NFL Divisional Round Recap.

The Lions Met With a disappointing end to what Most Considered a Potential Start For Detroit's powerful and promising Superbowl run. Instead By Saturday Night Motor Faced Dismay As Their Team succumbed to turnovers In A battle against the upstart Commanders The Lions Fell 45-31 In Defeat Tantamonut To Only The David And Goliath Story. A rout for the number one seed in the NFC Ends Their Story For 2024. In his rookie season, Jayden Daniels rose to the occasion as few rookies do, and now he faces a matchup with division rival, the Eagles, who defeated the Rams thanks to a 200-yard game from Saquon Barkley.

The turnover issues also plagued the AFC Final, as the Ravens struggled to maintain possession and suffered three turnovers. Despite this, they managed to come within a two-point conversion of tying the game. Unfortunately for them, sure-handed tight end Mark Andrews had an unexpected mistake and failed to complete his assignment.

The Bills advanced to the Conference Final, setting up a classic showdown reminiscent of an Avengers: Endgame-type battle, as Josh Allen looks to overcome his playoff demons against the Chiefs, who also secured their victory against the Texans.

**Chiefs vs. Texans**

In their matchup, the Texans managed to stay close to the Chiefs, pulling within an extra point of tying the game, only to miss the crucial Estra Point kick. They failed to score again in the second half, and CJ Stroud limped off the field after taking his eighth sack during a failed red zone drive late in the fourth quarter. The Texans matched the Chiefs in total yards (336-212) and converted 10 of 17 third downs, but they struggled with penalties. The receivers continued to have issues with dropped passes and inconsistent performances, contributing to the team's difficulties. Facing the Chiefs as underdogs, the Texans needed to play perfectly. Although Stroud had his moments, many of his best plays were undermined by penalties and sacks. The Chiefs blitzed Stroud 17 times, resulting in 12 pressures, leaving him looking bewildered by the rush.

The Texans had the potential to perform well, especially considering they started the season with a strong offensive lineup that included Stefon Diggs, who unfortunately didn't make an impact in this game. Nico Collins had five catches for 81 yards, but his contributions didn't feel particularly impactful. Tight end Dalton Schultz had four catches for 63 yards, while CJ Stroud completed 19 of 28 passes for 245 yards. In contrast, Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards, with Travis Kelce making seven catches for 117 yards. With this victory, the Chiefs secured their seventh straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game, bringing them one step closer to a third consecutive Super Bowl.

The Texans shouldn’t feel pressured in this game. In the Wild Card Round, they capitalized on the Chargers' bye week with a dominant win. However, they were still viewed as underdogs, categorized as the team that made the playoffs simply because someone in the AFC South had to represent the division. Their journey through the Wild Card Round should be seen as a symbol of success, but they aimed to put up a strong fight against the Chiefs to enhance their status as contenders. The Chiefs, on the other hand, should not feel too much pressure either; another divisional round just fuels the competitive spirit for Mahomes and coach Andy Reid.

The Texans didn't get the start they wanted to open the game. A massive 68-yard kickoff return set the Chiefs up in the red zone, but the Texans' defense held firm and forced them to go three-and-out. The Texans' pass rush consistently pressured the Chiefs, forcing them to settle for field goals. On the Chiefs' second drive, Mahomes managed to move into the red zone despite an early stop on third down, aided by a questionable but crucial rushing penalty that granted Kansas City extra downs. They picked up two big gains in the passing game, including a 21-yard completion to Xavier Worthy and a 23-yard pass to Travis Kelce, before settling for a field goal, putting the score at 6-3.

The Chiefs scored the first touchdown of the game midway through the second quarter, starting with a short field after a missed Texans field goal. A big pass play from Mahomes to Kelce, which gained 49 yards, placed the Chiefs at the Houston six-yard line, and they scored after three plays with a touchdown run by Kareem Hunt. The Texans struggled to defend Kelce, as his two first-half catches totaled 72 yards.

The Texans' offense didn’t benefit from a big return but managed to move down to the red zone after a 34-yard completion to Dalton Schultz. They concluded the 10-play, 68-yard drive with a three-yard field goal. However, the subsequent two drives ended in a punt and a missed field goal. Despite some impressive plays, such as a 28-yard scramble, the Texans couldn’t find enough options to score. Too many players slipped, and there were too many missed opportunities. Stroud finished the first half completing 6 of 10 passes for 103 yards, with three scrambles for 32 yards, helping the Texans amass 95 yards on the ground.

The ground game eventually produced the Texans' first touchdown, a 13-yard run by Joe Mixon that capped off a 15-play, 82-yard drive. This drive was marred by penalties, including an illegal formation that cost them an initial first down. The Texans showed resilience, bouncing back from each penalty, and a gutsy six-yard scramble helped keep the drive alive. Penalties plagued the Texans throughout the game, and despite the Chiefs’ blunders, the Texans' inability to defend against Travis Kelce proved costly as the Chiefs took a 20-12 lead.

In addition to the penalties, the Texans’ special teams struggled; kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn had a field goal blocked and missed an extra point as the Chiefs held off the Texans in the second half.

**Commanders vs. Lions**

Football fans have become accustomed to what to expect from Jayden Daniels and the Commanders' offense as they try to keep up with the top teams in football. But what about the Commanders' defense? The defense stepped up in a major way, forcing five turnovers from the Lions, including four from Jared Goff, which comprised a pick-six and a sack-fumble. In support of Jayden Daniels and the offense, the Commanders shocked the football world by defeating the number one seed Lions 45-31 and moving on to the Conference Championship.

The Lions suffered three of their turnovers in the first half and quickly found themselves in a two-score hole, trailing 24-14 in the second quarter. This deficit ballooned to a 31-21 gap before halftime. The Lions had successfully recovered from a five-turnover game during the regular season, but the margin for error in this high-stakes contest was minimal. Despite the turnovers, the Lions managed to get their offense moving. Goff led the Lions on two red zone drives that resulted in scores, including a spectacular catch by Sam Laporta that put the Lions ahead 14-10 in the second quarter. However, the Lions would not lead again after that.

The Commanders' offense responded with a 58-yard catch-and-run from Terry McLaurin, as Kliff Kingsbury did an excellent job scheming players open on the outside. McLaurin caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, but his role as a schematic decoy was particularly impressive, as his presence created opportunities for others, especially Dyami Brown, who finished with six catches for 98 yards.

The Lions managed to pull within three points in the third quarter with an 11-play, 81-yard drive capped off by an eight-yard run from Jahmyr Gibbs. They could have seized the momentum, but the Commanders responded not only with a touchdown but also with a long, methodical drive that lasted 15 plays, covered 70 yards, and took 8.5 minutes off the clock. The Lions tried to apply pressure, but this only created opportunities for Daniels to scramble and connect on downfield strikes. Running back Brian Robinson surged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown at the end of that drive.

The Commanders rushed for 182 yards on the ground compared to the Lions' 201 yards, with Detroit outgaining the Commanders 521-481 in total offensive yards. Jayden Daniels completed 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns, a passer rating of 122.9, and added 51 rushing yards, marking his second game with over 300 combined yards. Despite facing considerable pressure and blitzes, Daniels avoided any sacks. Commanders rookie cornerback Mike Sainistril made two interceptions off Lions passers.

The Lions' offense generated 8.7 yards per rush, with Jahmyr Gibbs leading the charge with 14 carries for 105 yards. Jared Goff completed 23 of 40 passes for 313 yards, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 59.7. Despite the support from his strong offensive line, he was sacked twice and faced a lot of pressure. Under pressure, Goff converted only 3 of 10 passes for 43 yards.

The Commanders have pulled off two significant upsets in these playoffs, and rookie Jayden Daniels continues to establish himself among the best in the division, exceeding the expectations set for him. The Commanders' defense, once again coming up with turnovers, made up for the talent discrepancy within the team. The Commanders went 4 of 4 in the red zone, punted once, suffered a turnover on downs, and missed a field goal; however, all of this proved moot as they advanced to the finals for the first time since 1991.

**Eagles vs. Rams**

The Eagles advanced past the Packers in the Wild Card Round, avoiding what could have been a trap game. As the highest remaining seed in the NFC and the conference favorite, they enter Sunday’s matchup against the Rams ready to weather both the cold and the competition. The frigid conditions at the stadium complicated ball security, leading to multiple drops by the Rams and a crucial fumble on a fourth-quarter sack.

Despite some struggles on offense and difficulties handling the Rams' pressure, the Eagles managed to secure the win as the Rams' comeback attempt fell short in the red zone. Saquon Barkley opened the scoring with a spectacular 66-yard touchdown run and capped off the game with a remarkable 78-yard run in the fourth quarter, nearly untouched. Barkley rushed for a total of 205 yards on 26 carries, scoring two touchdowns.

The Eagles endured considerable pressure, with Jalen Hurts facing seven sacks throughout the game. Matthew Stafford, who had a late surge, finished the game with 26 completions on 44 attempts for 324 yards—130 of which came on the Rams’ final two drives, including a 37-yard strike to Puka Nacua. However, the Eagles' pass rush ultimately thwarted the Rams' comeback; Jalen Carter delivered a critical sack that pushed the Rams from a manageable 3rd-and-2 to a challenging 4th-and-11. Another pressure from Carter led to an errant throw on Stafford's final attempt, sealing the game for the Eagles.

Both offenses struggled with the weather, with both quarterbacks experiencing ball security issues and the run games being slowed down. However, the Eagles had the advantage of Saquon Barkley and a generally competent offensive line. The Rams lost the turnover battle as both Stafford and Kyren Williams fumbled in the second half, and they finished just 2-for-5 in the red zone.

While the Rams' defense managed to hold the Eagles to only 2.4 yards per pass attempt, they allowed 8.4 yards per run, including significant plays of 44, 76, and 62 yards by Barkley, all of which led to scores. The Rams' defense did manage to record their 16th sack of this postseason, ranking fifth among all teams during a playoff run. After a first-round exit last year, the Eagles are returning to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in two years, where they will face the Commanders in an NFC East matchup.

**Bills vs. Ravens**

To whom will the football gods judge this game of AFC power? Does it matter more for two of the best quarterbacks in the game, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson? I have never witnessed two quarterbacks with similar ascents to superstardom and backgrounds face off in such a significant game. Allen and Jackson entered the league with questions about their abilities as passers. Allen's accuracy needed improvement, while Jackson struggled to convince scouts he could succeed in the quarterback role at Louisville.

The Ravens and the Bills selected both quarterbacks in the first round: Allen in the top 10, and Lamar as the last pick in the 2018 draft. Both have set records, featured in historically impressive games, and earned the admiration of millions. However, neither has achieved postseason success, which remains a key issue in their careers. Lamar Jackson has famously suffered injuries around this time of year, while Josh Allen has faced defeats at the hands of the Chiefs and Bengals.

Despite their teams making strides, Allen and Lamar have often left the postseason as "the other guys" or "second bananas." Allen has never advanced to the conference finals, while Lamar's first conference finals run ended against Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Yes, one game won't define their legacies, and both players will have more opportunities, but football happens quickly, and in the blink of an eye, this weekend could close a promising run for both.

The Ravens' offense, led by Lamar Jackson, started the game with confidence. Their first drive went as smoothly as possible, with Lamar and the Ravens moving the ball downfield, highlighted by a big 29-yard pass to Isaiah Likely and a 16-yard touchdown reception to Rashod Bateman, putting the Ravens on the scoreboard at 7-0. However, the Ravens struggled with turnovers throughout the game. The first turnover occurred on their second drive when Lamar, looking deep for Bateman, threw an interception to a Bills defender waiting in the wings.

With the game tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, Lamar and the Ravens drove beyond midfield, but the combination of the weather and Bills pressure—at one point exceeding 52%—forced Lamar to scramble, resulting in a fumble. The Bills' Von Miller recovered the ball and returned it to the Ravens' 24-yard line. Four plays later, the Bills scored a touchdown, taking a 14-7 lead that ultimately became a 21-10 halftime score. The Bills focused on containing Derrick Henry and managed to limit the Ravens' run game; the Ravens produced 176 rushing yards, but the Bills' efforts to control the ground game were commendable.

In the second half, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews added to the turnover woes by fumbling, and a key drop at the goal line sealed the loss for Baltimore. The Bills moved on to their first conference championship since the 1990s with a 27-25 victory over Lamar and the Ravens.

In this high-profile matchup, Josh Allen didn’t outplay Lamar, who completed 18 of 25 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, compared to Allen's 16 of 22 for 127 yards with only one pass over 10-plus air yards—a 34-yarder to Kahlil Shakir. Shakir led the team in receiving with six catches for 67 yards. Allen added two rushing touchdowns to his passing touchdown, while James Cook contributed with 17 carries for 67 rushing yards. The win over the Ravens sets up a climactic showdown between Josh Allen and his archrival, Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs.

As for Baltimore, did Lamar Jackson choke? While he played well enough for the Ravens to win, the turnovers proved to be costly. The final drop didn't lose the game for Baltimore; rather, they lost it three quarters earlier due to a series of turnovers. The best remedy for drops in crunch time might be avoiding those situations altogether.