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 was 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. The Eagles took over at their own 26 and went right to work. Jalen Hurts hit Dallas Goedert for 14. On 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Saquon Barkley got the tough yard up the gut. Hurts then split the defense and raced for a 44 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 6-0 only 3 minutes into the game. The extra point was no good.
The Rams soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 36. Matthew Stafford went to Tyler Higbee for 9. Karen Williams ran for 20. Stafford hit Puka Nacua for 16. On 4th and 1 from the Philadelphia 10, Sean McVay went for it. Williams gained 4. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Stafford went to Higbee for the touchdown to make it 7-6 Rams. Yet light snow that started before the opening kickoff was now turning into heavy snow. The eagles took over at their own 17 and gained 15 yards due to defensive unnecessary roughness. On 3rd and 4 from their own 38, Barkley broke free and raced for a 62 yard touchdown to make it 13-7 Eagles after the first quarter. After a touchback the Rams in the second quarter moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Philadelphia 11. Williams got the carry and lost a yard. Sean McVay decided this time no to gamble. Joshua Karty hit the 30 yard field goal to get the Rams within 13-10. A strong kickoff return had the Eagles at their own 43. They moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Rams 30. Jalen Hurts was sacked to push the Eagles out of field goal range. The Eagles got it back at their own 9 and moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Rams 32 with 30 seconds left in the half. Again, Hurts was sacked to kill the drive.
The Rams in the third quarter moved from their own 26 to a 1st and goal at the 8. A fumbled handoff exchange led to a 6 yard loss. On 3rd and goal from the 13, Stafford was sacked. Karty hit from 34 for a 13-13 game midway through the third quarter. The Eagles after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 22. a 19 yard completion from Hurts to Goedert was wiped out by a penalty for an ineligible man downfield. Hurts was then sacked. Elliott hit a 44 yard field goal to have the Eagles leading 16-13 late in the third quarter. Just before the third quarter ended, a great Rams punt pinned the Eagles at their own 4 yard line. From his own 8, Hurts went back to pass and was sacked in his own end zone for a safety. The Rams were within 16-15 after three quarters. The Rams took the free kick at their own 35. From their own 43, disaster struck when Williams fumbled and Rodgers returned it 40 yards to the Rams 10. On 4th and goal at the one, Nick Sirianni went for it. Everyone knew the tush push was coming. Hurts crossed the goal line but a false start killed the drive. Elliott hit the 23 yard field goal to have the Eagles up 19-15 only 90 seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Rams got it back at their own 29. On 3rd and 10 from their own 45, Stafford was sacked and fumbled. The Eagles recovered at the Rams 38. On 4th and 4, Nick Sirianni did not want to try a 50 yard field goal in a blizzard. He went for it and Hurts hit AJ Brown for 9. On 3rd and 4 from the Rams 17, Barkley got the carry up the gut and got stopped in the backfield for a 2 yard loss. Elliott’s 36 yard field goal was good as the Eagles led 22-15 with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Rams failed to move and punted the ball away. The Eagles took over at their own 22. The Rams defense desperately needed a stop. Instead, Barkley broke free and turned out the lights with a 78 yard touchdown run. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the Eagles had a 28-15 lead. Again, the extra point was no good. The game at this point appeared over.
After a touchback, the Rams were in desperation mode. Stafford went to Nacua for 21, to Whitting for 12, to Tutu Atwell for 18, to Higbee for 6, and to Cooper Kupp for 11. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Stafford went to Parkinson for the touchdown. With 2:48 to play the Rams were within 28-22. After a touchback, the Eagles needed to play smash mouth and close out the game. The Rams needed to stop them. This was power football in the trenches in the snow. On 2nd and 7, Hurts tried a play action pass but instead was taken down for a 12 yard loss. The Rams had life. They got the ball back with 2 1/2 minutes left at their own 18 needing only one touchdown to win. The Rams were out of timeouts except for the 2 minute warning.
Stafford hit Higbee for 5 and Kupp for 8 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and 10 from his own 31, Stafford fired over the middle to Robinson. Stafford then went bombs away to Nacua, who made a leaping catch near the sideline and somehow got both feet down for a miracle catch. On 3rd and 2 from the Philadelphia 13, a bull rush up the middle buried Stafford for a sack and a 9 yard loss. Everything came down to 4th and 11 with 35 seconds left and the clock ticking. Stafford went to the sideline incomplete. The Eagles had survived. Barkley finished with 205 yards on the ground on 26 carries, nearly 8 yards per carry. The Rams were game, but the Eagles will be back in the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years. Again, they will be playing the game at home. 28-22 Eagles
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 was cold and bad, 11 degree Buffalo weather. There was snow on the ground and snow coming down. The Ravens began facing 3rd and 8 at their own 29. Lamar Jackson ran for 9. Jackson went deep to Isaiah likely for 39. On 3rd and 3 from the Buffalo 16, Jackson went to Rashad Bateman for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. After a touchback the Bills soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 32. Josh Allen went deep to Shakir for 34. Sean McDermott gambled on 4th and 2 from the Baltimore 26. Allen gained 7. James Cook ran for 8, 6 and 4. Davis got the last yard to tie the game 7-7.
In the second quarter the Ravens moved from their own 9 yard line to a 2nd and 10 at the Buffalo 28. Jackson got sacked and fumbled. Von Miller picked up the fumble and rumbled 39 yards to the Buffalo 24. Allen went to Shakir for 13. Allen got the one yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Bills. The Ravens moved from their own 35 to a 1st and goal at the 2. Henry lost a yard. Then Jackson was sacked. Justin Tucker hit the 26 yard field goal to get the Ravens within 14-10. After a touchback Allen hit Cook for 7. Davis ran for 16 and 9. On 3rd and 5 from the Baltimore 30, Allen threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant an 18 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Baltimore 4, Allen bulled his way in with help from his offensive line. With 16 seconds left in the half, the Bills had a 21-10 lead.
In the third quarter the Ravens moved from their own 36 to a 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 27. A run lost a couple yards and a delay of game killed the drive. Tucker hit from 47 to get the Ravens within 21-13. The Ravens got it back and soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 29. Henry gained 17. Jackson went to Mark Andrews for 12. Justice Hill ran for 22. Henry ran for 15 and then for the 5 yard touchdown to get the Ravens within 21-19. The 2 point try to tie the gam failed. After a touchback the Bills moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Baltimore 33. Allen threw incomplete twice. Trying a 51 yard field goal in brutal cold is like asking a kicker to kick a brick. Sean McDermott did, and Bass delivered for a 24-19 Bills lead with 12 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback the Ravens soon faced 2nd and 11 at their own 40. Jackson went to Andrews for 16, but Andrews had the ball poked out. The Bills recovered the fumble at their own 46 with 8 1/2 minutes left.
The Bills moved to a 3rd and goal at the 2, taking 5 minutes off the clock. A touchdown would all but turn out the lights. Allen out of the shotgun faked the handoff and kept the ball. He went up the middle and into a Baltimore brick wall for no gain. On 4th and goal at the 2, the decision was a very easy one. Sean McDermott went with the field goal. Bass hit from 20 to make it 27-19 Bills with 3 1/2 minutes left. The Ravens could tie the game with a touchdown drive but not win it. A kickoff penalty on the receiving team had the Ravens taking over at their own 12 yard line. On 3rd and 2, Jackson hit Hill for 3. Jackson went to Wallace for 27. Jackson found Andrews for 19. Jackson then with all the time in the world fired over the middle to Likely for a 24 yard touchdown. With 90 seconds left, everything came down to the 2 point conversion. Jackson found a wide open Andrews in the flat. There was nobody near him. The ball was perfectly thrown. Andrews had it in his belly.
He dropped it. Andrews is the all time Baltimore receiving leader. Yet this one just got away. Blame the snow. If you’re Milli Vanilli, blame it on the rain. Blame the sleet. The onside kick failed and the Bills ran out the clock. In a thrilling game between two great teams, the Ravens are done for the year. As for the Bills, last year they lost to Kansas City in the Divisional round. That game was at home in Buffalo. This year the Bills gave the Chiefs their only loss of the year not counting the finale when Kansas City played their backups. That regular season game the Bills won was also in Buffalo. Yet this AFC Title Game will be in Kansas City. This game and next week’s game is why we watch football. 27-25 Bills
The Conference Championship Games are set.
AFC Title Game: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
NFC Title Game: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles