[mmarra82]

AFC Matchup
1:00 PM on CBS
Miami (10-6-1) at Tennessee (11-5)

The Dolphins placed quarterback Jay Fielder on injured reserve earlier in the week when the realized the severity of his injury was more serious than anticipated. They signed Jim Sorgi to replace him on the roster. Sorgi the early season with the Raiders before being released, now found himself in a most unusual spot, starting for the Dolphins in the Divisional Playoffs. Why the Dolphins did not start Rosenfels is unknown after the way he played against the Broncos in the second half of last week's Wild Card Victory.

Playing with their third quarterback in two weeks, the Dolphins offense failed to exist. The Titans held the Dolphins to just 216 yards in total offense, and just 7 points. The lone Dolphin touchdown came as the result of a Titans turnover. The Titans played the game conservatively, rushing the ball 35 times compared to just 27 passes that resulted in a closer score, 16-7, but this was never much of a game.

The Titans took control of the game following the first half, and with the exception of the sole first half McNair interception, the Dolphins never threatened, crossing midfield just twice, and starting inside Titans' territory following the McNair interception. The Titans pounded the tough Dolphins D, and by games end had worn them down. The tough running of Chris Brown allowed the Titans to take over the game in the second half. Brown finished with 116 yards on 24 carries. The Titans will host the Pittsburgh Steelers next week in the AFC Championship Game. The two did not meet during the regular season.


NFC Matchup
4:15 PM on FOX
Dallas (12-5) at St. Louis (11-5)

In what was talked about as being the most balanced game of the week the Dallas Cowboys and their tough D, traveled into St. Louis to battle "The Greatest Show On Turf." Dallas came in fresh off a 20-9 beating of the Carolina Panthers in the Wildcard game.

The first half of this game would stay close, as the Cowboys struck first on a 13 yard toss from Carter to Anderson, however, the Rams would quickly strike back when Kurt Warner hit Isaac Bruce from 42 yards out to tie the game at 7. The Rams would not stop there in the first half, as Kurt Warner threw his second score of the game, midway through the second quarter, to Kevin Curtis from 12 yards out to give the Rams a 14-7 halftime lead.

In the third quarter the two teams would exchange field goals to close the quarter out at 17-10. But, the Rams passing attack would strike once more when Warner hooked up with Shaun McDonald from 16 yards out. Wilkens would miss the extra point, as the Rams now led. 23-10. The Cowboys would make a call that can be considered questionable, kicking a 20-yard field goal with 3:31 left to make it a 23-13 game. What really makes the call questionable is that the Cowboys were out of timeouts and needed still two more possessions. I guess the 'Boys coach will have some questions to answer. The Rams victory, 23-13, sends them back to Tampa for the third time in two season. The last time the Rams were at Tampa they lost the Divisional round of the playoffs 20-16. The Rams will be looking for a different outcome this season.