The NFL playoffs have arrived, and the objective is simple.
Win or go home.
Super Bowl 57 is on the horizon but only two teams will punch their ticket. It takes three wins to secure the exclusive invitation. This weekend, 12 teams begin their postseason slate during “Super Wild Card Weekend.”
Each team will face an opponent they have already played this season.
An NFC West rivalry was renewed on Saturday afternoon. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this season, while the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off the third-largest postseason comeback in NFL history against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Sunday slate. Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw 352 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the victory. The New York Giants picked up a win in the afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals renew their AFC North rivalry in prime time.
The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers conclude Super Wild Card Weekend. Can the Cowboys spoil another Tom Brady playoff run?
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Here’s a rundown of all the wild-card action around the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers 41, Seattle Seahawks 23
Briefly: Despite fighting hard in the first half, the Seattle Seahawks could not keep up with the red hot San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card opener. Brock Purdy led San Francisco’s high-powered offense with four total touchdowns and 332 passing yards. Christian McCaffrey added 136 total yards and was on the receiving end of one of the scores. Despite the loss, Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf had 10 receptions for 136 yards and caught both of Geno Smith’s touchdown passes. The San Francisco defense quieted them in the second half, led by 11 tackles from Dre Greenlaw and two sacks from Charles Omenihu.
One highlight to know: With 2:31 left in the third quarter and the 49ers up 23-17, the pocket collapsed around Smith and Omenihu sacked him. The quarterback lost hold of the football in the frenzy and NFL sack leader Nick Bosa jumped on the ball for the fumble recovery. The play squashed any momentum the Seahawks had.
Next up: The 49ers move on to the divisional round and will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks’ season is over.
Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Los Angeles Chargers 30
Briefly: The Chargers seemed poised to advance to the divisional round following five takeaways in the first half, but Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars to a 27-point comeback to beat the Chargers 31-30, which marked the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. It was simply a tale of two halves for Lawrence. He had 77 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in the first half, but Lawrence finished the game with 288 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. “You couldn’t write a crazier script,” Lawrence said afterwards.
One highlight to know: Trailing 30-28 with 3:09 left in the game, Lawrence led the Jaguars on a 61-yard game-winning drive. The Jaguars converted a pivotal fourth-and-1 play with Travis Etienne’s 25-yard run to set up Riley Patterson’s 36-yard field goal as time expired.
Next up: The Jaguars lived to fight another day. Their divisional round playoff opponent and destination will be determined by the results of Sunday’s AFC games. The Chargers, however, are going home.
Buffalo Bills 34, Miami Dolphins 31
Briefly: The AFC East rivals turned in a signature slugfest on Sunday. The Dolphins, led by rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, were big underdogs heading into the action. However, Miami proved the future is bright for their organization. The Dolphins threw everything at the Bills. They forced Bills quarterback Josh Allen to throw two interceptions and fumble three times. Miami also overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half. Still, it wasn’t enough to thwart the Bills. Buffalo made several clutch plays late to avoid a colossal postseason loss. Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, who had an interception, broke up a fourth-and-6 late in the fourth quarter. He knocked away a pass to Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. On the following drive, Bills running back Devin Singletary rumbled for a late first down to secure the victory.
One highlight to know: Bills receiver Gabe Davis has a knack for big-game performances. On Sunday, Davis hauled in a 23-yard touchdown to extend the Bills lead to 10 points. Davis finished with six catches for 113 yards and the score.
Next up: The Bills advanced to the AFC divisional round. The Dolphins season ended with the loss.
New York Giants 31, Minnesota Vikings 24
Briefly: The New York Giants became the first road team to pick up a playoff win this season, outdueling the Minnesota Vikings in a back-and-forth affair. Giants QB Daniel Jones became the first quarterback in NFL playoff history to throw for at least 300 yards, run for at least 70 and convert two passing touchdowns, according to the FOX TV broadcast. The Giants, after a 4-13 campaign in 2021, have put together an impressive comeback season behind first-year coach Brian Daboll. Giants RB Saquon Barkley also had two touchdowns Sunday, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins completed 31 of 39 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. T.J. Hockenson and Justin Jefferson combined for 17 receptions for Minnesota.
One highlight to know: Barkley had to fight for the end zone in this short-yardage score that put the Giants ahead for good with 7:47 left in the game.
Next up: The Giants advanced to the NFC divisional round. The Vikings’ season ended with the loss.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Ravens are expected to be without quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday. It’s a major blow to their chances against the Bengals in the wild-card round. Reserve quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown have been serviceable. However, the Bengals are a different entity. Week 18 provided a blueprint of both team’s current reality. The Bengals won 27-16 and forced four sacks and four turnovers. Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase hauled in eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. It could be a similar story on Sunday night.
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, ABC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: Tom Brady has another chance to win his eighth Super Bowl title. Despite a turbulent season that resulted in an 8-9 losing record, Brady still has the Buccaneers in a prime position. Tampa Bay has a home playoff game against a challenging Dallas squad. Brady is 7-0 in his career against the Cowboys. However, Dallas arrives with confidence. Key players have returned since their Week 1 loss against Tampa Bay. Expect the Cowboys to rely on running back duo Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to control the line of scrimmage. This could be a close encounter where a mistake can sway the outcome of the game.
