Say what you need concerning the NFL scriptwriters, however they had been at their greatest on Sunday.
Two playoff video games, within the chilly and snow, coming all the way down to the ultimate minutes. It was soccer nirvana.
Essentially the most anticipated recreation of the playoffs between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Payments lived as much as its billing. Add in a feisty Los Angeles Rams group giving the gifted Philadelphia Eagles all they may deal with, and a less-than-thrilling wild-card spherical now looks like a distant reminiscence.
The NFL’s last 4 is formally set, however earlier than we glance ahead, listed below are some takeaways from Sunday’s thrilling divisional-round matchups.
Payments play mistake-free soccer in “full” win
It was billed because the Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen recreation. The 2 MVP favourites going head-to-head in a heavyweight conflict.
However whereas each quarterbacks made their performs, what Sunday’s recreation actually got here all the way down to, as playoff video games usually do, was the turnover margin.
The Payments’ defence stepped up and compelled the Ravens into three turnovers, whereas the Payments did not give the Ravens one. Buffalo turned these turnovers into 10 factors in what ended up a two-point win.
Jackson had two turnovers himself (one interception and one fumble), whereas TE Mark Andrews fumbled within the fourth quarter with the Ravens driving to take the lead.
Jackson, whose profession playoff document dropped to 3-5 with the loss, knew that was what price his group the sport.
“Turnovers. We will’t have that s—,” a clearly annoyed Jackson instructed reporters after the sport. “… Maintain onto the (expletive) ball. I am sorry for my language. This s— is annoying. I am bored with this s—.”
In the meantime, although he rushed for 2 touchdowns, Allen’s stats aren’t going to wow anybody on this recreation, as he completed with simply 127 yards passing and 20 yards on the bottom. However one thing Allen has gotten a lot better at over his profession, which he displayed towards the Ravens, just isn’t enjoying “hero ball” and reducing out the game-altering errors.
“We’ve simply put our head down and labored laborious,” Allen mentioned of his group’s win. “I’m so pleased with our defence. I’m so pleased with our offence and particular groups. What a whole win.”
This recreation has no impression on the regular-season awards voting, and Jackson might very effectively win his third MVP. However at this level, it is clear he’d commerce accolades for an opportunity on the trophy Allen and the Payments at the moment are simply two wins away from.
Lengthy low season coming for Mark Andrews
There are going to be quite a lot of sleepless nights in Baltimore over the following few days, nevertheless it is perhaps a couple of sleepless weeks for Andrews.
Regardless of the three turnovers, together with the back-breaking one from Andrews, the Ravens nonetheless had an opportunity to tie this recreation up with below two minutes to play.
Trailing by eight, Jackson threw a 24-yard TD strike to Isaiah More likely to get his group inside two.
The Ravens appeared to dial up the right two-point conversion name, with Andrews huge open within the front-right nook of the endzone. However the normally sure-handed TE noticed the ball bounce off his palms to the turf and the Payments then ran out the clock.
Andrews did not make himself obtainable to the media after the sport, however his teammates got here to his defence.
“One play doesn’t outline anyone. He’s the all-time main landing receiver in Ravens historical past,” security Kyle Hamilton mentioned. “He’s been a constant beacon of success the entire time he’s been right here.”
One play additionally does not outline a soccer recreation, and Andrews’ errors weren’t the one cause the Ravens misplaced the sport. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to wager Andrews goes to be wishing for a do-over all low season.
In the event you thought the hype for the Payments-Ravens recreation was loads, prepare for the anticipation that is about to construct this week.
The Payments’ win units up a heavyweight tilt with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC championship, a playoff matchup that has produced absolute magic prior to now.
Since Allen and Mahomes entered the league, these two groups have met on three earlier events within the post-season, with the Chiefs successful all three.
The Payments have truly had the Chiefs’ variety of late, successful three of the final 4 head-to-head matchups, together with a 30-21 win this season in Buffalo.
However Allen has but to greatest Mahomes within the playoffs, and this one will probably be performed at Arrowhead Stadium.
“We all know what they’re. They’re the perennial of what you wish to be within the NFL,” Allen mentioned after beating the Ravens. “You’ve received to beat them to get previous them.”
If they do not, the Chiefs will probably be one win away from changing into the primary group in NFL historical past to win three straight Tremendous Bowls.
Nevertheless it appears solely becoming that Allen and the Payments will get an opportunity to finish that menace.
Saquon Barkley might by no means should pay for a Philly cheesesteak ever once more.
The Eagles’ low season acquisition of Barkley is paying dividends when it issues probably the most and is concurrently making New York Giants followers cringe with each passing week.
After Barkley gashed the Rams for an Eagles franchise-record 255 speeding yards and two touchdowns in Week 12, he adopted it up with 205 yards and two scores in Sunday’s divisional-round win.
It is not usually {that a} group’s largest menace for a game-breaking play comes from a handoff, however with the Eagles, that is precisely the case.
Regardless of the Rams’ greatest efforts to comprise Barkley, the 27-year-old broke away for 2 home-run balls to the tune of 62 and 78 yards. The 78-yarder got here with lower than 5 minutes remaining and turned out to be the game-winner after the Rams rallied late.
Including in his playoff totals, Barkley now has 2,218 whole speeding yards this season, which is the third-best mark ever behind two back-to-back seasons from legendary Denver Broncos RB Terrell Davis.
Barkley is the driving power for the Eagles’ offence, particularly with query marks nonetheless surrounding Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s passing assault. By two playoff video games, Hurts has thrown for a mixed 259 yards.
However largely because of Barkley, it is nonetheless been two Ws.
If the Eagles are going to win the Tremendous Bowl, it may be behind No. 26 and their huge, bruising offensive line.
Components, Eagles D an excessive amount of for Rams to beat
The Rams did not do any favours to dispel the concept that groups from Southern California aren’t constructed for the chilly on Sunday.
All week, the forecast confirmed snow within the forecast for the sport, and Mom Nature did not disappoint, bringing heaps of snow all through the second half.
It turned out to be an issue for the Rams on offence.
After an enormous security introduced Los Angeles inside some extent of Philadelphia, the Rams adopted it with two consecutive fumbles, one by RB Kyren Williams and one by QB Matthew Stafford.
The Rams’ solely success on offence within the second half got here after they had been in hurry-up mode within the last 5 minutes, nevertheless it was clear the climate impacted their primary recreation plan.
To make issues much more troublesome, they had been additionally going up towards the No. 1 ranked defence within the NFL and a rising star in DT Jalen Carter. The second-year professional was double-teamed all day however nonetheless persevered for 2 sacks, together with one to snuff out a possible game-winning drive by the Rams with time ticking down.
Carter and the remainder of the Eagles’ defence will probably be examined within the NFC championship towards Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders, but when any group might determine a method to comprise the unflappable rookie, it is perhaps this one.
It is a harmful recreation to present Philadelphia sports activities followers extra causes to be offended at you as an opposing participant, however should you do, you higher again it up.
Rams star rookie DE Jared Verse did that on Sunday.
After being quoted as saying that he “hates Eagles followers” forward of the sport, Verse was enemy No. 1 all day on Sunday.
However the hate solely fuelled him as he completed the sport with two sacks, 5 pressures and three tackles for loss.
The consequence on the scoreboard wasn’t what Verse hoped for, clearly. However he’ll most probably be named Defensive Rookie of the 12 months in a matter of weeks and is the important thing piece to this younger, up-and-coming Rams defence that solely received higher because the season went on.
Los Angeles completed with 16 sacks by two playoff video games, three away from probably the most ever by an NFL group in a single post-season — they usually did it in simply two video games.
It wasn’t the end the Rams had been hoping for, however with Verse main the way in which, the longer term seems brilliant for the L.A. defence.
“I do not need my teammates to really feel like this once more,” Verse told reporters after the loss. “Solely wish to look of their eyes and see something however pure bliss and pure happiness. And I’ll do every little thing in my energy to guarantee that does not occur once more.”
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