Wildcard Weekend Recap

 After what some call the craziest and most unpredictable regular season in NFL history, the first round of the playoffs was everything but that. 5/6 games were blowouts (I'm including the Bengals as they were winning the whole game and it was never really much til the end). The 49ers were the lone team to pull off the road upset to move on to the Divisional round. Let's look back at each game and what is important to know going foward.

Bengals 26, Raiders 19

Bengals: The drought is officially over in Cincinnati! After 31 painstaking years of failure after failure in Northern Ohio, the Bengals have won a playoff game! How fitting is it that the guys to break that drought were Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Two of the best young players in the NFL who clearly have blindingly bright futures in the league. The Bengals played this game exactly how they wanted to. They established a strong throwing game from the get-go and never looked back. While the Raiders made in close in the end, the defense sealed the game with a late INT which capped off a really great day for them. The Bengals won this one exactly like they have all season, elite throwing and stout defense. They will head to Nashville next Saturday and take on the top seed in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans. Also major props to HC Zac Taylor who has turned this franchise around since arriving two seasons ago. 

Raiders: Even though they disappointed, what a run it was for the Raiders. After all the adversity that they faced this season, they still were able to rally their way into the post-season by winning their final 4 games behind the strong right arm of their QB Derek Carr and a resurgent defensive unit. Even after making the playoffs, the first round loss transitions them to an off-season with a lot of uncertainty. Does Derek Carr remain their QB? Did interim HC Rich Bisaccia do enough to keep the job or will they hire someone different? What does their new GM do with the roster now that Mike Mayock (the former GM) was fired? All of those questions will be answered in the coming weeks, but as far as we know, there could be a fair amount of change to this gritty team that found a way into the post-season.

Game MVPs: Joe Burrow, QB (244 yards, 2 TDs passing), Germaine Pratt, LB (Game-sealing INT), Ja'Marr Chase, WR (9 rec, 116 yards receiving)

Bills 47, Patriots 17

Bills: Wow! We have been waiting for that kind of performance from this team all season long, and they finally delivered it during the biggest game of the season. The Bills became the first team in NFL history to record a "perfect game" with their performance on Saturday night. By that we mean scoring a TD on every offensive possession with no punts or turnovers. Isn't that wild? That has never happened before until this game. They certainly weren't the overwhelming favorite in the AFC going into the game, but coming out, they just might be. Their no. 1 ranked defense came to PLAY and should have the Chiefs' dynamic offense a little worried for the upcoming match-up this Sunday. The offense also finally had the game we've been waiting for. Josh Allen had the best game of his career. He threw for 300 yards and 5 TDs with no picks and a near perfect 157.6 QBR. Again, we've been waiting for this complete of a performance from this talented team all season long, and now that it's finally happened, is it here to stay? The winner of Sunday's Chiefs/Bills game may just go all the way to the Super Bowl. 

Patriots: Well I did not see this result coming from a Bill Belichick lead team. The Patriots pride themselves on stifling defense and a strong running game, but they couldn't have played further from those principles on Saturday. For one of the first times in his career, Belichick was simply just out-coached from start to finish. You have to cut this team some slack because they were playing with a rookie QB starting his first NFL playoff game while playing in below 0 degree weather, but even then, I expected a lot more from Mac Jones given what he's been able to do all year. While the loss definitely stings for the Patriots, there shouldn't be much sadness or concern in the building. This is a young and coming team that was just scratching the surface this year and should be right back in the thick of things and probably even better in 2022.

Game MVPs: Josh Allen, QB (300 yards, 5 TDs passing), Micah Hyde, S (2 tackles, 1 INT), Dawson Knox, TE (5 rec, 89 yards, 2 TDs receiving)

Buccaneers 31, Eagles 15

Buccaneers: The Bucs started off their title defense run with a bang. Playing in his first official playoff home game with the Buccaneers, Tom Brady couldn't have done much better. 271 yards and 2 TDs with 0 INTs in a game in which the Bucs didn't need to do much on offense is a promising sight for this banged up team. The real story of the day was how well their defense performed. They've been an up and down, oft-injured unit all season long but on Sunday they put it all together and it was a beautiful sight. DC Todd Bowles who just might get another head coaching opportunity following this playoff run called a masterful game as the Buccaneers held the Eagles scoreless until two garbage time scores in the 4th quarter. Jalen Hurts was terrible due to what the Bucs were able to do. The Eagles could not BUY a first down. The Bucs will prepare to host the Rams in what is a rematch of an early season contest in which the Rams won with ease. Things are looking much better now for Tampa than they did then. Also, returning to the lineup will be star RB Leonard Fournette. A massive boost for the defending champs.

Eagles: We all knew this would be a tough match-up for the upstart Eagles, but they were absolutely clobbered. The final scoreline does not do justice how outmatched they were. They were down by more than 20 points going into the 4th with a goose egg off their own on the scoreboard. This usually dynamic rushing offense was held completely in check all game long by the Bucs' stout run defense. Jalen Hurts was off the mark all day long, including several deep ball misses to an open Quez Watkins. DeVonta Smith didn't put up the numbers to show it, but he was one of the lone bright spots of this team and has such a bright future in this league. The Eagles head into an off-season with a lot of optimism as they own 3 first round picks in the draft but have to also make the tough decision on QB Jalen Hurts and if they should stick with him despite his wildly inconsistent play.

Game MVPs: Tom Brady, QB (271 yards, 2 TDs passing), Mike Evans, WR (9 rec, 117 yards, 1 TD receiving) Mike Edwards, S (9 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TFL, 1 pass deflection)

49ers 23, Cowboys 17

49ers: What a win for this team. In the best game of the weekend by a mile, the underdog 49ers led from start to finish in what was an overall great showing for the team. QB Jimmy Garopollo, aside from one terrible INT, was terrific again for the second-straight week. He is starting to show that he can be relied upon in big moments. Hybrid offensive weapon Deebo Samuel continued his assault on opposing defenses through the air and ground. The best part of this win for the Niners was what they were able to do on defense even without their best player on the field. Star DE Nick Bosa got injured in the first-half and didn't return, yet the team still found ways to stifle the usually high-flying Dallas offense the whole game. HC Kyle Shannahan continues to prove he is one of the best minds in football, his calls were spot on for the entire game and the Niners are somehow still alive in the post-season but will face the daunting task of heading to Lambeau field this coming weekend to take on the Green Bay Packers, a team they are very familiar with.

Cowboys: This loss really is going to sting for a long time for the Cowboys. Everyone thought it finally might be their year. Since the 1990s there have been so many struggles for these Cowboys and trying to reach the Super Bowl again. This really felt like their year. They had the best offense (statistically) in the NFL and their defense went from worst in the league last season to one of the premier defenses in the league this season. Their roster was great, their coaching staff was great, and they had home-field advantage to open up the post-season. None of that mattered in a head-scratching loss in which they were really unable to muster much offense the entire game. I'm not even going to get much into the final play, but what were they thinking calling a QB draw with 14 seconds to go and no time outs. It would have been nearly impossible to pick that up the way they did and then clock the ball in time to get one final shot at the end-zone. That was their chance. Now guys will have to leave due to money and they may lose both their OC and DC to other teams that want them to become their head coaches. A tough tough break for Dallas once again. Jerry Jones must have woke up in pain today.

Game MVPs: Deebo Samuel, WR (110 scrimmage yards, rushing TD), Elijah Mitchell, RB (27 carries for 97 yards, TD rushing), Brandon Aiyuk, WR (5 rec, 66 yards)

Chiefs 42, Steelers 21

Chiefs: After that dominant performance it is safe to say that the Chiefs have their eyes on a third-straight Super Bowl appearance. After a slow first-quarter and then an even slower start to the second quarter that even saw them trailing 7-0 at one point, the Chiefs took off, and did not look back. They scored 28 unanswered points and shut down the Steelers on offense. Patrick Mahomes continues to play heroic football in the post-season, with great help from stud pass catchers Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. In this game, it was lesser known talents like RB Jerick McKinnon and WR Mecole Hardman making big impacts as well. Both units clicked in the second half leading to a dominant win. The Chiefs won't have much time to celebrate as they host the Bills next Sunday night in a game that very well could produce the eventual Super Bowl champion. That will be a tough one for Andy Reid and co but it would say quite a lot about the makeup of this squad if they were able to come out on top.

Steelers: It was clear that the Steelers were simply just happy to be in the game at all, rather than actually win it. After being clobbered by the Chiefs just three weeks ago, it looked like their season was over. Then Big Ben and his boys rallied back for two straight wins to find themselves as the 7 seed in the AFC playoffs. Big Ben knew the team didn't stand much of a chance and even said it during a press conference during the week leading up to the game. Outside of some miraculous plays by star rusher TJ Watt in the first half, there weren't many bright spots for the Steelers. The big takeaway from this one for them was that 2022 will be the first time in 18 years that the team will be searching for a new franchise QB. Sunday night marked the likely conclusion of Big Ben Roethlisberger's Hall of Fame career. What a career it was. The Steelers now head into an off-season ready to find a new QB of the future.

Game MVPs: Patrick Mahomes, QB (404 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT passing), Travis Kelce, TE (5 rec, 108 yards, 1 TD receiving), Jerick McKinnon, RB (142 scrimmage yards, receiving TD)

Rams 32, Cardinals 11

Rams: Finally, after some poor play of late, we got the dominant Rams win that we've been waiting for. This is one of, if not the, most talented rosters in football and it showed on Monday night. Matthew Stafford finally went turnover free as he led this offense to victory in what was the first playoff career of his long, prolific career. While Cooper Kupp has been incredible all season, the story of this offense was actually Odell Beckham Jr, who continues to play better and better by the week with the Rams. Odell totaled 54 receiving yards and a TD and also threw a 40 yard pass on a trick play. He is heating up at the right time. This defense, which has been so up and down as well this year, was incredible. Kyler Murray played TERRIBLE because of them. They forced constant pressure along with picking off two passes, one of which was returned for a TD. The Rams will head to Tampa Bay this coming weekend in what is set to be an amazing game that will obviously be huge in deciding who goes to the Super Bowl. The Rams have to be feeling really good after that dismantling of the Cardinals.

Cardinals: What happened? This feels a lot like their season as a whole. They started out the season as the longest remaining undefeated team, but then after a close loss to Green Bay, were never really the same. They stumbled to the finish of the regular season losing 4 of 5 including a shocker in week 18 to Seattle in which cost them home-field advantage in the first round. Kyler Murray and the offense as a whole was off the entire game. The defense couldn't stop the run for their lives or even the pass for that matter. It was a terrible game all-around for the Cardinals.  There is a lot of blame to go around, starting with QB Kyler Murray, going to this defense, mainly the secondary, and all the way up to HC Kliff Kingsbury. These Cardinals fell off so hard and now enter an off-season in which they will need to shell out serious money to some of their best contributors and hope they can also add new talent that can maybe, finally, push them over the edge next season. What started out as such a promising season went off the tracks pretty quickly and now it feels as if the Cards may be back to square 1.

Game MVPs: Matthew Stafford, QB (202 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs passing), Cam Akers, RB (95 scrimmage yards), Odell Beckham Jr., WR (4 rec, 54 yards, 1 TD receiving, 40 yards passing), David Long Jr., CB (1 tackle, 1 pick-six)