Tom Henigan
The first round of the NFL playoffs is over and, while some games did not live up to the hype, we did have some drama and lots of great individual performances. We have four exciting matchups set up in the divisional round but for now, it is time to review the wildcard round of the 2024/25 NFL season.
Los Angeles Chargers 12-32 Houston Texans
The Houston Texans proved a lot of people wrong in the wildcard round. Many people, myself included, were doubting the Texans coming into these playoffs despite their back-to-back AFC South titles. The Chargers took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, and when their defence got its second takeaway of the game early on in the second quarter, it looked as if L.A. was in the driver’s seat.
One play changed had the game for the Texans
But Houston’s defence stepped up big time, immediately intercepting Justin Herbert after C.J. Stroud had been intercepted himself. The Texans defence then made another stop to get the ball back to their offence, which is when the game-changing play happened for the Houston attack. Down 6-0, facing a 3rd and 16 deep in their own territory with just over two minutes left in the first half, the Texans needed a big play. After a botched snap, it looked like it was only getting worse for the hosts, but C.J. Stroud recovered the ball and rolled to his right, away from the defenders, before finding Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain. The Texans eventually found the endzone on that drive thanks to a Stroud throw to Nico Collins. Houston then managed to get the ball back before the end of the half and kick a field goal, after a big Stroud run, to take a 10-6 lead at halftime. One play had changed the game for the Texans.
The hosts dominated the second half. Houston’s defence made play after play. It started with a stop by Derek Stingley Jr. on fourth down. The defence then intercepted Herbert twice, with one of the picks being returned to the endzone by Eric Murray, and the other, by Stingley Jr., setting up Houston’s offence in field goal range. The Chargers showed some fight with an 86-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey on 3rd and 26 but a comeback was still unlikely with the score at 25-12.
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Joe Mixon stepped up for the offence when he was called upon. The running back was the key man on Houston’s game-sealing 74-yard touchdown drive as he ran in from 17 yards out on 4th and 1. Then, to show how dominant they truly were, the Texans got their fourth interception of the day thanks to Stingley Jr. getting his second.
Houston’s defence was top five in the NFL in sacks and takeaways in the regular season and they continued their dominance here with four sacks and four interceptions. Although the offence will need to clean some things up, the Texans will have all the confidence in the world heading into the game against the Chiefs, as they should.
Herbert is still looking for his first NFL playoff win as his season comes to a disappointing end. In this game, he threw four interceptions, more than he had in the entire regular season. The future looks bright with Jim Harbaugh as Herbert’s coach but the quarterback will need help at receiver next season if he wants to take that next step.
Pittsburgh Steelers 14-28 Baltimore Ravens
The best rivalry in the NFL was dominated by one team on Saturday night. The Ravens never gave the Steelers a chance in this game as they lead 21-0 at halftime against their division foe. Pittsburgh had a glimmer of hope when they put together a 98-yard touchdown drive on their first series of the second half. They followed that up with a sack on Baltimore’s first play of the next drive but on 2nd and 20, the Ravens converted thanks to a Tylan Wallace catch and run. The hosts then capped off the drive with Derrick Henry running for a 44-yard touchdown, sealing the game despite the Steelers answering with another touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s defence looked underprepared as they gave up nearly 300 rushing yards on the day
Pittsburgh simply could not stop the run in this game. Early on they continued to collapse on the running back in read-option situations, allowing Lamar Jackson to use his legs. Later in the game, the Steelers focused too much on Lamar as he drew the attention of Pittsburgh’s linebackers when handing it off to his running back, allowing Henry to run into open space. Of course, trying to stop the greatest running quarterback of all time, as well as a future Hall of Fame running back, is incredibly hard, but Pittsburgh’s defence looked underprepared as they gave up nearly 300 rushing yards on the day.
The Ravens are now 9-0 this season when Henry has at least 20 carries, as he took the ball for 186 yards from 26 attempts in this game. Lamar Jackson was also incredible in this game. Often a criticism of Jackson’s is that he hasn’t performed against the Steelers or in the playoffs. But now in his last two games against Pittsburgh, which includes this playoff game, he has been great. Although Jackson may have underperformed against the Kansas City Chiefs in last season’s AFC Championship game, most of his playoff struggles are from at least four years ago, which is why it is hard to doubt him at the moment. Jackson could be a three-time MVP soon and it is time that people start recognising him as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
As for the Steelers, they have now gone eight seasons without a playoff win, losing their last six postseason games. Many in Pittsburgh are calling for the firing of Mike Tomlin, but that is a debate that would need a whole article for itself.
Denver Broncos 7-31 Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills showed why they were big favourites in this game, with a comfortable win over a strong Denver Broncos defence. Bo Nix got Denver off to a great start, throwing a 43-yard touchdown on the opening drive to give his team a 7-0 lead. But after that touchdown from the visitors, the hosts dominated. James Cook ran in from five yards to give the Bills a 10-7 lead after Tyler Bass had made a 26-yard field goal on Buffalo’s opening drive.
Nix did lead a nice drive to end the first half, but Will Lutz missed a 50-yard field goal which would have tied the game at 10-10 at halftime.
The Bills controlled the second half as Allen threw two touchdowns, including a great 4th and 1 pass to running back Ty Johnson in the back of the endzone. Buffalo’s defence was great in the second half, not allowing any points as the Bills cruised into the divisional round. The game was sealed on Allen’s 55-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel on 3rd and 6 to make it 28-7.
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Denver’s defence had a good showing in the first half but ultimately, Allen’s talent was too much, shown especially on the 4th down touchdown when the defence kept Allen from using his legs but still gave up a touchdown because of elite quarterback play. James Cook also had a good day for the Bills as he ran for 120 yards and a touchdown.
For Buffalo, their win sets up the game of the season so far as they host the Ravens in the divisional round in a battle between the two best quarterbacks this season.
This was a disappointing loss for the Broncos but, in his rookie season, Bo Nix ended the franchise’s eight season playoff drought, giving Denver hope for the future with Sean Payton coaching the young quarterback.
Green Bay Packers 10-22 Philadelphia Eagles
A season-ending day for the Packers started as badly as it could have when Keisean Nixon fumbled returning the ball from the opening kickoff, with the Eagles gaining possession despite the fact that it looked like the Packers recovered the ball first.
Philadelphia immediately capitalised, with Jalen Hurts finding Jahan Dotson for a touchdown three plays later.
Offensively, Green Bay struggled all day. In the first half, Jordan Love threw two interceptions and kicker Brandon McManus missed a 38-yard field goal. The score at halftime was 10-0 to the Eagles with the Green Bay defence keeping them in the game.
Jordan Love and his offence found some rhythm to start the second half as the Packers scored 10 points on their first two drives. But Philadelphia managed to keep Green Bay at arm’s length, with Dallas Goedert scoring an impressive catch and run touchdown, and then Jake Elliott kicking a field goal after Green Bay’s touchdown to make it 19-10.
The Eagles defence practically ended the game with a 4th down stop, which gave their offence good field position, resulting in a field goal to make it 22-10.
Then, Quinyon Mitchell had a game-sealing interception in the endzone with two minutes left, although some fans felt that a pass interference call on Zach Baun of the Eagles was missed.
Philadelphia’s defence was the story this game and the Eagles dominated the matchup from a physicality standpoint all day long.
For Green Bay this was a disappointing end to their season as some begin to ask questions about whether signing Jordan Love to a big contract extension was worth it. Only time will tell.
Washington Commanders 23-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The closest game of the wildcard round and by far the best one.
This game was tied at 10-10 at halftime with both Jayden Daniels and Baker Mayfield throwing for a touchdown in the first half.
The Buccaneers then looked in control to start the second half as they responded to a Washington field goal with a touchdown when Baker Mayfield found Bucky Irving for the score to make it 17-13.
That’s when the game really started to heat up. On a 4th and goal from the three-yard line, the Commanders opted to go for a touchdown rather than take the points. This was one of their five fourth down attempts on the day but one of the two that they didn’t convert as Daniels’ pass to Ertz fell incomplete.
That gave the Buccaneers all the momentum but, on a 1st and 10 from his own fifteen-yard line, Mayfield fumbled the ball and Bobby Wagner of the Commanders recovered it. Despite the great field position, Washington was forced into another fourth down, this time from Tampa Bay’s five-yard line. But Daniels was up to the task on this occasion, as he so often is, finding Terry McLaurin for the touchdown and the lead.
Trailing 20-17, Mayfield led his team down the field to Washington’s twelve-yard line. But on a 3rd and 1, there was some sort of miscommunication on the play as centre Graham Barton seemed to snap the ball early, resulting in a loss of two yards, forcing a field goal.
With the game tied at 20-20, Daniels had a chance to lead his team down the field for the win with under five minutes remaining.
On a designed quarterback run, Daniels escaped defensive lineman Calijah Kancey to run for the first down and leave the game in the hands of Washington’s kicker, Zane Gonzalez
As he so often has this season, Daniels stepped up when it mattered most for the Commanders, completing a 3rd and 6 pass for 21 yards early on in the drive. Daniels led his team into field goal range but there was still 55 seconds left on the clock with a 3rd and 1 play about to take place. A first down would give Washington a chance at a game-winning field goal with no time left. On a designed quarterback run, Daniels escaped defensive lineman Calijah Kancey to run for the first down and leave the game in the hands of Washington’s kicker, Zane Gonzalez.
As the clock hit zero, Gonzalez’s kick bounced off the upright and went through the posts to give the Commanders a 23-20 win on the road. Washington was the only away team to win in this round and it is their first playoff win since the 2005 season.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was sensational in the biggest moments as he now leads his team to Detroit for the divisional round.
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The Buccaneers lost this game because of two key plays. The fumble by Mayfield when they were leading early in the 4th quarter, and the early snap in the red zone when they were down by three points. A disappointing end to Tampa Bay’s season but they will look to win their division for the fifth time in a row next year and host another playoff game.
Minnesota Vikings 9-27 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams dominated this matchup on both sides of the ball. The tone was set early on when Matthew Stafford completed all of his passes and threw a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. After a Vikings punt, the teams traded field goals on the next two drives.
The only time when this game seemed close was when the Vikings were denied a defensive touchdown which would have made the game 10-9, and likely 10-10 after an extra point attempt. The ruling was a controversial one as the referees decided Stafford had thrown the ball into the ground and not fumbled.
Nevertheless, L.A. continued to dominate. When their offence punted, the defence stepped up, intercepting Sam Darnold not long after. Then, when the Rams offence punted again, Ahkello Witherspoon forced a fumble on Darnold, and rookie defensive lineman Jared Verse took the ball all the way to the endzone to make it 17-3.
The next offensive drive for the Vikings saw them stopped on a 4th and 2 as Darnold was sacked by Kobie Turner. Stafford then threw his second touchdown of the half to make it 24-3 at halftime.
The first half was do dominant by the Rams that the game was already won. Darnold did find T.J. Hockenson for a Vikings touchdown in the 3rd quarter but, other than that, the Rams defence continued to dominate. The game ended 27-9. The Vikings have been excellent at getting pressure on quarterbacks this season but, just like in the week 8 matchup between these teams, the offensive line of the Rams stepped up.
L.A. saw how much Darnold and his offensive line struggled against Detroit’s blitzes and used it to their advantage
The front seven of the Rams was the real story of this game as Darnold was sacked nine times. The Vikings offence could not handle the defensive scheme by Chris Shula. L.A. saw how much Darnold and his offensive line struggled against Detroit’s blitzes and used it to their advantage.
The Rams will head to Philadelphia in the divisional round, and, with a Super Bowl winning head coach and quarterback, this is a team that has the potential to go all the way.
The Vikings now face a difficult choice at quarterback as Darnold’s contract expires this offseason and rookie J.J. McCarthy will be back healthy in the offseason.
A somewhat underwhelming round of wildcard games but they have set up some fascinating divisional round matchups.
The games for the divisional round are:
Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs – Saturday January 18th 9:30pm UK time
Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions – Sunday January 19th 1am UK time
Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday January 19th 8pm UK time
Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills – Sunday January 19th 11:30pm UK time
Tom Henigan
Featured image courtesy of Sandro Schuh via Unsplash. Image use license found here (Unsplash). No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of @buffalobills via Instagram. No changes were made to this image.?
In article image 2 courtesy of @houstontexans via Instagram. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 3 courtesy of @commanders via Instagram. No changes were made to this image.
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