The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but played to win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Falcons suffered a 22-17 loss as a few key players exited the games with injuries that will be worth monitoring over the next few weeks. Cornerback Dunta Robinson left the game with a head injury and fellow cornerback Asante Samuel aggravated a shoulder injury that limited him to three snaps over a two-game stretch late in the season. Falcons defensive end John Abraham was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday. With a 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers won the NFC West and secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, giving themselves a bye week and allowing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Justin Smith more time for his elbow/triceps injury to heal. The Green Bay Packers are the No. 3 seed and will host the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Saturday night. Unlike Sundays’ 37-34 in Minneapolis, the Packers should have leading receiver Randall Cobb, who sat out the game with an ankle injury. Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews limped off the field in the fourth quarter, but after the game said that he did not aggravate a hamstring injury that cost him a quarter of the 2012 regular season. Packers first round defensive end Jerel Worthy was carted off the field with a left knee injury that is worth monitoring. The Vikings lost cornerback Antoine Winfield in the first half after he aggravated his broken right hand. Whether or not he attempts to play through the injury on Saturday will be determined this week. With their 28-18 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins won the NFC East for the first time since 1999 and will host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET. The main injury situation to monitor is rookie quarterback Robert Griffin, who is less than a month removed from a sprained right knee and is playing with a brace. In his second start after missing a Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns, Griffin was not as limited against the Cowboys, using his legs to run for 63 yards and a touchdown. Griffin would need to be helped off the field late in the game, however, and may be limited in practice this week. The Seahawks rested linebacker Leroy Hill (hamstring) and took a precautionary approach with cornerback Walter Thurmond (hamstring) for Sunday’s 20-13 win over the St. Louis Rams. The Seahawks emerged from that game without any major injuries and figure to have Hill and possibly Thurmond available for Sunday afternoon’s game against…Seattle will also get starting cornerback Brandon Browner back from his four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
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John Abraham, Justin Smith headline injuries to watch heading into NFL post-season (Shutdown Corner)
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