
And then there were four. The division round finished this week with two division winners and two wild cards moving forward to the Conference Round. See below for the game recaps:
Chiefs 24 – Patriots 13
KC DEFENSE SUFFOCATES THE PATRIOTS (24-13) AS CHIEFS ADVANCE TO AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
For the fourth time in five years, the Chiefs and Patriots would meet up in an AFC playoff battle. The Chiefs began the opening possession of the game in Pats territory after a poor squib kick but were not able to capitalize when they failed to convert on a 4th and 2 from the Patriots 24-yard line. The next two possessions for the Chiefs offense didn’t go much better, with just 34 combined yards and two quick punts. But the Chiefs were able to stay in the game early because their defense got off to a hot start in what turned out to be a bruising, scoreless 1st quarter. The Patriots would put the first points on the board early in the 2nd quarter after a short 9-play drive of 29 yards resulted in a 41-yard FG by Nick Folk to put the Patriots on top, 3-0. But the Chiefs came right back on the very next possession with a drive of 75 yards that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to tailback Clyde Edwards-Hellaire to put the Chiefs back in the lead by a 7-3 score. It turned out to be a lead that the Chiefs would never relinquish, as their defense performed consistently all day long. The Chiefs had a halftime lead of just 14-6 and eventually took a 21-6 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Edwards-Hellaire in the final minute of the 3rd quarter. The Patriots finally scored their first touchdown of the game late in the 4th quarter on a 5 yard pitch out to Rex Burkhead, cutting the Chiefs lead to 21-13 with just 3:13 remaining. But the Chiefs offense moved right down the field to clinch the game with a 37-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with 37 seconds left, making the final score a 24-13 victory for the Chiefs. The Chiefs defense proved to be the difference in this game, allowing the Patriots just 229 yards in this game, the lowest offensive total for New England since a week two loss to the Seahawks. The Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship Game for the 6th straight year and will travel to play the winner of the Browns at Steelers divisional playoff game.
Broadcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wVeTjBCB4
Browns 10 – Steelers 12
Having won the first two meetings by a safe margin, Cleveland was not about to let that happen again. Pounding the ball repeatedly up the middle, the Browns closed the gap in the third period after a halftime 9-0 deficit. A Cleveland third quarter TD cut the lead to two. Cleveland took advantage of a missed Boswell field goal and extra point and with 3:00 left in the game, Cody Parkey drilled a 42 yard field goal to give the visitors a one point lead. Unfortunately for them, that was just enough time for Pittsburgh to get into field goal range and with one second left on the clock, Boswell redeemed himself with the game winning kick from thirty yards out. Game time of possession was pretty even. The Browns won the rushing yardage game but Ben Roethlisberger passed for 298 yards to give the Steelers a sizable overall yardage advantage. As anyone knows, it is nearly impossible to beat a good team and good coach three times in the same season, but the Steelers had just enough luck to overcome the obstacles.
Broadcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWgWfZHbi_w (Browns / Steelers and Rams / Packers Simulcast)
Rams 24 – Packers 23
The Rams were in trouble. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers took the opening kickoff 75 yards on 17 plays before scoring a touchdown on a 2 yard linebuck by Robert Tonyan. On their first drive the Rams were forced to punt from their own side of the field and Green Bay return man Tyler Ervin returned the punt 69 yards to the Rams 12 yard line. 4 plays later the Rams were down 10-0, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.On their next two possessions, the Rams put together drives of 75 and 46 yards, both ending in touchdowns to go up 14-10 midway through the second quarter. At this point the game seemed to settle down a bit and the teams traded punts after two 3 and outs. At this point the Rams put together a 12 play drive that ate up 5 and a half minutes and was in Green Bay territory. With a minute to go from the Green Bay 25 yard line, QB Jared Goff dropped back and threw to his favorite target Cooper Kupp in the flat. GB coach Scott Mueller called the D perfectly, and Kupp was double-teamed resulting in an interception with 1:22 left on the clock. Rodgers cobmined flat and look-in passes with off-tackle draws to march the Packers up the field and the Packers were sitting 1st and goal from the LA 5 yard line with 8 seconds left on the clock. Rodgers dropped back to throw a short pass, but the D came up on the black die and Rodgers was sacked by Leonard Floyd for an 8 yard loss. Mason Crosby made the chip shot, and the teams went to the locker room with the score LA 14 – Green Bay 13.LA’s first drive of the second half went nowhere, and Green Bay fielded the punt at their onw 32. an 11 play 68 yard drive culminating in a 1 yard plunge by Aaron Jones put the Packers up 20-14 early in the second half. LA responded with a 50-yard drive but stalled out before reaching the red zone. LA’s Matt Gay connected from 42 to close the gap to 20-17. Green Bay couldn’t move the ball and LA got possession back 4 plays later. Starting from their own 8 yard line LA strung together a combination of 12 runs, flat and short passes driving to the GB 36. Once again, GB coach Scott Mueller made a great call and Goff’s pass was picked off as a result of two defenders in the flat zone. Aaron Rodgers pushed the ball upfield. From their own 41 yard line Rodgers dropped back for a long pass but LA’s Johnny Johnson intercepted the ball at the LA 20 yard line. Johnny must not have expected to catch the ball because after a 3 yard gain he lost control, and Green Bay recovered the fumble. 4 Plays later Mason Crosby split the uprights to extend the GB lead to 23-17 with 8:24 left on the clock.After the touchback Goff hit Cooper Kupp in the flat for an 11 yard gain. A run and 6 passes later, the Rams found themselves 4th and 4 from the GB 46 yard line. LA chose to go for it. On the 4th down play, Jared Goff found Robert Woods open on a look in pass, and Wood’s YAC came up with a Long Gain for 35 yards. LA hit a couple of flat passes and then Malcolm Brown ran it in from the 1 yard line. LA took the lead 24-23 with 3:00 to go in the game.2:42 left in the game, Aaron Rodgers had one last chance to win the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Rodgers hit Devante Adams in the flat for a 9 yard gain. A three yard look in pass to Aaron Jones gave GB the first down at the 37. On the next play Rodgers hit Devante Adams on a look in pass for 23 yards to the LA 40, 1:37 to go in the game. Jamaal Williams carried for no yards on first down. Rodgers hit Davante Adams for 6 on second down, leading to a 3rd and 4. Aaron Jones found two men guarding the line buck on 3rd down, and he carried for only 1 yard. On 4th and 3 from the LA 33 Green Bay chose to go for the first rather than kick the potential winning field goal. Dropping back on 4th down Rodgers attempted to hit Davante Adams on a look in pass, but found two men in the zone and the ball fell to the ground for an incomplete pass.LA went in to the victory formation and the visitors took the win.What a fun game to play in. Thanks for the game Scott, it was close all the way to the end and ultimately came down to one play. Good Game – Well played!
Broadcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWgWfZHbi_w (Browns / Steelers and Rams / Packers Simulcast)
Saints 8 – Seahawks 24
The Seahawks go all the rolls in this one as they built a 24-0 lead midway through the 4th quarter. Everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong for Dan and his Saints. Sacks, penalties, fumbles and missed 4th down conversions. Meanwhile the Hawks could do no wrong. Just one of those games and it stinks that it happened to Dan in the playoffs.
Broadcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJhktydVqBk