San Francisco 49ers pack for Carolina

Phil Dawson’s 33-yard field goal as the game ended, lifted defending NFC champions the San Francisco 49ers to a 23-20 win away to the Green Bay Packers and into Sunday’s divisional round of the NFL play-offs, where they are away to the Carolina Panthers

The San Diego Chargers extended the Cincinnati Bengals’ play-off futility, stretching all the way back to the 1990 season, winning 27-10 and inflicting the Bengals first home loss this season.

The Chargers will face the AFC top seed Broncos in Denver on Sunday.

On Saturday, the NFC’s New Orleans Saints won 26-24 at the Philadelphia Eagles to meet the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and the Indianapolis Colts, inspired by quarterback Andrew Luck, rallied from 38-10 down in the third quarter away from home to beat the fancied Kansas City Chiefs 45-44.

Next up for the Colts is a trip to the New England Patriots for a tough divisional round test on Saturday.

Channel 4 will air Super Bowl XLVIII live from New York/New Jersey on Sunday February 2. Highlights from the play-offs will be shown on Monday evenings throughout January and on 4oD (11pm).