NFL super wildcard recap
Bills 27, Colts 24
This game was close for a bit, then the Bills started to roll. Buffalo led 24-10 with just over 14 minutes left in the game after Josh Allen completed a 35 yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs. Indy would answer with a 9 yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers to make it a 24-16 game after a failed two-point conversion. After a Tyler Bass field goal extended the lead, the Colts came back with a Jack Doyle 27 yard TD catch and converted the two-point play to make it 27-24 Buffalo with about six minutes left. The Colts' defense got a big stop to give the offense one more shot. They would drive down to the Bills' 47 yard line, but a Rivers Hail Mary fell short as time expired. The Bills get their first playoff win in 25 years.
Rams 30, Seahawks 20
The Rams defense was a big story in this one. LA held Seattle to 278 yards and just 20 points. Russell Wilson threw for a measly 174 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. The big play in the game came midway through the second quarter. Wilson attempted to throw a screen pass to DK Metcalf, but Rams' corner Darious Williams jumped the route and picked the ball off for an easy pick-six to give LA a 13-3 lead. The teams traded touchdowns and went to the locker room with LA leading 20-10. The second half was led by the defenses, neither of which allowed another touchdown until part way through the fourth. Unfortunately for Seattle, it was a Rams' touchdown to make the score 30-13. Wilson would find DK Metcalf for a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but that was it for the scoring. Both teams would turn the ball over on downs before the Rams were able to kneel out the clock.
Buccaneers 30, Washington 23
The Bucs offense is finding itself. Putting up 30 points against this Washington defense is nothing to sneeze at. The defense will need to be better if Tampa hopes to advance further. The Bucs took a 18-7 lead to the half, but Taylor Heinicke played Washington back into the game with two scoring drives in the third quarter and capitalizing on a Ke'Shawn Vaughn fumble to make the score 18-16. Tampa would add a field goal and a Leonard Fournette rushing touchdown to increase the lead to 12 in the fourth. Heinicke would find Steven Sims Jr for a touchdown to cut into the lead again, and the Washington defense forced a field goal to keep the score within one possession. After moving the ball to near midfield, Heinicke was sacked on a crucial third down. Washington's hopes ended as the ball fell incomplete on 4th & 21.
Ravens 20, Titans 13
The Ravens got a huge performance from their defense-- holding Tennessee's offense to just 209 total yards and keeping Derrick Henry to only 40 rushing yards. The Titans took an early 10-0 lead, but Baltimore seized momentum with a 48 yard TD run by QB Lamar Jackson to tie the game at 10. Baltimore would march right down the field for a J.K. Dobbins touchdown run to take a 17-10 lead. Each team managed a field goal later in the game to make it 20-13. Tennessee had a chance to drive for the tie with 4:13 remaining, but Ryan Tannehill would be intercepted by Marcus Peters with 1:50 left.
Saints 21, Bears 9
It seemed pretty obvious that the Bears would be fighting an uphill battle in this one, but the Chicago defense played well against the Saints' offense. It was the offense that held Chicago back. The only score the Bears managed in the first half was field goal after recovering a fumble deep in New Orleans territory. It was a 7-3 game until Drew Brees found Latavius Murray for a six yard touchdown. The Saints would force the sixth Chicago punt of the game and go on a nearly nine minute drive to take a 21-3 lead. Chicago finally reached the endzone on a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham on the final play of the game.
Browns 48, Steelers 37
It's not often a quarterback throws for over 500 yards and four touchdowns in a losing effort, but that's exactly the case with Ben Roethlisberger. The Browns jumped on Pittsburgh from the get-go, recovering a fumble in the endzone on the first play from scrimmage. Roethlisberger threw interceptions on three of the next 4 Pittsburgh drives , leading to a 28-0 Cleveland lead. The Steelers found the endzone late in the the second quarter, but still trailed 35-10 at half. The second half performance would be much better for Pittsburgh, but the deficit was too daunting. The Brown dominated their way to their first playoff win in decades.