What a fun week of football. Every game was solid and had some great moments. One of the best wildcard weekends I can remember. (5) Los Angeles Rams 34 @ (4) Carolina Panthers 31 This was a total "trap game" that almost swallowed the Rams whole. Matthew Stafford—who somehow looks better at 37 than he …
What a fun week of football. Every game was solid and had some great moments. One of the best wildcard weekends I can remember.
(5) Los Angeles Rams 34 @ (4) Carolina Panthers 31
This was a total “trap game” that almost swallowed the Rams whole. Matthew Stafford—who somehow looks better at 37 than he did at 27—had to go into “Super Bowl Mode” to survive. The Panthers actually led 31-27 late in the fourth after Bryce Young played the game of his life, but Stafford marched 71 yards in under two minutes to find Colby Parkinson for the winner. Puka Nacua was a favourite target all night, racking up 111 yards and two scores. Carolina fans are gutted, but they’ve finally got their franchise QB. The Rams didn’t look great, and they are lucky to survive. Another game like that and the Super Bowl dream would be over. Luckily for them, Matthew Stafford proved, even with a broken finger, why he is the MVP.
(7) Green Bay Packers 27 @ (2) Chicago Bears 31
Soldier Field was an absolute madhouse. The Bears were down 21-3 at the half, and I’m pretty sure half the city was ready to riot. Then Caleb Williams happened. The kid threw for 361 yards (a Bears playoff record!) and turned the fourth quarter into his personal highlight reel. His 25-yard dart to DJ Moore with a minute left was pure magic. Jordan Love’s last-second prayer was swatted down, and Chicago officially ended the “Packers Own the North” era. It was beautiful. The Pack have some serious questions as they are unable to break that barrier again.
(6) Buffalo Bills 27 @ (3) Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Josh Allen is not a human being; he’s a 240-pound glitch in the matrix. Despite getting absolutely battered and spending half the game in the medical tent, Allen willed the Bills to their first road playoff win in over 30 years. He scrambled for a 1-yard TD to take the lead, and then rookie Cole Bishop sealed the deal with a massive interception on Trevor Lawrence. The “Bills Mafia” is probably still celebrating somewhere in the Jacksonville suburbs. Allen stud.
(6) San Francisco 49ers 23 @ (3) Philadelphia Eagles 19
The wheels have officially fallen off in Philly. The Eagles’ offence completely choked in the second half, managed by a 49ers defence that just wouldn’t bend. Brock Purdy remained the coolest guy in the room, finding Christian McCaffrey for a late 4-yard TD to put the Niners ahead for good. Quinyon Mitchell had two picks for the Eagles, but it wasn’t enough to save a team that looked like it had no identity when the pressure mounted. AJ Brown also made many crucial drops in the game, aswell as getting in his coach’s face. The Eagles’ offence will have some major changes, as it was brutal this year.
(7) Los Angeles Chargers 3 @ (2) New England Patriots 16
If you like touchdowns, you hated this game. If you like defensive masterclasses, you’re currently re-watching the tape. The Patriots’ defence treated Justin Herbert like a human tackling dummy, sacking him six times. Drake Maye played a “safety-first” game, using his legs to keep drives alive before finally hitting Hunter Henry for the only TD of the night. It wasn’t flashy, but Foxborough in January is a nightmare for a reason. Justin Herbert is now 0-3 in the playoffs. The Chargers will now go back to the drawing board after firing their horrid OC.
(5) Houston Texans 30 @ (4) Pittsburgh Steelers 6
This was hard to watch if you’re a fan of the “legendary QB” narrative. The Texans didn’t just beat the Steelers; they dismantled them. Houston’s defence scored as many touchdowns as the Steelers’ offence scored points. Sheldon Rankins had a scoop-and-score, and Calen Bullock took a Rodgers pass 50 yards to the house. Rodgers looked every bit of 42 years old, getting sacked four times and finishing with a career-low playoff rating. The Texans are officially the dark horse nobody wants to touch right now. For the Steelers, it looks like the Rodge is done, and Mike Tomlin has resigned as they will be set to look for a new coach + likely a new QB. The Texans will now have a real test with the Patriots.
The field is down to the elite eight, and the matchups are elite.
| Date | Matchup | Location |
| Saturday | (6) Bills @ (1) Broncos | Mile High Stadium |
| Saturday | (6) 49ers @ (1) Seahawks | Lumen Field |
| Sunday | (5) Texans @ (2) Patriots | Gillette Stadium |
| Sunday | (5) Rams @ (2) Chicago Bears | Soldier Field |
GO RAMS BABY
