This past weekend’s divisional playoff round is already being remembered as one of the best weekends of football in recent memory. Each game had its own set of highlights and with a lot at stake, the teams laid it all on the line.
Starting with perhaps the most “normal” game of the weekend the Bengals beat the top-seeded Titans to advance to the AFC title game by a score of 19-16.
The game marked the return of Derrick Henry to the Titans offense, which was looking for his addition to provide them with a big boost. On the other side of the field sat arguably the hottest team in football in Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
The game ended up being a battle on the defensive side of the ball. The Titans pass rush was relentless in their pursuit of Joe Burrow. The Bengals quarterback was sacked nine times throughout the course of the game, but somehow he got back up each and every time.
The Bengals defense, which has been one of the weaker spots all season, picked off Ryan Tannehill three times, including within the final moments to set up rookie Evan McPherson with a chance to play hero, and that he did. Kicking the game-winner as time expired to propel the Bengals on to the next round.
Moving to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field the San Francisco 49ers knocked off one of the popular super bowl favorites by beating the Green Bay Packers 13-10.
If the first game lacked in scoring this one took it to another level. The 49ers only managed to score six points on offense, with the rest of their points coming off of a blocked punt.
Green Bay took the ball down with ease, scoring a touchdown on their first drive, they never saw the endzone again, and in the end their multiple special teams errors cost them.
One of the other staples of the NFL playoffs fell when the Los Angeles Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27, knocking Tom Brady out in the process.
This game was a wild one. At one point the Rams were leading 27-3, eerily close to the infamous 28-3 comeback that Brady had in the Superbowl.
Then the turnover bug bit the Rams. Throughout the game, they lost four fumbles, and along with their own defense going cold, and Tom Brady heating up before they knew it things were tied at 27.
Matthew Stafford got the ball back seeking his first ever playoff win in his first season outside of Detroit, only needing a field goal to win. Surrounded by playmakers, they did just that. The NFL’s leading receiver Cooper Kupp caught a 44-yard beauty from Stafford to set up the game-winner.
If that were it the people would have been satisfied, but the NFL saved the best for last with an all-timer between the Chiefs and Bills. The Chiefs took the game 42-36 in overtime, and while that score indicates a great game, it still doesn’t do it enough justice.
The offenses matched each other all night long. Combined, the quarterbacks threw for 707 yards and 7 touchdowns. Buffalo receiver Gabriel Davis dominated, having over 200 yards along with 4 scores.
The drama came late in the game, after going back and forth all night, the Bills held a lead with just 13 seconds remaining. Most would think that 13 seconds is not enough time to get down the field into field goal range, but Mahomes and the Chiefs pulled off some of their signature magic to make it happen, and off to overtime the game went.
Ultimately the Chiefs won the toss, and on a night with not a ton of defense they scored a touchdown, ending the game before Josh Allen and the Bills could even get a chance, once again calling the NFL’s overtime rules into question.
Regardless it was a great weekend for football, and the Bengals, Chiefs, Rams, and 49ers all sit just one win out going to the big game.
