Good evening and welcome to our coverage of Saturday’s night’s match-ups from the NFL Divisional Round.

First up, we’ve got the Seattle Seahawks travelling to Atlanta at 9.35pm to take on the Falcons while the New England Patriots are expected to take care of business with ease as the Houston Texans roll into town at 1.15am.

I’m Steve O’Rourke and I’ll be your host for the night.

If you missed it earlier today, here’s my preview of the weekend’s action:

• NFL Divisional Round Preview – Can anyone stop the Patriots?

Today in odd intimidation tactics:

I’ve already picked the Falcons and Patriots to win tonight. More importantly though, who have you got?

We’re under way in the Georgia Dome and the Seahawks will have the game’s opening possession.

TOUCHDOWN – Seahawks 7-0 Falcons

A brilliant, 14-play, 89-yard opening drive from Seattle sees Russell Wilson find Jimmy Graham in the end zone for the game’s opening score.

Most of the yards came on the ground and took eight and half minutes off the clock already.

In fact, that Seahawks’ opening drive was one of the best of the season:

That’s the end of the first quarter and it’s flown by with the Falcons now driving into the redzone.

TOUCHDOWN – Falcons 7-0 Seahawks

Julio Jones caps off a monster 13-play, 75-yard drive to tie up the game, chewing up over seven minutes of the clock themselves.

We have some football game here folks.

Richard Sherman gave up two catches and a penalty against Jones on that drive too, it could be a long evening for the Seattle defensive leader.

Paul Richardson is in the endzone but it looks like it’s coming back as he was just touched on the ground before getting up and running in for the score.

Field Goal – Seahawks 10-7 Falcons

Wilson fails to find Doug Baldwin and third and long so the Hawks have to settle for three points. Steven Hauschka, who can be dodgy from close range, splits the posts.

Devin Hester is a former Falcon and he is determined the score today. After a 50-yard kick return earlier, he brings the game’s first punt back 79 yards.

However, it’s all for nothing as the return is brought back for a hold. Seattle start inside their own 10.

SAFETY – Seahawks 10-9 Falcons

Disaster for Seattle, after they should have been in the Falcons’ redzone, they’ve given up a safety.

Rookie right guard Rees Odhiambo steps on Russell Wilson causing his quarterback to fall into his own end zone and Ben Garland, a back-up centre, touches him down for the two points.

Field Goal – Falcons 12-10 Seahawks

Atlanta have their first lead of the game with six minutes left in the half. Matt Bryant makes the 35-yard field goal.

The Falcons do have to kick off to Devin Hester again though!

The Falcons will start with the ball on their half-yard line after a booming 60-yard punt from John Ryan and a mistake from the returner, Eric Weems, who let the ball bounce when he could have made a fair catch.

Another safety?

Some finger strength by Mo Sanu here to get a first down for Atlanta:

TOUCHDOWN – Falcons 19-10 Seahawks

A 99-yard drive from the hosts ends with Ryan hitting Tevin Coleman to give them a 9-point lead and marks the 11th scoring drive that started inside their own 10-yard line this season.

HALF-TIME – Falcons 19-10 Seahawks

Two runs up the gut for Seattle ends the half and they’ll have to kick the ball to Atlanta in the second-half and a give them a chance to stretch their lead even further.

Matt Ryan has shown why many think he’ll win the NFL’s MVP award this season in that first half.

John Bazemore John Bazemore

Some interesting half-time reading about the bias of NFL referees.

The worst possible start to the second half for Seattle as it looks like they’ll lose another key part of that defence to injury:

And another injury for Seattle, this time Michael Bennett who is the heart and soul of that defence. Will the Falcons make them pay? They’re in the redzone

TOUCHDOWN – Falcons 26-10 Seahawks

Freeman powers in from close range to stretch the lead to 16 points, that’s another 13-play drive for the Dirty Birds. Can Seattle bounce back?

Field Goal – Falcons 26-17 Seahawks

A mistake in punt coverage extends a Seattle drive but the visitors have to settle for three points so it’s still a two-score game.

Field Goal – Falcons 29-13 Seahawks

That really should have been a touchdown to the Falcons but a bad drop means the have to settle for three points. However, it restores this 16-point lead with just 14.57 left in the game.

If you’re wondering how things are going for Seattle, on third-and-15, they did this:

Despite this guy’s best efforts, a weird ‘no-catch’ call was overturned:

PICK!

Russell Wilson tried to bring the Seahawks back into the game single-handedly but he’s put under too much interception and Ricardo Allen brings the interception back to the half-way line.

It’s been tough sledging for the Seattle QB tonight, pressured on 50% of  his pass attempts.

TOUCHDOWN – Falcons 36-13 Seahawks

And this one’s a blowout. Mo Sanu makes a touchdown grab in the corner and this game is done. 3.40 left in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks won’t be going to the Super Bowl but The42 will.

We’ll be in Houston bringing you all the coverage you’ve come to expect and much, much more this year.

TOUCHDOWN – Falcons 36-20 Seahawks

A consolation touchdown for Doug Baldwin and the Seahawks after a 70-yard run back from the kick-off. There’s just over three minutes left in this one.

Atlanta recover the onside kick, just in case there were any fears a comeback might be on.

Take a bow Matty Ice

PICK!

Another interception for Atlanta. Doug Baldwin can’t hold onto the ball as he’s tackled by two defenders and Deion Jones brings it back into the Seattle half.

Full-Time – Falcons 36-20 Seahawks

That’s a pretty impressive win for Atlanta in what might be their last ever game in the Georgia Dome.

I’m off to make a quick coffee and I’ll be pack for Texans @ Patriots.

Santa Claus appears to have got a fist pump in the tunnel before the game:

The Patriots won the toss, elected to defer and the Texans went three-and-out on their opening possession.

Tom Brady has the ball in his hands.

And the Patriots go three-and-out.

Brew that coffee folks, this could be a long night.

TOUCHDOWN – Patriots 7-0 Texans

The Patriots are on the board. A three-play drive from their own 35 (and big defensive pass interference call) ends with Dion Lewis high-stepping into the endzone on a screen from Brady.

Field Goal – Patriots 7-3 Texans

The Texans take advantage of a big personal foul penalty by Eric Rowe on a third-and-18 to put some points on the board which is more than they did the last time these two met.

TOUCHDOWN – Patriots 14-3 Texans

Dion Lewis with his second touchdown of the game, this time running back the Texans’ kick-off 98 yards for the score.

Houston came into the game as one of the worst special teams units in the league and it showed there.

PICK!

After throwing only two interceptions all years, Tom Brady is picked off with A. J. Bouye taking advantage of a pass bouncing off the hands of Michael Floyd.

The Texans have the ball at the Patriots’ 26.

Field Goal – Patriots 14-6 Texans

Houston is not going to win this game with field goals but that’s what they have to settle for again as yet another drive stalls.

The Patriots lead by eight point despite having run only six plays on offence.

Well now. Dion Lewis fumbles the kick-off this time and the Texans are set up inside the Patriots’ 20.

TOUCHDOWN – Patriots 14-13 Texans

The Texans have no business being in this game and the Patriots are handing it to them. C. J. Fiedorowicz is WIDE OPEN in the end zone and it’s a one-point ball game.

And they’re still losing.

Here’s what that Dion Lewis kick return from earlier looked like… in fast-forward:

Field Goal – Patriots 17-13 Texans

The Patriots are stuffed on first, second and third-and-goal and have to settle for the three points. This is a much closer game than any of us expected with seven seconds left in the half.

HALF-TIME – Patriots 17-13 Texans

A brilliant performance from Houston’s front seven is keeping them in the game. Well that and the Patriots turnovers. Still, the way Osweiler is playing, there’s an interception coming from him soon too.

The second-half is under way. Tom Brady will start with the ball on his 25-yard line.

A lighter moment in a tense game:

Jadeveon Clowney… good at football:

TOUCHDOWN – Patriots 24-13 Texans

Some absolute dimes thrown by Tom Brady on that 9-play, 90-yard drive as the Pats take an 11 point lead. James White is the latest running back to catch a touchdown for New England.

PICK!

Told you an Osweiler interception was coming. The Texan QB has been staring down his receivers all night and finally the Patriots defence takes advantage as Devin McCourty makes the pick.

The Texans should have been right back in this but Will Fuller dropped a pass that looked easier to catch:

PICK!

That one was Brady’s fault. After only throwing two interceptions all season, the Patriots quarterback has two tonight.

Field Goal – Patriots 24-16 Texans

The Texans can’t take full advantage of the turnover but they do put three points on the board to make it a one-score game.

PICK!

Brock is picked off again, this time by Logan Ryan and the Pats have the ball at the Houston six.

TOUCHDOWN – Patriots 31-16 Texans

Dion Lewis adds a rushing touchdown to his earlier receiving and kick return scores.

It’s a 15 point lead for the Pats. The spread was 15.5 for those interested in such things.

And, as you’ve probably guessed, this has been a historically good performance from Lewis:

Field Goal – Patriots 34-16 Texans

And Stephen Gostkowski nails a 43-yard spread to make it an 18-point game (and cover the spread).

The Texans were very much in this game but the Patriots have just run away from them in the second half.

PICK!

Interception number three of the second half for Brock Osweiler as he completely overthrows his tight end and Patrick Chung makes the play for the Patriots.
2.55 left.

Just 181 yards (and three picks) on 43 dropbacks for Osweiler tonight. That’s almost as bad as it gets in terms of quarterbacking.

The Patriots are going to kneel out the game.

Full-Time – Patriots 34-16 Texans

It’s a record sixth-straight AFC Championship Game for New England but they’re going to have to play a lot better next week than they did tonight if they want to get back to the Super Bowl.

Right. That’s it from me. I’ll be back around 8pm tonight for coverage of Dallas/Green Bay and Pittsburgh/Kansas City.

Thanks for sticking with me for the night.

Now go to bed.