Herbert Leads Los Angeles AFC to Commanding Victory Over Jacksonville
Los Angeles AFC 48, Jacksonville 27
Jacksonville, FL – January 20, 2024
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles AFC squad made a statement in their divisional round matchup against Jacksonville, cruising to a 48-27 victory. Herbert was dominant, passing for 266 yards and four touchdowns, leading an explosive offensive attack that overwhelmed Jacksonville from the start.
Jacksonville struck first, as Trevor Lawrence opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run. However, Los Angeles wasted no time responding, with Herbert launching a 67-yard bomb to Josh Palmer to tie the game at 7-7.
Los Angeles AFC took control in the second quarter, scoring 20 points behind touchdowns from Stone Smartt and Keenan Allen, plus a 43-yard touchdown run from Austin Ekeler. Jacksonville managed to stay within striking distance, thanks to a 53-yard field goal by Brandon McManus, but trailed 27-17 at halftime.
The second half belonged to Los Angeles. Herbert threw his fourth touchdown to Donald Parham, while Joshua Kelley added two rushing touchdowns to put the game out of reach. Jacksonville’s offense struggled to keep up, with only Travis Etienne’s fourth-quarter touchdown providing a late spark.
Los Angeles outgained Jacksonville 255-144 on the ground and controlled the tempo throughout. With this performance, Herbert and company move on to the AFC Championship in dominant fashion.
San Francisco Edges Dallas in Playoff Thriller
San Francisco 30, Dallas 26
Dallas, TX – January 20, 2024
A clutch performance from George Kittle helped San Francisco outlast Dallas 30-26 in a game filled with momentum shifts. Kittle was electric, hauling in six receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 58-yard score with just over a minute remaining.
San Francisco controlled much of the first half, taking a 13-3 lead thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan Mason. Dallas clawed back before halftime, however, as Malik Hooker’s pick-six and a 42-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey tied the game at 13-13.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter before the fourth turned into a shootout. Brock Purdy found Kittle for a 13-yard touchdown, but Dallas responded with a 3-yard rushing score by Tony Pollard and a late 38-yard field goal by Aubrey, giving them a 26-23 lead.
With time winding down, Purdy delivered the decisive blow – a deep strike to Kittle, who raced 58 yards for the game-winning score. The San Francisco defense then held strong, securing the victory and punching their ticket to the NFC Championship.
Tagovailoa and Miami Dominate Baltimore in Offensive Showcase
Miami 42, Baltimore 26
Miami, FL – January 21, 2024
Tua Tagovailoa put on a passing clinic, torching Baltimore for 401 yards and two touchdowns, leading Miami to a 42-26 victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
Baltimore struck first with a 41-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, but Miami took over from there. Raheem Mostert ran in an 8-yard score, and Tyreek Hill caught a 14-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa to give Miami a 14-10 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was all Miami, as Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. found the end zone, extending the lead to 28-10. In the fourth, Jaylen Waddle added another touchdown, while Alec Ingold sealed the victory with a late rushing score.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens tried to rally, but their 248 passing yards paled in comparison to Miami’s 401. Baltimore managed 16 fourth-quarter points, but it was far too late to make a difference.
With this dominant performance, Miami now advances, riding the momentum of their high-powered offense.
Green Bay Survives Seattle’s Late Surge in Playoff Battle
Green Bay 30, Seattle 24
Seattle, WA – January 21, 2024
Green Bay held off a furious Seattle comeback, securing a 30-24 win to advance in the playoffs. Jordan Love threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Dillon rushed for 89 yards, keeping Green Bay’s offense humming.
The game started slow, with Green Bay leading 7-0 after the first quarter thanks to a 33-yard touchdown pass from Love to Romeo Doubs. Seattle responded in the second with a 16-yard touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet, but Love countered with a 2-yard rushing score, giving Green Bay a 17-7 halftime lead.
Seattle stormed back in the second half. Noah Fant’s 11-yard touchdown reception and a 44-yard Jason Myers field goal tied the game at 17-17. However, Green Bay answered with a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks, regaining the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s Riq Woolen intercepted Love for an 87-yard pick-six, tying the game at 24-24 with 13:30 left. But Anders Carlson’s two clutch field goals in the final minutes secured the 30-24 win for Green Bay.
Green Bay dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for 35:27 and outgaining Seattle 169-91 on the ground. They now move on to the NFC Championship, keeping their Super Bowl hopes alive.
Divisional Round: Top Individual Performances
As the playoffs heat up, several players delivered standout performances in the divisional round. From quarterbacks lighting up the scoreboard to defensive players making game-changing plays, here’s a breakdown of the top individual performances across key positions.
Quarterbacks 🏈
🔥 Tua Tagovailoa (Miami) – 401 passing yards, 2 TDs, 111.4 QB rating
Tagovailoa shredded Baltimore’s defense, throwing for 401 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to spread the ball to Tyreek Hill (134 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (116 yards) made Miami’s offense unstoppable.
💪 Brock Purdy (San Francisco) – 301 passing yards, 2 TDs
Purdy stepped up in a clutch road victory over Dallas, delivering a game-winning 58-yard touchdown to George Kittle late in the fourth quarter. His poise under pressure was key in San Francisco’s win.
🚀 Jordan Love (Green Bay) – 298 passing yards, 2 TDs, 85.2 QB rating
Love led Green Bay’s offense with a balanced performance against Seattle. Despite throwing a costly interception, he made big plays, including a 33-yard TD pass to Romeo Doubs and a 63-yard strike to Christian Watson.
🎯 Justin Herbert (Los Angeles AFC) – 266 passing yards, 4 TDs
Herbert was incredibly efficient, throwing for four touchdowns in a dominant win over Jacksonville. His 67-yard touchdown to Josh Palmer was one of the highlights of the weekend.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends 🎯
🔥 Tyreek Hill (Miami) – 8 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD
Hill showed why he’s one of the league’s most explosive playmakers, burning Baltimore’s secondary for a 58-yard reception early and capping it off with a 14-yard TD.
💪 George Kittle (San Francisco) – 6 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TDs
Kittle dominated Dallas, catching the game-winning 58-yard touchdown and another key 13-yard score in the fourth quarter. His performance was pivotal in San Francisco’s victory.
⚡ Jaylen Waddle (Miami) – 6 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD
Waddle made crucial plays in Miami’s win, complementing Hill with big gains, including a 4-yard TD reception.
🏹 Keenan Allen (Los Angeles AFC) – 100 yards, 1 TD
Allen’s 60-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter helped Los Angeles AFC take control against Jacksonville.
🏆 Josh Palmer (Los Angeles AFC) – 78 yards, 1 TD
Palmer’s 67-yard touchdown in the first quarter set the tone for Los Angeles AFC’s explosive night.
Running Backs 🚀
🏆 Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco) – 21 carries, 126 yards (6.0 avg)
McCaffrey dominated on the ground, consistently moving the chains and keeping Dallas’ defense on its heels.
🔥 Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles AFC) – 11 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
Ekeler exploded for a 43-yard touchdown run before halftime, giving Los Angeles a commanding lead over Jacksonville.
💪 Joshua Kelley (Los Angeles AFC) – 93 yards, 2 TDs
Kelley’s two second-half touchdowns put Jacksonville away, solidifying Los Angeles AFC’s ground dominance.
⚡ Raheem Mostert (Miami) – 2 rushing TDs
Mostert found the end zone twice, helping Miami maintain their lead over Baltimore.
Defense 🛡️
🔥 Nick Bosa (San Francisco) – 3 sacks
Bosa was a nightmare for Dallas, recording three sacks and disrupting the Cowboys’ offensive rhythm all game.
💪 Kenny Clark (Green Bay) – 3 sacks
Clark made life difficult for Seattle’s offensive line, delivering three sacks in Green Bay’s win.
⚡ Malik Hooker (Dallas) – 2 interceptions (including a pick-six)
Hooker’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown before halftime was a momentum-shifter, keeping Dallas in the game.
🏹 Riq Woolen (Seattle) – 87-yard pick-six
Woolen’s fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown tied the game at 24-24, giving Seattle a chance before Green Bay’s late-game heroics.
🔒 Bobby Wagner (Seattle) – 12 tackles
The veteran linebacker led all defenders with 12 total tackles, trying to keep Seattle in the game.
Special Teams 🎯
🔥 Brandon Aubrey (Dallas) – 14 points (4 field goals, 2 extra points)
Aubrey was Dallas’ most consistent scorer, hitting four field goals, including a 42-yarder before halftime.
💪 Jake Moody (San Francisco) – 12 points (3 field goals, 3 extra points)
Moody was clutch, hitting three key field goals to help San Francisco survive against Dallas.
⚡ Anders Carlson (Green Bay) – Game-winning field goal
Carlson drilled two clutch kicks in the final two minutes, securing Green Bay’s 30-24 victory over Seattle.
🚀 Michael Dickson (Seattle) – 57.3-yard punting average
Dickson consistently flipped the field, averaging 57.3 yards per punt and keeping Green Bay pinned deep in their own territory.
Final Takeaways
This divisional round featured elite quarterback play, game-changing defensive performances, and clutch special teams moments. Tagovailoa and Herbert shined through the air, while McCaffrey and Ekeler controlled the ground game. Kittle and Hill delivered highlight-reel performances, and defenders like Bosa and Hooker made their presence felt.
As the playoffs continue, the stage is set for even bigger performances in the conference championships