NFL 2023-2024 Divisionals Recap
AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Baltimore Ravens is the Saturday afternoon game. The team with no experience traveled on the road looking to unseat the best team in football with all the experience. The Texans got a win last week under rookie coach Demeco Ryan and rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. Yet John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson were the heavy favorites for a reason. Early on the Ravens moved from their own 25 to a 4th and 3 at the Houston 34. Justin Tucker is the best in the game, and he nailed a 53 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Ravens. A field position game had the Texans taking over at their own 45. They moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Baltimore 27. Stroud threw a pair of incompletions sandwiched around a delay of game. Kaimi Fairbairn hit a 50 yard field goal for a 3-3 game.
The Ravens began the second quarter at their own 24 Jackson scrambled for 23. Jackson went to Zee Flowers for 17. Gus Edwards gained 9. On 3rd and 1 from the Houston 28, Edwards gained 6. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 17, Jackson scrambled for 15 more. Jackson hit Nelson Agholor for a 3 yard touchdown to cap the 11 play, 76 yard, 6 minute drive to make it 10-3 Ravens. The Ravens defense was playing well and appeared to be taking control of the game when one play changed things. Steven Sims returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, with 4 minutes left in the half, the game was deadlocked 10-10. With 3:20 left, the Texans got the ball back at their own 27. They moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Baltimore 29. Stroud threw incomplete twice. With 40 seconds left, Fairbairn came in for a 47 yard field goal try to give the Texans the lead. Fairbairn was no good.
For Ravens fans, this was nerve-wracking. They were the heavy favorite to win it all in 2019. Yet the 14-2 Ravens went up in flames at home in the divisional round. 4 years later, they were in a street fight for survival at home in the divisional round against what should have been a much inferior opponent. Yet this time the Ravens came out fighting after halftime when Devin Duvernay returned the second half kickoff 37 yards to his own 45. Jackson went to Likely for 19 and Bateman for 9. Jackson ran for a 15 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Ravens. The Ravens got the ball back at their own 7. Edwards ran for 9 and 5. Jackson went to Bateman for 21. On 4th and 1 just past midfield, John Harbaugh gambled. Jackson got around the end for a 14 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Houston 27, Jackson hit Justice hill for 3. The fourth quarter began with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Likely to cap the 12 play, 93 yard, 7 minute drive and make it 24-10 Ravens.
One minute later the Ravens got the ball back at their own 22. Hill gained 9 and Jackson added 10 more. Hill gained 14 and 3. Cook ran for 19. On 3rd and 7 from the Houston 24, Jackson hit Zee Flowers for 11. Jackson ran for an 8 yard touchdown. 3 straight touchdown drives turned a deadlock into a blowout 31-10 Ravens lead. Tucker tacked on a 43 yard field goal just past the 2 minute warning to complete the scoring. 24 unanswered points on 4 straight scoring drives. got the Ravens back to the AFC Title Game for the first time since the 2012 season when they won it all. That year they had to win big games on the road. This time they will need to win one game at home to reach the Super Bowl. The Texans arrow is clearly trending upward, but the Ravens are just on another level. 34-10 Ravens
NFC: (7) Green Bay Packers at (1) San Francisco 49ers is the Saturday night game. In the 1995 season, a Packers team that barely bade the playoffs had to go into San Francisco in the divisional round and take on the defending champion 49ers. The Packers jumped to a 21-0 lead and never looked back in what became a changing of the guard. The 49ers dynasty that had won 5 Super Bowls was over, and a new gunslinger named Brett Favre would soon get the Packers to the top of the heap. Favre and Aaron Rodgers are long gone, as are Joe Montana and Steve Young. It was up to Jordan Love to try and engineer a shocking upset of Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy and the heavily favored 49ers.
The Packers began at their own 31 and moved 58 yards in 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 8 from the San Francisco 11, Love threw incomplete. Anders Carlson hit the 29 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Packers. The Packers got it back at their own 18 and moved 68 yards in 10 plays. The second quarter began with the Packers facing 3rd and 1 at the San Francisco 14. Aaron Jones got stopped cold. Matt LaFleur gambled and Love got stopped cold for no gain. Despite dominating the game, the Packers only led 3-0.
On 3rd and 1 from their own 23, Purdy gained 2. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Christian McCaffrey gained 3. Purdy hit Jennings for 16 and Brandon Aiyuk for 10. On 3rd and 5 from the Green Bay 32, Purdy went deep to George Kittle for the touchdown. Despite being totally outplayed, the 49ers led 7-3. After a touchback, the Packers moved to a 2nd and goal at the 9. Love completed a pass for a 2 yard loss and then threw incomplete twice. Carlson hit a 29 yard field goal to get the Packers within 7-6 with 4 minutes left in the half. The 49ers after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Green Bay 30 with 14 seconds left in the half. Purdy threw incomplete. Moody’s 48 yard field goal try was partially blocked.
In the third quarter the Packers faced 3rd and 1 from their own 34. Jones got the yard. On 3rd and 1 from their own 44, Love got the yard. On 3rd and 15 from their own 40, Love went deep incomplete. Defensive pass interference meant a 41 yard gain. On the next play Love went to Melton for a 19 yard touchdown made it 13-7 Packers. The 49ers soon faced 3rd and 6 at their own 29. Purdy went to Kittle for 32 yards. McCaffrey then raced for a 39 yard gain to make it 14-13 49ers. Yet the Packers were immediately knocking on the door when Nixon returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to the San Francisco 27, fumbled the ball, and had a teammate recovered it at the San Francisco 20. Love hit Romeo Doubs for 15. Love hit Kraft for a 2 yard touchdown. Matt LaFleur went for a 2 point conversion. Love hit Jones successfully as the Packers led 21-14.
The Packers got the ball back with a chance to extend the lead. Yet late in the third quarter, Love was intercepted. The 49ers took over with a short field at the Green Bay 48. That was enough for Moody to hit a 52 yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to get the 49ers within 21-17. The Packers moved from their own 10 to a 3rd and 9 at the San Francisco2 3. Love threw incomplete. With 6 1/2 minutes left, Carlson’s 41 yard field goal try was no good. It was a major blow to the Packers, who until then had all the momentum. The 49ers soon had 3rd and 1 at their own 40. Purdy gained 2. On 3rd and 5 from their own 47, Purdy hit Kittle for 10, Conley for 17, and Kittle for 8. On 3rd and 1 from the Green Bay 6, McCaffrey ran for the touchdown. With only 1:07 left, the 49ers had a 3 point lead. Yet after a touchback, Love had plenty of time to force a field goal try and overtime. Carlson needed to redeem himself. There would be no redemption. Love rolled to his left, threw against his body, and made the same type of reckless throw Favre would often make. Love was intercepted. It was scary, but the 49ers survived and will host the NFC Title Game next week. 24-21 49ers
NFC (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (3) Detroit Lions was the Sunday afternoon game. The Buccaneers staggered into the playoffs with a 9-8 record and managed to win a home game against a Philadelphia team that was melting down. The Lions survived a scare from the Rams to get one more home playoff game. The Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years and were the heavy favorites to win again. An early interception of Baker Mayfield was returned 12 yards by Gardner-Johnson to give the Lions a short field at the Tampa Bay 41. The Lions moved to a 2nd and goal at the 3. Jared Goff threw incomplete and a run then lost a yard. Mike Badly hit a 23 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Lions. After a touchback, the Buccaneers moved to a 4th and 9 at the Detroit 25. Chase McLaughlin hit a 43 yard field goal to make it 3-3.
The Lions soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. Goff gained 3. On 3rd and 2 from their own 45, Goff hit Amra St. Brown for 5. The second quarter began with the Lions facing 3rd and 4 at the Tampa Bay 44. Goff hit Sam Laporta for gains of 13, 2 and 15. On 3rd and 5 from the Tampa Bay 9, Goff went to Reynolds for the touchdown to make it 10-3 Lions. With 2 1/2 minutes left in the half, a 50 yard field goal try by McLaughlin doinked off the upright no good. With 1:40 left on 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Goff was sacked for a 4 yard loss. The Buccaneers got the ball back with 90 seconds left, but they were way back at their own 8 yard line. White ran for 11. On 3rd and 1 from their own 28, Mayfield ran for 14. With 35 seconds left, the Buccaneers were still at their own 42. Mayfield then went to Mike Evans for big gains of 27 and 29 down to the two. Mayfield hit Cade Otton for the 2 yard touchdown to finish the 92 yard drive with 15 seconds left for a 10-10 deadlock.
In the third quarter the Lions faced 3rd and 1 at their own 45. Goff went to Wright for 29. Goff hit St Brown for 11. On 2nd and goal at the one, Goff threw incomplete twice. It was time for a Dan Campbell gamble. On 4th and goal at the one, Reynolds got in for the touchdown to culminate the 10 play, 64 yard drive and put the Lions back in front 17-10. A touchback and a pair of defensive penalties had the Buccaneers at their own 35. Mayfield hit Otton for big gains of 9, 13 and 27. On 3rd and 10 from the Detroit 12, Mayfield went to White for the touchdown and a 17-17 game. 3 times the Lions took the lead, and 3 times the Buccaneers tied the game. The teams were tied after the first, second and third quarters.
After a touchback, the Lions began the fourth quarter facing 2nd and 4 at their own 31. Goff went to Gibbs for 12 and Reynolds for 19. Gibbs ran for 8 and then ripped off a 31 yard touchdown. With 13 minutes left in regulation, the Lions led again 24-17. One minute later the Lions got the ball back at their own 11. Goff went to Montgomery for 11 and Williams for 24. On 3rd and 15 from their own 44 after a sack, Goff hit St. Brown for 16, Gibbs for 20, LaPorta for 7, and St Brown for a 9 yard touchdown. With 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Lions now had a 31-17 lead.
The Buccaneers would not go away. After a touchback, Mayfield went to Godwin for 11. With 5 1/2 minutes left, the Buccaneers were down to their last gasp facing 4th and 14 at their own 32. Mayfield went to Evans for 24. Moore for 11, to Chris Godwin for 17, and to Evans again for a 16 yard touchdown. Todd Bowles went for an absolutely pointless 2 point conversion. A new NFL trend has teams down by 14 and scoring trying to cut the gap to 6 rather than 7. This trend is as annoying and pointless as deferring on the opening kickoff. Mayfield threw incomplete and the Buccaneers trailed by 8 with 4 1/2 minutes left. The Buccaneers held on defense and got the ball back at the 2 minute warning at their own 10. Yet 2 plays later, Mayfield went over the middle and Barnes made a diving interception. For the first time 32 years, the Detroit Lions are back in the NFC Title Game. 31-23 Lions
AFC: (3) Kansas City Chiefs at (2) Buffalo Bills was the Sunday night game. Three years ago the Bills reached the AFC Title Game but lost to the Chiefs in Kansas City. Two years ago the Bills went into Kansas City again, this time in the divisional round of the playoffs. In an epic game for the ages, Josh Allen gave the Bills a 36-33 lead with only 13 seconds left in regulation. The Bills were 13 seconds from the AFC Title Game. Instead, Patrick Mahoems worked a miracle as the Chiefs tied the game and won in overtime 42-36. Last year the Bills rode an emotional wave to the divisional round but were shocked at home by Cincinnati.
This year the Bills went into Kansas City in the regular season and stunned the Chiefs 20-17 when a thrilling hook and lateral Chiefs touchdown was wiped away by a controversial offsides call on the offense. Patrick Mahomes exploded and Travis Kelce tossed his helmet in rage. Yet the Chiefs had two Super Bowl rings in the last four years while the Bills were chasing their first ring. 30 years ago the Bills and Chiefs met in the AFC Title Game in Buffalo, which the Bills won. That was their fourth straight AFC Title Game victory followed by a fourth straight Super Bowl loss. The first Super Bowl loss came when Scott Norwood hit a 47 yard field goal try wide right.
The Bills began at their own 31 and moved to a 2nd and 6 at the Kansas City 7. Josh Allen completed a pass for a 2 yard loss and then threw incomplete. Tyler Bass hit a 27 yard field goal. The 14 play, 60 yard, 7 minute drive made it 3-0 Bills. After a touchback, the Chiefs moved to a 2nd and 4 at the Buffalo 28. Mahomes completed a pass for a one yard loss and then threw incomplete. Harrison Butker hit a 47 yard field goal for a 3-3 game. After a touchback, Allen hit Shakir for 6 and Johnson for 14. Johnson ran for 9 and 2. Cook ran for 6 and 7. Allen ran for 7 and Cook added 5 and 7 to start the second quarter. Allen ran for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 10-3 Bills.
After a touchback, the Chiefs moved to a 1st and goal at the 10. Mahomes threw incomplete twice sandwiched around a run that lost a yard. Butker hit a 29 yard field goal to get the Chiefs within 10-6. The Chiefs got the ball back at their own 35. Mahomes hit Gray for 12. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 28. Mahomes went to Travis Kelce for a 22 yard touchdown. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the half the Chiefs had their first lead up 13-10. After a touchback, Cook ran for 8 and 2. Allen went to Stefan Diggs for 15, and Latavius Murray for gains of 6 and 15. Allen ran for 18 and 5. On 3rd and 5 from the Kansas City 7, Allen hit Shakir for 5. Allen ran for a 2 yard touchdown to put the Bills up 17-13 with 26 seconds left.
After a third quarter touchback, Mahomes went to Marques Valdes-Scantling for 30. Mahomes ran for 24. Mahoems hit Pacheco for 14. Mahomes hit Kelce for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 20-17 Chiefs. The Bills soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. Johnson got the yard. Runs and short passes got the Bills to the Kansas City 42. Cook ran for 8 and 5. On 3rd and 2 from the Kansas City 21, Johnson gained 15. On 3rd and goal at the 13, Allen went to Shakir for the touchdown. The fourth lead change of the game had the Bills up 24-20 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a touchback, Pacheco ran for 6 and 12. Mahomes went to Valdes-Scantling for 32. Just 40 seconds into the fourth quarter, Pacheco ran for a 4 yard touchdown. The 5th lead change of the game had the Chiefs up by 3 again. With 13 minutes left in regulation, Sean McDermott gambled on a fake punt on 4th and 5 from his own 30. Damar Hamlin of all people had a chance to be the hero but he only gained 2 yards. Now the Chiefs had a chance to put the game away. Pacheco ran for 29. From the Buffalo 3, Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman for what was initially ruled a 2 yard gain. McDermott challenged the ruling, and it was reversed to a fumble through the end zone for a touchback. Officials got the call right.
The Bills went nowhere, but the Chiefs could not run out the clock. After an exchange of punts, the Bills got the ball back at their own 20 with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Bills embarked on a staggering 16 play drive that took over 6 1/2 minutes. On 4th and 3 from midfield with 5 minutes left, Allen went to Shakir for 10. At the 2 minute warning, the Bills already had 2nd and 9 from the Kansas City 26. That was enough time to win the game and leave no time left for Mahomes. At worst a very makable field goal would force overtime. Rather than run the ball and run down more clock, the Bills oddly called pass plays. Allen threw incomplete twice. The tying field goal try for Bass would only be 44 yards, but it would leave Mahomes more than 1:40 left to win the game.
It didn’t matter. 33 years after Norwood launched the kick wide right heard around the globe, Bass did the same. No good. In front of a shellshocked home crowd, the Bills had blown it again. They still had faint hopes with 2 timeouts left, but they needed a defensive stop. Pacheco gained 8 and 3 and the Bills were finished. Mahomes took 3 knees. For the fourth straight year, the Bills lost a playoff game in heart-breaking fashion. The Chiefs hosted the AFC Title Game in Arrowhead for 5 straight years. That streak has been snapped. They will have to go on the road this time. Yet for the 6th straight season, the Chiefs are competing for the Lamar Hunt Trophy and a trip to the Super Bowl. A third Super Bowl win in 5 years would make them a dynasty. Sean McDermott ended the Bills 20 year playoff drought and made them a perennial contender. Yet he will have to answer questions about why they can’t get over the hump. The Chiefs just keep winning, which makes Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 27-24 Chiefs
The Conference Title Games are set for Sunday, January 28th.
AFC Title Game: (3) Kansas City Chiefs at (1) Baltimore Ravens at 3pm on CBS.
NFC Title Game: (3) Detroit Lions at (1) San Francisco 49ers at 6:30pm on FOX.
eric