With the first weekend of the NFL playoffs in the books, plenty of surprises were brought to the table. The weekend was filled with blowouts and upsets that may have served as early bracket busters for many. Even with five of the games being decided by two touchdowns or more, there was no lack of action.
Here is everything that went down during Super Wild Card Weekend of the NFL:
Saturday
Cleveland Browns 14 – Houston Texans 45
The first postseason meeting between these sides in history concluded with the Texans erasing a four game losing streak to the Browns. The scoring was opened in the first quarter by Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn who completed six extra point attempts for his team. Half of Houston’s touchdowns were thrown by quarterback CJ Stroud, who finished the game with 274 passing yards. Cleveland led only for a combined two minutes and 16 seconds throughout the game, and were hurt by turnovers.
Both of Browns’ quarterback Joe Flacco’s interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Texans’ defense. Each play was within two minutes of each other during the third quarter. Flacco’s 306 passing yards and touchdown pass proved frivolous to the game’s final score. The Browns managed more first downs and third downs while also holding the ball 10 minutes longer but lost the game. They failed all four fourth down attempts at hand. Houston’s playoff win is its first since 2019, its last postseason appearance. It plays the Ravens next weekend who are the top seed in the AFC.
Miami Dolphins 7 – Kansas City Chiefs 26
Three playoff matches had been played between these sides before Saturday’s game with all of them going Miami’s way. The Chiefs ended that streak, while adding onto another with their fifth consecutive win over the Dolphins. Their quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a touchdown while completing 262 passing yards. His lone scoring pass was caught by wide receiver Rashee Rice, who led the team with 130 receiving yards. Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker contributed to the scoring immensely, knocking back all four of his field goal attempts.
The only turnover for Kansas City came from running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire who lost the ball during a fumble on his side’s final drive. Miami’s one turnover was an interception from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the first quarter. He finished the game with 199 passing yards and his team’s only points of the game. His side was held to 13 first downs, while the Chiefs picked up 25. Only one third down was completed by Miami on 12 attempts, although it did complete three of its six fourth downs. Kansas City will matchup against the Bills who it lost to earlier this season.
Sunday
Green Bay Packers 48 – Dallas Cowboys 32
After conceding 27 points in the first half to Green Bay, things did not look good for the favored Dallas Cowboys. They outscored their opponents in the second half but fell quite short of the comeback they were looking for. Their quarterback Dak Prescott tossed three touchdown passes but was at fault for the games only turnovers. He threw two interceptions in the first half, one of which was returned 64 yards by the Packers’ defense for a touchdown. He passed the ball 60 times during the game, finding a man on 41 attempts.
Quarterback Jordan Love also had three touchdown passes for Green Bay, but zero interceptions. He completed 16 of 21 pass attempts and threw 272 yards. Packers’ kicker Anders Carlson completed six of his seven extra point attempts. Dallas earned over 500 offensive yards along with 37 first downs, but were hurt by Prescott’s turnovers. Green Bay has not lost to the Cowboys since 2016 and has defeated it in all competitions five times straight. It plays the top seed in the NFC next week, the San Francisco 49ers.
Los Angeles Rams 23 – Detroit Lions 24
For the first time since 1991, the Detroit Lions have won a playoff game. Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford’s return to the Motor City was unsuccessful for his side, which earned its first loss to Detroit since 2016. The closest game of the weekend offered zero turnovers and over 750 combined offensive yards as each team looked great. Only one first down separated the sides, with the Lions earning 23 of the game’s 45 total completions. Three of nine third down attempts were completed for both teams while both sides completed their lone fourth down attempts.
The ball was held by the Rams for only 10 seconds longer. Stafford tossed two touchdown passes against his former team while Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff threw one. Goff was very precise, completing 22 of 27 pass attempts. The Rams’ first touchdown of the game was a pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua, who finished the game with 181 receiving yards. Nacua set the record for receiving yards by a rookie in their playoff debut. Detroit’s next challenge will be defeating the Buccaneers who it has not met in the postseason since 1997.
Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers 17 – Buffalo Bills 31
The snowy bleachers of Highmark Stadium were not enough to keep Bills fans from watching their team defeat the Steelers for the fourth time in five games. The Bills led throughout the entire game and by as much as 21, with three touchdowns in the first half. Quarterback Josh Allen contributed to all four of Buffalo’s total touchdowns. He earned a rushing touchdown and had three touchdown passes with his 203 passing yards. His side had zero turnovers while the Steelers were responsible for two.
Wide receiver George Pickens lost the ball during a fumble while quarterback Mason Rudolph threw an interception. Rudolph finished the game with two touchdown passes and 229 passing yards but a costly turnover. Both of the Steelers’ turnovers resulted in Buffalo touchdown drives. Each side achieved five third downs while Buffalo completed its only fourth down attempt and Pittsburgh did not. For the fifth time in three seasons during all competitions, the Bills will play the Chiefs next week.
Philadelphia Eagles 9 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32
From starting the season 10-1 to finishing it with a first round playoff exit, the conclusion of this year was not a nice one for the Eagles. They only managed to score during the second quarter which included a field goal and touchdown. They failed a two point conversion attempt. The lone touchdown was thrown by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who finished the game with 250 passing yards. He was outclassed by his opposing quarterback Baker Mayfield, who completed three touchdown passes for Tampa Bay.
Kicker Chase McLaughlin was also a large contributing factor for the Buccaneers, as he executed all three of his field goal attempts. Eagles’ wide receiver DeVonta Smith picked up an impressive 148 receiving yards, but was unable to help his side score. Their running back D’Andre Swift only earned 34 rushing yards across 10 carries. The first down department was dominated by Tampa Bay, as the Eagles earned 10 less than their opponents. They also failed to convert all nine third down attempts at hand and both of their fourth downs. Tampa Bay will play the Lions next week, a team it lost to back in week six.
