The NFL Playoffs are right here. Fourteen groups have made it by a daily season that, for some, went all the way down to the ultimate recreation to seal their probability of taking part in within the Tremendous Bowl. The primary seeds (Kansas Metropolis and Detroit) have a first-round bye. Each different workforce doesn’t and has to undergo the Wildcard spherical to hitch them. So, what did the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, and Baltimore Ravens (amongst others) fare?
AFC
Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans
The weekend’s first recreation was between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans had, unsurprisingly, gained the AFC South to get right here. As for the Chargers, a constant common season meant that they (and one other AFC West workforce that might be talked about later) made the wildcard. Might Jim Harbaugh’s first 12 months with the Chargers proceed, or will Houston be one step nearer to a different divisional-round recreation?
The Chargers had the sport’s first possession and would rating the primary factors from it. Ranging from their 27-yard line, the Chargers offense, led by quarterback Justin Herbert, might transfer all the way down to the Texans’ 16-yard line. Right here, the drive stalled, which arrange Cameron Dicker with a 35-yard discipline aim.
Los Angeles’s good luck continued on the Texans’ first drive. Quarterback CJ Stroud discovered John Metchie for a seven-yard go. Nevertheless, Metchie fumbled the ball, which the Chargers protection recovered. They took benefit of this error, with the next drive ending in one other discipline aim from Dicker, this time from 39 yards out.
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A number of drives later, the Texans would make one other mistake, as Strouds’s go was interception. Nevertheless, Houston wouldn’t be with out the ball for lengthy, as Herbert’s go was intercepted on the sport’s subsequent play.
The Texans received their first factors of the sport close to the top of the primary half. This drive began on their one-yard line, with Stroud and firm transferring all the way down to the Chargers’ 13-yard line. From right here, Stroud discovered Nico Collins for the landing go. This lead can be prolonged on their remaining drive of the half when kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a discipline aim from 41 yards out.
This meant that the Texans had a 10-6 lead over the Chargers at halftime.
The Texans had the primary drive of the second half, however they once more made a mistake on it. The offense made its method all the way down to the Chargers’ 24-yard line when the error occurred. Joe Mixon fumbled the ball, which might then be recovered by the Chargers’ protection. Fortunately for Houston, Los Angeles couldn’t do something with the possession.
Their subsequent drive was extra profitable. Houston made their method all the way down to the Chargers’ 19-yard line, partly due to an interception that was reversed resulting from a penalty towards the Chargers’ protection. That is the place the drive stalled, with Fairbairn kicking the sphere aim from 37 yards out.
Close to the top of the third quarter, the Chargers made a pricey mistake that solely elevated the Texans’ already rising lead. On their 28-yard line, Herbert’s go to Ladd McConkey was intercepted by the Houston protection. Then, Eric Murray would return the ball to the endzone for a pick-six landing.
The next drive, issues received even worse for Los Angeles as Herbert threw one other interception. The Texans would once more capitalize on this error. The silver lining for the Chargers is that this didn’t find yourself in a landing however one other discipline aim.
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It could be third time fortunate for the Chargers, as their subsequent drive would find yourself in a landing. Herbert discovered McConkey for an 86-yard landing go. Nevertheless, the PAT from Dicker was blocked, and the reside ball went into the palms of a Houston protection, who returned the ball to their endzone on the opposite facet of the sphere for a defensive PAT Conversion, which is value two factors.
What Los Angeles gained on that drive was instantly misplaced on the subsequent. The Texans slowly moved down the sphere and reached the Chargers’ 17-yard line. Right here, Mixon discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to all however safe victory. To finish the sport, Herbert threw one other interception, ending what had been a poor recreation.
The Houston Texans had defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12.
This win was very a lot anticipated. The Texans are the stronger facet, exploiting Herbert’s quite a few errors to get the win. The Chargers struggled on this recreation, however I imagine Jim Harbaugh’s facet will quickly return within the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers performed an all-AFC North recreation this weekend. The common sequence between these groups was break up 1-1, however with the Steelers on a shedding streak, the Ravens have been seen because the clear favourite for the win.
The Steelers had the sport’s first possession, however their opening drive wouldn’t get wherever. The identical couldn’t be stated for the Ravens. Ranging from their five-yard line, the Lamar Jackson-led offense went all the way down to the Steelers’ 15-yard line. Right here, Jackson discovered Rashod Bateman for the landing go to cap off a 14-play drive that lasted for over seven minutes.
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The Ravens would be capable of lengthen their lead a couple of drives later. Throughout one other lengthy drive, Baltimore went all the way down to the Steelers’ eight-yard line. Derrick Henry discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to double the lead.
This lead would get even bigger simply earlier than halftime when Jackson discovered Justice Hill for a five-yard landing go.
This meant that the Ravens had a 21-0 lead over the Steelers at halftime.
Pittsburgh might get their first factors of the sport on their first drive of the second half. Ranging from their two-yard line, the Steelers offense, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, made their method all the way down to the Ravens’ 30-yard line. Right here, Wilson discovered Van Jefferson for the landing go.
Any hope that the Steelers might launch a comeback was placed on maintain because the Ravens widened their lead on their subsequent drive. Henry discovered the endzone to file a 44-yard dashing landing.
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However the Steelers have been in a position to get one thing on their subsequent drive. Wilson discovered George Pickins for a 36-yard landing go. This diminished the hole to 14 factors going into the ultimate quarter.
Nevertheless, nothing would occur in that quarter. All of the drives would finish in punts, with the Ravens working down the clock to file a 28-14 win over the Steelers.
On the finish of the season, it looks as if the Steelers simply gave up. They received their profitable season (conserving coach Mike Tomlin’s streak going) after which made the playoffs. As soon as this occurred, the necessity to win vanished, and it didn’t return when it was wanted probably the most. Baltimore superior to the Divisional spherical, however might the Buffalo Payments be part of them?
Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Payments
Initially of the season, not many individuals anticipated the Denver Broncos to make the playoffs. However, beneath rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the workforce made it to their first postseason since their Tremendous Bowl-winning season in 2015. Might this be the beginning of a run to the massive recreation? Within the wildcard spherical, they confronted the Buffalo Payments, one of many favorites to win all of it.
The Broncos had the sport’s first possession and will get the primary factors from it. Ranging from their 30-yard line, the offense went all the way down to the Payments’ 43-yard line. Nix discovered Troy Franklin for the 43-yard landing go to take a shock lead. In response to this, the Payments have been in a position to get into discipline aim territory on their opening drive. Then, Trevor Bass made the 26-yard discipline aim kick from the Broncos’ eight-yard line.
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This kick did maintain the Broncos within the lead, but it surely didn’t final lengthy. On the Payments’ subsequent drive, the offense, led by Josh Allen, went all the way down to the Broncos’ five-yard line. From right here, James Prepare dinner discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to present Buffalo the lead.
Denver would attempt to degree the scores simply earlier than halftime. Their drive stalled on the Payments’ 32-yard line, establishing Will Lutz with a 50-yard discipline aim try. His kick hit the uprights and didn’t make it by the posts.
This meant after a primary half the place the often potent Payments offense was at instances shut down, Buffalo had a 10-7 lead over the Broncos.
The Payments had the primary drive of the second half and will barely lengthen their lead from it. Allen and firm moved the offense all the way down to the Broncos’ nine-yard line. That is the place the drive stalled, however Bass was in a position to kick a 27-yard discipline aim.
The lead grew once more on the next Buffalo drive. This time, Allen discovered Ty Johnson for a 24-yard landing go. The Payments then tried a two-point conversion, which was profitable, making it a 14-point recreation. 14 quickly turned 21, as Allen discovered Curtis Samuel for a 55-yard landing go to start the fourth quarter.
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Whereas the Payments scored on each drive, the Broncos struggled to carry onto possession. Most of their drives have been over as quickly as they started, as Bo Nix couldn’t get something occurring offense.
To additional the Broncos’ woes, a late 34-yard discipline aim from Bass solely cemented the Payments’ dominant victory.
In the end, the Buffalo Payments would defeat the Denver Broncos 31-7.
If the primary half have been something to go by, this could have been an entertaining contest. Nevertheless, the second the second half began, we noticed the return of the often dominant Payments offense. The Broncos have been outplayed on this recreation, however this will likely have been anticipated contemplating the Payments’ rosters’ expertise in these sorts of video games. Nonetheless, just like the Chargers, I feel we’ll see Bo Nix within the playoffs once more.
NFC
Inexperienced Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of many strongest groups within the NFC, and it will likely be no shock in the event that they make the convention championship recreation. Within the wildcard spherical, they confronted the Inexperienced Bay Packers in a rematch of their season opener performed in Brazil. This 12 months, the Packers have been the proverbial third wheel within the NFC North championship battle between the Lions and the Vikings. They have been round however principally watching from afar.
The Packers had the sport’s first possession, however a mistake as quickly because the match started meant that their offense by no means stepped onto the sphere. Keisean Nixon fumbled on the return, and the ball was scooped up by the Eagles’ protection. This meant that Philadelphia’s first drive of the sport started on the Packers’ 28-yard line.
Saquon Barkley might transfer the offense all the way down to the 11-yard line. From right here, Jalen Hurts discovered Jahan Dobson for the landing go to take the lead. For many who need to know, the very first drive that the Packers had led to a punt.
A few drives later, the Eagles have been in a position to lengthen the lead. Their drive would stall on the Packers’ 13-yard line, which arrange a 31-yard discipline aim try for Jake Elliot, which he was profitable with.
The great luck continued for the Eagles on their drive, because the Packers would make a mistake. Inexperienced Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw a deep go intercepted by the Philadelphia protection. The silver lining for the Packers on this scenario was that the Eagles couldn’t convert this into any factors.
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The next Packers drive was considerably higher. Love moved the offense all the way down to the Eagles’ 20-yard line, the place the drive would stall. This arrange a 38-yard discipline aim try from kicker Brandon McManus. Nevertheless, the kick missed
On their subsequent drive, the Packers’ scenario worsened when Love threw one other interception, however the Eagles couldn’t capitalize on this.
This meant that the Eagles had a 10-0 lead over the Packers at halftime.
Inexperienced Bay scored its first factors on its first drive of the second half. The offense fell to the Eagles’ nine-yard line earlier than its drive stalled. This arrange McManus with a 26-yard discipline aim try, which he made.
Nevertheless, the Eagles would reply by placing extra factors of their column. Hurts would transfer the offense all the way down to the Packers 24-yard line. Right here, he discovered Dallas Goedart for the landing go. Nevertheless, the PAT from Jake Elliot was unsuccessful.
Inexperienced Bay would match what Philadelphia did on their subsequent drive. From the 32-yard line, Josh Jacobs discovered the endzone for the dashing landing. Nevertheless, upon additional inspection, Jacobs was dominated down on the one-yard line. This eliminated the landing from the board for a couple of minutes, and this was solely as a result of the play was on the finish of the third quarter. When the fourth quarter began, Jacobs discovered the endzone for the dashing landing.
This made it a one-possession recreation, and the Eagles wanted to get factors from their subsequent drive to present the workforce some respiration area. That is one thing that they have been in a position to do, with Elliot discovering the uprights from 30 yards out.
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On the Eagles’ subsequent drive, Elliot scored one other discipline aim, this time from 32 yards out. With beneath three minutes to play, the sport was tied at 12. If the Packers have been to have any hope of staying within the recreation, they needed to discover the endzone on their subsequent drive.
This was one thing that they have been unable to do, with Love throwing one other interception.
This meant the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Inexperienced Bay Packers 22-10.
In actuality, the Packers have been by no means actually within the race for the NFC North and couldn’t sustain with an Eagles workforce that has been probably the greatest this 12 months. I feel they underperformed on this recreation and may do a lot better. We’ll see how they fare within the divisional spherical subsequent week.
Lastly, placing my New York Giants hat on for a second, the Packers had one job, they usually failed at it: anybody however Phily (or the Chiefs) to win the Tremendous Bowl.
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Washington Commanders have been on a turnaround this 12 months, all due to the arrival of Jayden Daniels. He has made an enormous distinction to this workforce and reveals that you just don’t have to be the primary choose of the draft to be the most effective participant. He led Washington to an 11-5 common season file and made the playoffs. They confronted NFC South champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, within the wildcard spherical in what can be an in depth affair.
The Buccaneers had the opening possession of the sport and received their first factors. Ranging from their 30-yard line, the Buccs offense, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, reached the Commanders’ 32-yard line. That is the place their drive would stall, establishing a 50-yard discipline aim try from kicker Chase McLaughlin. He was profitable with this, giving Tampa Bay the early lead. In response to this, the Commanders have been in a position to attain the Buccs’ crimson zone. However, a failed fourth-down dialog stopped them from progressing any additional.
However the Commanders had higher luck on their subsequent drive. Ranging from their eight-yard line, Daniels lead the Washington offense very slowly all the way down to the Buccaneers’ ten-yard line. Daniels discovered Dyami Brown for the landing go handy the Commanders the lead. This lead was prolonged on their subsequent drive. The offense stalled on the Buccs’ 33-yard line, with kick Zane Gonzalez discovering the uprights from 52 yards out.
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Nevertheless, this lead was quickly lower. On the next drive, Mayfield and firm might make their method all the way down to the Commanders’ one-yard line. The quarterback discovered Mike Evans for the landing go simply earlier than the half was over.
This meant that the Commanders and Buccaneers have been tied 10-10 at halftime.
The Commanders had the primary drive of the second half and broke the tie. On the drive, the Daniels-led offense reached the Buccaneers’ four-yard line, the place the drive would stall. Right here, Gonzalez kicked a 22-yard discipline aim to take the lead.
However this lead didn’t final lengthy; On a drive that began on their 28-yard line, the Tampa Bay offense made its method into the Washington crimson zone and all the way down to the four-yard line. Right here, Mayfield discovered Bucky Irving for the landing go. The Commanders would try to retake the lead on their subsequent drive and can be in a powerful place, down on the three-yard line. Right here, an essential fourth-down try passed off. Daniels’ go to Zach Ertz was incomplete, and possession was handed over to Tampa Bay.
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This possession didn’t final lengthy, because the Buccaneers would make a mistake. On their 15-yard line, Mayfield would fumble the ball, which might then be scooped up by the Commanders’ protection. A number of performs later, Daniels discovered Terry McLaurin for a five-yard landing go to present the Commanders a three-point lead with 10 minutes left to play.
The Buccaneers needed to discover factors on their subsequent drive in the event that they have been to have any probability of staying in what was an in depth recreation. They’d be capable of do that. The Mayfield-led offense made its method all the way down to the Commanders’ 14-yard line. That is the place the drive stalled, however McLaughlin kicked a 32-yard discipline aim to tie the scores with 4 minutes left to play.
This gave the Commanders a bonus; all they needed to do was rating a walk-off discipline aim to win the sport. On the sport’s remaining drive, the Commanders’ offense moved down the sphere from their 30-yard line to the Buccs’ 19. Right here, Gonzalez stepped up for a game-winning discipline aim from 37 yards out. The kick hit the correct upright however went by the posts to seal the win.
The Washington Commanders had defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20.
This was the most effective recreation of the wildcard weekend, and it was undoubtedly the closest. Nevertheless, I feel that Wahington will battle within the divisional spherical, as whereas they’re a very good workforce, there are higher, stronger groups left within the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams
Till the second half of their remaining recreation of the common season, the Minnesota Vikings had an excellent season. Nobody anticipated the Sam Darnold-led workforce to get wherever, however they almost gained the NFC North and got here into the sport with a 14-2 file. Regardless of clearly being the second-best workforce within the NFC by file, they’re the fifth seed and performed on the highway. They have been initially going to face the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles, however because of the wildfires within the space, the sport was relocated to Arizona. Would this make any distinction?
The Rams had the sport’s opening drive and would be capable of get the primary factors from it. Ranging from their 30-yard line, the Rams offense, led by Matthew Stafford, made their method all the way down to the Vikings’ five-yard line. Right here, Stafford discovered Kyren Williams for the landing go. They have been in a position so as to add to their lead on their subsequent drive. This may ultimately stall on the Vikings’ 16-yard line, establishing Joshua Karty with a 34-yard discipline aim try. This was one thing he was profitable with.
On the next drive, Minnesota lastly received on the board. Ranging from their 30-yard line, Darnold and firm made it to the Rams’ 16-yard line, the place the drive stalled. This arrange Will Reichard with a 34-yard discipline aim try, which he made.
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Nevertheless, issues would quickly flip ugly for the Vikings. On their subsequent drive, Darnold’s go was intercepted by the Rams protection. Fortunately for Minnesota, Los Angeles couldn’t do something concerning the ball on the next drive and would hand possession again rapidly. However, one other mistake would occur on the subsequent drive as properly.
On the Rams’ 41-yard line, Darnold discovered Josh Oliver for a six-yard go. Olver then fumbled the ball, which the Rams recovered. Nevertheless, Oliver was not down by contract upon additional inspection, thus eradicating the fumble. Nevertheless, this solely offered a brief respite, as Darnold fumbled the ball two performs later. The Rams recovered it, returning it to the endzone for the landing.
Los Angeles widened their lead simply earlier than halftime when Stafford discovered D Allen for a 13-yard landing go.
This meant that on the half, the Rams had a 24-3 lead over the Vikings.
The Rams made their already giant lead even larger on their first drive of the second half. Their drive would stall on the Vikings’ 26-yard line, however Karty was in a position to make a 44-yard discipline aim.
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Then, the Vikings had some luck. On the Rams’ 26-yard line, Darnold discovered T.J. Hockenson for the landing go. They then tried a two-point conversion, however this failed. Nevertheless, they did discover the endzone. Might this be the second when issues modified?
No. For the remainder of the sport, neither workforce got here near scoring once more.
This meant that after a reasonably underwhelming second half, the Los Angeles Rams had defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9.
All 12 months, the Vikings have been being spoken about as Tremendous Bowl contenders. However, in actuality, they may by no means reside as much as the hype. Darnold was solely on a one-year contract (he was meant to be the backup, however the harm to JJ McCarthy made him the starter), and these performances gained’t assist him maintain his job. Nevertheless, full credit score must be given to the Rams. They have been in a position to win in difficult circumstances surrounding all the pieces town has been by final week and proceed their playoff run.
The Playoff Image
The Divisional spherical is subsequent week, the place the primary seeds come into play.
Within the AFC:
-Houston Texans will face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
-The Baltimore Ravens will play the Buffalo Payments
Within the NFC
-Washington Commanders will play the Detroit Lions
-The Los Angeles Rams will face the Philadelphia Eagles
