to freezing Green Bay in one of the coldest games in NFL history. Despite the frigid temperatures the 49ers got off to a hot start hitting 2 field goals in the first quarter while Green Bay remained scoreless. But the Packers didn't let the first quarter blues get to them by coming out and scoring the first touchdown of the second quarter. The 49ers came right back and scored a touchdown of their own but it was Green Bay who had the last laugh of the half by hitting a field goal with no time remaining on the clock. In the second half neither team came out of the gates strong with no score in the third. The fourth quarter turned into a shootout with both teams scoring a touchdown and a field goal which led to a 23-20 win for the 49ers.

-Carson Eckerty