NFL 2024-2025 Divisionals Recap
The NFL 2024-2025 Wildcards are in the books. This weekend brings the Divisionals round.
AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs is the Saturday afternoon game. The 10-7 Texans did win a playoff game, but the 15-2 Chiefs lost their regular season finale because they played backups. The Chiefs offense isn’t as high octane as in years past but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has the top defense in the NFL. A few years ago the Texans took a 24-0 first quarter lead at Kansas City. By halftime the Chiefs led 28-24 en route to a 51-31 win. With Walrus Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they are always a threat. The Chiefs are seeking to reach the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year, with 6 of those 7 games being at home in Arrowhead. Another playoff game between these teams saw the Chiefs go into Houston, return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and throttle the Texans 30-0. In this game the Chiefs nearly did it again, returning the opening kickoff 63 yards, fumbling the ball, and retaining possession to start the game at the Houston 13. The Texans defense stiffened. Harrison Butker hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Chiefs. Kaimi Fairbairn answered from 30 and Butker hit again from 36 to make it 6-3 Chiefs.
In the second quarter Fairbairn missed a 55 yard field goal try to give the Chiefs good field position at their own 45. Mahomes went to Kelce for a 49 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Karim Hunt got in for the touchdown to make it 13-3 Chiefs. The Texans managed a 48 yard field Fairbairn goal with 16 seconds left in the half to get within 13-6. The Texans began the third quarter at their own 18 and went on a mind-numbing drive. 14 plays and 82 yards took a whopping 10 1/2 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 3 from their 25, Joe Mixon gained 8. On 3rd and 5 from midfield, CJ Stroud hit Dalton Schultz for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Kansas City 36, Stroud went to Collins for 12. On 3rd and 5 from the Kansas City 19, Stroud ran for 6. Mixon ran for a 13 yard touchdown. The Texans had all the momentum. Then Fairbairn doinked the extra point off the right upright no good. Instead of being tied, the Texans trailed 13-12.
The Chiefs after a pair of offensive penalties faced 1st and 19 at their own 10. On 3rd and 6, Mahomes went to Kelce for 12. Defensive unnecessary roughness added 15. The fourth quarter began with the Chiefs facing 4th and 1 at the Houston 37. Everyone knew Walrus Andy Reid was not going to punt or try a 55 yard field goal in that situation. He went for it and Hunt gained 3 yards. Hunt then gained 8 more. Mahomes went to Kelce for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 11, the Texans had Mahoems dead to right. As he was being sacked and falling to the ground, he threw the ball just before his knees hit the ground. Kelce caught the 11 yard touchdown to have the Chiefs up 20-12 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The Texans moved from their own 34 to a 1st and 10 at the Houston 40. Stroud threw incomplete three times. On 4th and 10 with 10 minutes left in the game, DeMeco Ryans did not want to punt or try a 58 yard field goal. He went for it and Stroud was sacked for a 16 yard loss.
Midway through the fourth quarter the Chiefs took over at their own 45 and moved to a 4th and 1 at the Houston 9. At this time Walrus Andy Reid understood that a field goal would make it a two score game. Butker hit from 27 to have the Chiefs up 23-12 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Needing 2 scores after a touchback, the Texans rushed to a 2nd and 2 at the Kansas City 5 yard line just before the 2 minute warning. Stroud was sacked on consecutive plays. On 4th and 14 and needing 2 scores, Fairbairn came in for the 35 yard chip shot field goal with 1:52 left. Fairbairn’s night of misery continued as his kick was blocked. The Chiefs punter took an intentional safety with 11 seconds left to prevent a blocked punt. Again, the Texans were good enough to make the playoffs and even win a playoff game but not good enough to compete with the elite. The Chiefs do not look that special on paper but games are not played on paper. On the field, the Chiefs keep winnings. They are in the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year and hosting the AFC Title Game for the 6th time in 7 years. This makes Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 23-14 Chiefs
NFC: (6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions is the Saturday night game. The Commanders are a very good football team. Jayden Daniels has been leading them to victories in Cardiac fashion. Yet the Detroit Lions are a wrecking ball. Yes, their defense is injury-riddled. At home in their dome, their pinball wizard offense can outscore anyone. Dan Campbell and Dan Quinn both take 4th down risks. Jared Goff and his many offensive weapons on the Lions are well rested from their bye week. The last time the Lions were in the NFC Title Game was in 1991. They got blasted by the Redskins, but that game was in Washington. 24 years later, the Divisional game is in Detroit. The Lions are the top seed for the first time ever. The Lions are one game from hosting the NFC Title Game for the first time ever. The Lions got a major break when Zane Gonzalez hit the opening kickoff out of bounds. The Lions took over at their own 40 and quickly went 3 and out. Their running bak got belted in the backfield and a 3rd and 15 pass from Jared Goff was dropped. The Commanders moved easily from their own 20 to a 4th and 1 at the Detroit 28. Dan Quinn decided to go for it. He brought in Marcus Mriota for one play to replace Jayden Daniels. Mariota got rocked for a one yard loss.
From their own 29, this time the Lions made it look easy. Goff hit Williams for 19. Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off big gains of 15, 23 and 9. Gibbs ran for the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Lions. After a touchback the Commanders moved to a 1st and 10 at the Detroit 29. Daniels threw incomplete three times. Gonzalez hit a 47 yard field goal to get the Commanders within 7-3. The Lions again quickly and easily moved from their own 27 to a 3rd and 1 at the Washington 17. The Lions had all the momentum but then Goff was sacked and fumbled. The Commanders took over at their own 22. Robinson gained 15 and 5. Daniels went deep to Brown for a 42 yard gain. On 4th and 3 from the Detroit 9, Dan Quinn passed up a chip shot 27 yard field goal try and went for it all. Daniels went to Zac Ertz for 7. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Daniels threw incomplete but defensive pass interference in the end zone meant 1st and goal at the one. Robinson ran for a 2 yard touchdown to hav the Commanders up 10-7 in the second quarter.
The Lions after a touchback soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 37. Goff went deep to Amra St Brown for 34. Gibbs gained 12. Goff went to Raymond for 15. Then on 1st and goal at the 2 came spectacular acrobatics. Goff was about to be sacked. As he was going to the ground he fired a pass just before his knees went down. The pass was slightly off the mark but Sam Laporta made a leaping one handed catch and pulled the ball into his body for the touchdown. The Lions led 14-10 midway through the second quarter. Yet one minute after a touchback the Commanders had the lead again. From his own 42, Daniels went to McLaurin at the sideline. He broke a tackle and gave a stiff-armed to an overmatched defender for a 58 yard touchdown and a 17-14 Commanders advantage. The Lions soon faced 2nd and 14 at their own 18. Goff went deep and was intercepted. Martin returned the interception 40 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Commanders were on the road beating up the heavily favored home team 24-14.
Making matters worse, Goff got poked in the eye on the play and had to come out. Teddy Bridgwater came out of retirement to be his backup. Dan Campbell does not take his foot off the gas. The Lions took over at their own 27. From his own 39 with a backup quarterback, Quinn called a trick play. A double lateral was taken by Gibbs all the way to the sideline and then back to the middle of the field. With a convoy of blockers, Gibbs coasted for a 61 yard touchdown. The Lions were right back in it down 24-21 with 4 minutes left tin the half. After a touchback Austin Ekeler ran for 8 and Daniels added 15 more. Daniels went deep to Brown for a 38 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 7 at the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Daniels hit Ertz for the touchdown to make it 31-21 Commanders. After a touchback the Lions had 1:46 to work with. The Lions quickly moved to a 1st and 10 at the Washington 29 with 35 seconds left. Goff went for it all but the ball was under thrown and intercepted in the end zone. Three first half turnovers by Goff had the Lions down by 10 at the half. The Commanders put up 28 points on 4 touchdowns in the second quarter. The teams combined for over 600 yards of offense in the first half alone. The Lions had 161 yards rushing in the first half while Daniels had 242 passing yards in the ridiculous pinball first half.
The Lions took over at their own 9 in the third quarter. David Montgomery ran for 11 and 8 with a defensive facemark adding 15. On 3rd and 10 from their own 43, Goff hit St Brown for 19. Montgomery threw a halfback option pass to St Brown for 20. Gibbs ran for an 8 yard touchdown to get the Lions right back in it down 31-28. After a touchback, the Commanders kept coming. Daniels ran for 14. Robinson ran for 6, 3, and on 3rd and 1 from the 25, one yard. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 16, Dan Quinn gambled. Daniels gained 3. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 5 at the start of the fourth quarter, Quinn gambled again. The Detroit defense suffered a killer penalty for having 12 men on the field. Robinson ran for a one yard touchdown to have the Commanders up 38-28. The Lions moved from their own 18 to their 46. Ben Johnson had called several successful trick plays, but the next one backfired. A halfback option pass by Williams was intercepted. The Commanders took over at their own 34. Ekeler immediately ripped off a 35 yard gain. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 13, Quinn gambled yet again. Daniels hit McLaurin for 12 down to the one. McNichols got the yard to have the Commanders up big 45-28 midway through the fourth quarter.
Needing 3 scores after a touchback, the Lions moved to a 4th and 8 at the Washington 19 with 5 minutes left. As much as Dan Campbell wanted to go for it, the Lions needed any points fast. Bates hit the 28 yard field goal to get the Lions within 14. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds to set up the Commanders at their own 40. They moved to a 4th nnd 1 at the Detroit 26. This time Dan quinn played it safe, knowing a field goal would ice the game. Yet Gonzelez from 44 was no good. The Lions had life. The Lions moved from their own 34 to a 3rd and 10 at the Washington 17 with 32 seconds left. They needed a touchdown, an onside kick, and a Hail Mary touchdown. They got none of it as Goff went to the end zone and was intercepted again. The franchise best 15-2 Lions went down in flames at home. The Curse of Bobby Layne will not be broken this year. They may lose offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs. Speaking of defense, the Lions for several weeks tried to hold together their injury riddled defense. Sadly, the roof finally caved in. The offense turned the ball over 5 times, including 4 turnovers by Goff, 3 interceptions and a fumble. Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC Title Game as a rookie. For the Commanders, they are in the NFC Title Game for the first time in 33 years. For the Lions, there is only more heartache. 45-31 Commanders
NFC: (4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles is the Sunday afternoon game. The 10-7 Rams won the NFC West and then knocked off 14-3 Minnesota in the Wildcard. Now they were at the 14-3 Eagles, who won the NFC East. In the regular season the Eagles went into Los Angeles and throttled the Rams 37-20. Saquon Barkley is running wild and gives the Eagles the advantage. As much of an offensive wizard as Sean McVay is, the Eagles have Barkley and the home field should. The Eagles with a win get back to the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years.
AFC: (3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills is the Sunday night game. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen were both in contention for the league MVP. The winner of this game goes to the AFC Title Game. The 13-4 Bills and 12-5 Ravens met early in the regular season, with the Ravens winning a 35-10 blowout. Yet that game was in Baltimore. The rematch is in Buffalo. Derrick Henry is running with authority but the Buffalo defense is stout. Both of these teams are phenomenal, but this is one game where the home field truly matters. The weather at kickoff is expected to be cold and bad, which is Buffalo weather.