The Baltimore Ravens ended the Indianapolis Colts' storybook season with a 24-9 triumph in Sunday's AFC Wild Card Playoffs. Inspired by the return of emotional team leader Ray Lewis, the Ravens defense held the upstart Colts to three Adam Vinatieri field goals and spoiled the playoff debut of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck and the return of Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano to Baltimore, where he spent four years as an assistant under John Harbaugh before taking over the Colts last January. The Ravens now advance to a meeting with Peyton Manning's top-seeded Denver Broncos in next Saturday's Divisional Round.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for 132 yards and the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Seattle Seahawks overcame a fast start by the Washington Redskins with a 24-14 victory in Sunday's NFC Wild Card playoff. Russell Wilson outplayed fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Robert Griffin III by completing 15-of-26 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown while adding 67 yards on eight carries for the Seahawks, who entered the game riding a five-game win streak. Griffin was held to just 84 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception on 10-for-19 efficiency by the NFL's second- ranked defense before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury he suffered in the first quarter. The hobbled quarterback also managed just 21 yards on five carries.
