LEADING OFF

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Photograph by Rich Gabrielson/Icon SMI

'BOW, WOW And on the seventh day, he wrested from defeat yet another late miracle, this one an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime on Sunday to lift the Broncos—who blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead—to a 29--23 upset of the Steelers in the wild-card round (page 42). And then he Tebowed gracefully.

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Photograph by Damian Strohmeyer

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANNING'S KIND Hakeem Nicks soared to pull in this second-quarter touchdown pass from Eli Manning and give New York a 7--2 lead on Sunday. It was the first of two passes Nicks took to the house in the Giants' 24--2 defeat of the Falcons in the Meadowlands.

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Photograph by John Biever

THROUGH THE ROOF In the first NFL playoff game in Houston since 1994, Arian Foster rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The All-Pro running back, however, wasn't the lone star in the Texans' first-ever postseason appearance. The defense picked off three Andy Dalton passes in Houston's 31--10 victory over the Bengals to set up a showdown with the Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore.