There’s only one quarterback left who will be making his first playoff start when the Super Bowl tournament resumes next weekend.
That’s Rex Grossman, who will lead the Bears against Carolina at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Soldier Field.
Four other first-time playoff starters were eliminated in the first weekend, and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer tore a knee ligament on his first pass against Pittsburgh.
A combination of good defense and quarterbacking experience enabled Washington to beat Tampa Bay, New England to beat Jacksonville, Carolina to beat the New York Giants and Pittsburgh to beat Cincinnati. All except the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Patriots won on the road.
No fifth or sixth seed has advanced to a Super Bowl, but this season’s field includes exceptional sixth seeds in Washington and Pittsburgh plus fifth-seeded Carolina.
All four conference semifinals will be rematches.
Panthers at Bears
After the Panthers shut out the Giants, coach John Fox said the Bears “whipped up on us pretty good last time.”
That reaction was slightly different from the one he had after Carolina’s 13-3 loss Nov. 20, when the Bears sacked Jake Delhomme eight times. Fox blamed two interceptions by Nathan Vasher that set up 10 first-quarter points rather than focus on the physical beating.
“Anytime you go on the road, I think it’s important not to fall behind,” Fox said.
The Panthers befuddled Giants quarterback Eli Manning into three interceptions Sunday. In the Bears-Panthers game, rookie Kyle Orton threw one touchdown pass and one interception.
It was Orton’s 10th start, so even he had more pro experience than Grossman will have when he makes only his eighth start in three seasons.
Last week Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said he and fellow Pro Bowler Michael Strahan were the best tandem of defensive ends in the league. The Panthers’ pair of Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker took exception.
Against the Bears, the Panthers had no sacks. Bears defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown combined for five of the eight.
Redskins at Seahawks
The Redskins have won six in a row and are the hottest team in the NFC. But the late-season push to make the playoffs has taken a physical toll.
Running back Clinton Portis was in and out of Saturday’s victory at Tampa Bay while nursing two sore shoulders.
Defensive end Renaldo Wynn broke his right arm. Cornerback Shawn Springs was unable to play. Quarterback Mark Brunell, who has played the last two weeks on a gimpy knee, completed only seven passes for 25 net yards.
On Oct. 2 in Washington, the Redskins beat the Seahawks 20-17 on a 39-yard overtime field goal by Nick Novak.
Seattle had a chance to win on the last play of regulation, but Josh Brown’s kick from 47 yards hit an upright.
The Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked offense gained 354 yards, and the Redskins gained 352.
Portis rushed for 90 yards, and NFL most valuable player Shaun Alexander rushed for 98 for the Seahawks. Washington’s Santana Moss caught six passes for 87 yards, and Seattle’s Bobby Engram, the ex-Bear, caught nine for 106.
Steelers at Colts
This is a rematch of a Monday night game Nov. 28 at the RCA Dome, which the Colts won 26-7.
Peyton Manning connected with Marvin Harrison on an 80-yard touchdown pass on the Colts’ first play. Edgerrin James became the first running back to gain 100 yards against the Steelers in 24 games.
The Colts ran their record to 11-0 and matched the Steelers’ intensity.
“We heard so much about a physical game,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We wanted to prove we’d be physical and tough.”
Behind 16-7 at halftime, Steelers coach Bill Cowher opened the second half with a surprise onside kick that backfired, setting up the Colts’ final touchdown.
Patriots at Broncos
On Oct. 16, the Patriots went to Denver and lost 28-20, dropping the defending Super Bowl champions to 3-3.
The Patriots were playing without safety Rodney Harrison–who’s out for the season–without running back Corey Dillon and without defensive tackle Richard Seymour.
Down 28-3 in the third quarter, the Patriots scored the final 17 points.
“We always know we’re just one or two plays from coming back,” said Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch.
“They certainly showed what a champion is all about the way they competed in the second half,” Denver safety John Lynch said.
Jake Plummer threw for two touchdowns and 262 yards, and Tatum Bell rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos.
Tom Brady threw for 299 yards and one touchdown.
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dpierson@tribune.com
