2016 NFL playoff bracket and schedule: Packers beat Washington to complete road-team sweep
The Packers finally looked like their old selves against Washington. They’ll have a much tougher bout against the Cardinals next weekend, however.
The Divisional round schedule and bracket are complete after the Green Bay Packers came back to beat Washington on Sunday. The win meant that all four road teams won on a Wild Card weekend -- a feat that had never been accomplished.
Road teams will not have it so easy next weekend. All four Wild Card winners will have to travel once again. The Packers go to Glendale to take on the No. 2 seed Arizona Cardinals. Earlier in the day, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Minnesota Vikings to earn a date with the No. 1 seed Carolina Panther in Charlotte. Wins by the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday set up bouts against the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, respectively.
Early in Sunday’s game, it didn’t look like the Packers were going to make it. Many of the same issues that plagued them to end the regular season -- poor protection, an absent running game and off-balance defense -- were present as Washington got out to an 11-0 lead. The Packers then reeled off five straight scoring drives. Aaron Rodgers was the spark, hitting Randall Cobb for a 12-yard touchdown. Then the running game got going in the second half.
Once the Packers had a comfortable lead, the defense was able to tee off on Kirk Cousins and an offense that had been rendered one dimensional. The Packers rolled to a 35-18 win and fans absolutely loved it.
Awaiting all four teams are the best teams from the regular season. The Chiefs will have to contend with the Pats’ savvy, the Steelers with the Broncos’ defense, the Seahawks with Cam Newton and the Packers with one of the most well-rounded and spirited teams in the Cardinals. They’ve proved their mettle thus far, however, setting up what should immensely entertaining games.
The complete schedule and bracket for the rest of the playoffs is below.
Schedule (all times Eastern)
Saturday, Jan. 9
AFC Wild Card Game 1: Kansas City Chiefs 30, Houston Texans 0 (recap)
AFC Wild Card Game 2: Pittsburgh Steelers 18, Cincinnati Bengals 16 (recap)
Sunday, Jan. 10
NFC Wild Card Game 1: Seattle Seahawks 10, Minnesota Vikings 9 (recap)
NFC Wild Card Game 2: Green Bay Packers 35, Washington 18 (recap)
Saturday, Jan. 16
AFC Divisional Round Game 1: New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:35 p.m., CBS
NFC Divisional Round Game 1: Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Jan. 17
NFC Divisional Round Game 2: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., FOX
AFC Divisional Round Game 2: Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:40 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Jan. 24
AFC Championship: AFC Divisional round winners, 3 p.m., CBS
NFC Championship: NFC Divisional round winners, 6:40 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Feb. 7
Super Bowl 50: AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m., CBS
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