NFL Wildcard Review
Hey all, it has been a crazy weekend in America as the NFL enters the busiest month of the whole season. It's playoffs time and this weekend saw the start of the whole month with the wildcard round. If you are wondering why there is a playoff round called wildcard please bear with me as I explain how the NFL playoffs work. The NFL playoffs are done with six teams each from the NFC and AFC. The way they do it is by ranks, from one to six depending on records and where they finished in their divisions. The first four seeds are the winners of the four divisions in the respective conferences and the 5th and 6th seeds go to the non-divisions and are determined by their regular season record with the most wins. For example, the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC are the number one seed as they won their division and had the best record at 13 wins. The way they schedule it is the same as the football league playoffs highest seed play the lowest seed. So for this weekend, it was 3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th.
In the NFC the matches were last years Super Bowl runners-up Atlanta going to the LA Coliseum to face a resurgent Rams side that is on the up and want to give the fans in LA a big weekend and the divisional rivals Carolina Panthers going to the Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints. The AFC games featured three teams who have suffered long playoff droughts (which means since they last entered the playoffs), The Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and the Tennesse Titans. The matches are the Buffalo Bills, that had a stroke of luck from another game when the team that was also challenging for the playoffs lost the game, going to Jacksonville and one of the toughest defences in the NFL. The other game is the Tennesee Titans going to the Kansas City Chiefs, who have bounced back from the horrible midseason games they played to go to the playoffs.
The first game was the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were playing in their first playoffs since 2008 while the Chiefs are trying to win the first playoff game at their stadium since 1994 when Hall of Famer Joe Montana was their starting quarterback. The Chiefs have been the team that has made fans confused because of their season, they started 5-0, including beating the New England Patriots on opening night, then fell to 6-6 then won the last four games, meanwhile the Titans finished 2nd in their division with a 9-7 record with a rookie head coach in Mike Mularkey and Marcus Mariota in quarterback in terms of playoffs. The first touchdown came courtesy of Kareem Hunt halfway into the first quarter on a one-yard run play. The second came courtesy of an Alex Smith pass to tight end Travis Kelce. The first quarter finished 14-0 Chiefs. Titans got their first points thanks to a field goal. The last play of the first half was a 14-yard touchdown pass to take the Chiefs to a 21-3 lead going into halftime. The first touchdown of the second half came courtesy of the Titans of a deflected pass back to Mariota after the Titans spent 8 and a half minutes of a 15 minute quarter with the ball. Chiefs on the next drive missed a field goal to keep a 14 point lead. Titans started the 4th quarter with a Derrick Henry 35 yard touchdown to make 21-16. Titans took the lead thanks to a 22-yard pass to Eric Decker by Mariota with 6 minutes left the game. There was drama at the end of the game when the Chiefs thought they had a fumble recovery for a touchdown with less than two minutes to go but it ended up being a tackle with the player possessing the ball. That was the last major part of the action as it finished 22-21 Titans. With Jacksonville winning their game on Sunday it meant that the Titans would have to go to New England next week.
The second game on Saturday was last seasons runners-up Atlanta Falcons going to the Number one offence in the league the LA Rams. While the Falcons are back after the Super Bowl headlines, the Rams are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Also, it was the first playoff game for the Rams in LA since January 1986. If Atlanta wins they go to the highest seed which means they go to the Eagles and if the Rams win they go to Minnesota next week. The first couple of minutes are dominated by both of the defences. Until a muffed punt return gave the ball to Atlanta on the LA 17 yard line, however, the Rams defence limited the Falcons to a 29-yard field goal. The Falcons near the end of the game scores a 51-yard field goal to make it 6-0, and then Returner Pharoah Cooper fumbled the return which was the last major action of the first quarter. The first touchdown goes to the Falcons of a four-yard run by Devonta Freeman to make it 13-0. The Rams finally scored a touchdown courtesy of a 19-yard pass from Jared Goff to Cooper Kupp to make it 13-7. The Rams ended up kicking a field goal to make it 13-10 at halftime. The first points of the second half was a field goal to the Falcons to make it 16-10 after having the ball for 8 minutes. The last score of the third quarter was another field goal to make it 19-10. The Rams on the next drive then scored a field goal to make it 19-13. The next score was an 8-yard pass from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones to make it 26-13 to the Falcons. The Rams had two chances to get another touchdown to make it a 6 point game with less than two minutes to go in the game but the Falcons defence did a great job preventing them getting to the end zone. With the result going to Falcons it meant that it would be Matt Ryan vs Nick Foles in the "City of Brotherly love" in the divisional round next week.
Sunday's first game was the Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills were back in the playoffs for the first time since 1999 which was the longest drought in the NFL. Meanwhile the Jaguars haven't been to the playoffs for a decade. The game between the two long drought teams ended up being a showcase for the Jacksonville Defence which is rated number two in the whole league on national television and they won their first playoff game in 10 years by beating the Bills 10-3. The Jaguars defence stopped the main threat on the offence for the Bills LeSean McCoy and while the Bills stopped the Jaguars from running up the score the one touchdown was enough to win the game. The result meant that the Jaguars would have to go to Pittsburgh who they beat 30-9 earlier in the season and intercepted Ben Roethlisberger 5 times.
The final game of the weekend was an NFC South rivalry between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. Both teams ended up with the same record at 11-5, however, because 2 of New Orleans wins were against the Panthers it meant that the game was played at New Orleans home stadium. Both teams have been to the playoffs before except whereas the Panthers have been to two Super Bowls and lost both the Saints have been to one Super Bowl and won it, but that was in 2009. Another problem is the difference in quarterbacks. Carolina has the league MVP of two years ago but he blows hot one game and cold another week. The Saints have a top 5 quarterback in Drew Brees and definitely will be in the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible to be selected. The first major act was the Panthers kicker missing a 25-yard field goal to the right. On the next drive, New Orleans responded with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Ted Ginn Jr within 18 seconds. That turned out to be the last big play of the first quarter as the Saints led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Panthers started the second quarter with a field goal. The Saints were continuing their dominance a couple of minutes later with a nine-yard touchdown to Josh Hill. The Panthers then got two field goals to keep themselves in the game. The Saints then finished off the first half with a one-yard rush for a touchdown to make it 21-6, then the Panthers drove to make the kicker who missed at 25 yards go for a 58-yard field goal attempt, which he made to make it 21-9 at halftime. The Panthers started well for the Panthers driving to the Saints ten-yard line but Newton was sacked and the result was another field goal making it 21-12. The Saints then responded with a 57-yard field goal to make it 24-12 Saints, which was how the 3rd quarter ended. The Panthers started the 4th quarter with a crucial touchdown from Newton to Greg Olsen and made it a 5 point game with 12 minutes to go. The big talking point then came when Newton went down with what looked like a concussion. The Saints then capitalised on a demoralised Panthers with a big drive with Alvin Kamara running on a 2-yard touchdown. Then the Panthers responded with a pass to Rookie Christian McCaffrey for a 56-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-26. The Panthers ended up on the Saints final drive getting an interception and had to go 69 yards with less than 2 minutes to go. The Panthers ended up being short after the Saints defence on the last play of the game sacked Newton.
Next week is the divisional round of the playoffs and I will be reviewing the matches as they happen again see you next week.
KRO Mark
In the NFC the matches were last years Super Bowl runners-up Atlanta going to the LA Coliseum to face a resurgent Rams side that is on the up and want to give the fans in LA a big weekend and the divisional rivals Carolina Panthers going to the Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints. The AFC games featured three teams who have suffered long playoff droughts (which means since they last entered the playoffs), The Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and the Tennesse Titans. The matches are the Buffalo Bills, that had a stroke of luck from another game when the team that was also challenging for the playoffs lost the game, going to Jacksonville and one of the toughest defences in the NFL. The other game is the Tennesee Titans going to the Kansas City Chiefs, who have bounced back from the horrible midseason games they played to go to the playoffs.
The first game was the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were playing in their first playoffs since 2008 while the Chiefs are trying to win the first playoff game at their stadium since 1994 when Hall of Famer Joe Montana was their starting quarterback. The Chiefs have been the team that has made fans confused because of their season, they started 5-0, including beating the New England Patriots on opening night, then fell to 6-6 then won the last four games, meanwhile the Titans finished 2nd in their division with a 9-7 record with a rookie head coach in Mike Mularkey and Marcus Mariota in quarterback in terms of playoffs. The first touchdown came courtesy of Kareem Hunt halfway into the first quarter on a one-yard run play. The second came courtesy of an Alex Smith pass to tight end Travis Kelce. The first quarter finished 14-0 Chiefs. Titans got their first points thanks to a field goal. The last play of the first half was a 14-yard touchdown pass to take the Chiefs to a 21-3 lead going into halftime. The first touchdown of the second half came courtesy of the Titans of a deflected pass back to Mariota after the Titans spent 8 and a half minutes of a 15 minute quarter with the ball. Chiefs on the next drive missed a field goal to keep a 14 point lead. Titans started the 4th quarter with a Derrick Henry 35 yard touchdown to make 21-16. Titans took the lead thanks to a 22-yard pass to Eric Decker by Mariota with 6 minutes left the game. There was drama at the end of the game when the Chiefs thought they had a fumble recovery for a touchdown with less than two minutes to go but it ended up being a tackle with the player possessing the ball. That was the last major part of the action as it finished 22-21 Titans. With Jacksonville winning their game on Sunday it meant that the Titans would have to go to New England next week.
The second game on Saturday was last seasons runners-up Atlanta Falcons going to the Number one offence in the league the LA Rams. While the Falcons are back after the Super Bowl headlines, the Rams are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Also, it was the first playoff game for the Rams in LA since January 1986. If Atlanta wins they go to the highest seed which means they go to the Eagles and if the Rams win they go to Minnesota next week. The first couple of minutes are dominated by both of the defences. Until a muffed punt return gave the ball to Atlanta on the LA 17 yard line, however, the Rams defence limited the Falcons to a 29-yard field goal. The Falcons near the end of the game scores a 51-yard field goal to make it 6-0, and then Returner Pharoah Cooper fumbled the return which was the last major action of the first quarter. The first touchdown goes to the Falcons of a four-yard run by Devonta Freeman to make it 13-0. The Rams finally scored a touchdown courtesy of a 19-yard pass from Jared Goff to Cooper Kupp to make it 13-7. The Rams ended up kicking a field goal to make it 13-10 at halftime. The first points of the second half was a field goal to the Falcons to make it 16-10 after having the ball for 8 minutes. The last score of the third quarter was another field goal to make it 19-10. The Rams on the next drive then scored a field goal to make it 19-13. The next score was an 8-yard pass from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones to make it 26-13 to the Falcons. The Rams had two chances to get another touchdown to make it a 6 point game with less than two minutes to go in the game but the Falcons defence did a great job preventing them getting to the end zone. With the result going to Falcons it meant that it would be Matt Ryan vs Nick Foles in the "City of Brotherly love" in the divisional round next week.
Sunday's first game was the Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills were back in the playoffs for the first time since 1999 which was the longest drought in the NFL. Meanwhile the Jaguars haven't been to the playoffs for a decade. The game between the two long drought teams ended up being a showcase for the Jacksonville Defence which is rated number two in the whole league on national television and they won their first playoff game in 10 years by beating the Bills 10-3. The Jaguars defence stopped the main threat on the offence for the Bills LeSean McCoy and while the Bills stopped the Jaguars from running up the score the one touchdown was enough to win the game. The result meant that the Jaguars would have to go to Pittsburgh who they beat 30-9 earlier in the season and intercepted Ben Roethlisberger 5 times.
The final game of the weekend was an NFC South rivalry between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. Both teams ended up with the same record at 11-5, however, because 2 of New Orleans wins were against the Panthers it meant that the game was played at New Orleans home stadium. Both teams have been to the playoffs before except whereas the Panthers have been to two Super Bowls and lost both the Saints have been to one Super Bowl and won it, but that was in 2009. Another problem is the difference in quarterbacks. Carolina has the league MVP of two years ago but he blows hot one game and cold another week. The Saints have a top 5 quarterback in Drew Brees and definitely will be in the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible to be selected. The first major act was the Panthers kicker missing a 25-yard field goal to the right. On the next drive, New Orleans responded with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Ted Ginn Jr within 18 seconds. That turned out to be the last big play of the first quarter as the Saints led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Panthers started the second quarter with a field goal. The Saints were continuing their dominance a couple of minutes later with a nine-yard touchdown to Josh Hill. The Panthers then got two field goals to keep themselves in the game. The Saints then finished off the first half with a one-yard rush for a touchdown to make it 21-6, then the Panthers drove to make the kicker who missed at 25 yards go for a 58-yard field goal attempt, which he made to make it 21-9 at halftime. The Panthers started well for the Panthers driving to the Saints ten-yard line but Newton was sacked and the result was another field goal making it 21-12. The Saints then responded with a 57-yard field goal to make it 24-12 Saints, which was how the 3rd quarter ended. The Panthers started the 4th quarter with a crucial touchdown from Newton to Greg Olsen and made it a 5 point game with 12 minutes to go. The big talking point then came when Newton went down with what looked like a concussion. The Saints then capitalised on a demoralised Panthers with a big drive with Alvin Kamara running on a 2-yard touchdown. Then the Panthers responded with a pass to Rookie Christian McCaffrey for a 56-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-26. The Panthers ended up on the Saints final drive getting an interception and had to go 69 yards with less than 2 minutes to go. The Panthers ended up being short after the Saints defence on the last play of the game sacked Newton.
Next week is the divisional round of the playoffs and I will be reviewing the matches as they happen again see you next week.
KRO Mark
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