Saturday Wild Card Recap
**Chargers vs. Texans**
The Texans survived a difficult first 20 minutes of their playoff game, scoring 20 unanswered points from the second quarter to the fourth quarter to secure a victory at home. Houston got off to a slow start and struggled with turnovers throughout the game, but Los Angeles was unable to capitalize and finish off the Texans. CJ Stroud and the Texans’ offense began to find their rhythm against the Chargers, and the defense intercepted Los Angeles twice on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, adding a third interception before the game ended. Justin Herbert threw four picks, marking a tough outing for the Chargers' quarterback.
The Chargers' offense produced a highlight play with an 86-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to rookie Ladd McConkey, but the Texans controlled the clock and closed out the game with a 17-yard touchdown run from Joe Mixon, who had fumbled to start the half.
If you're a Chargers or football fan, you likely remember what happened the last time the Chargers faced an AFC South team in the Wild Card round. Nearly two years ago, during Los Angeles’ first playoff appearance under Brandon Staley, they blew a 27-0 halftime lead against the Jaguars and lost 31-30. Critics had praised quarterback Justin Herbert for his poise, which turned the Chargers’ season around from 6-6 to a playoff spot. However, Herbert’s much-anticipated playoff debut turned from a moment of resilience into a puddle of disappointment. An ESPN article from that time credited Herbert’s humility, describing him as having the “mentality of a backup offensive lineman” despite playing a high-profile position. He needed to play like a superstar to overcome the Chargers' historic playoff woes.
During the regular season, the Chargers achieved a lot but arguably exposed themselves by being outscored 32-6 by one of the least threatening offenses in football. Houston finished with 168 rushing yards, with Mixon recording 25 carries for 106 yards and Stroud adding another 42. Stroud completed 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Nico Collins had seven receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown. Both teams came into the game under scrutiny, and the Chargers proved to be the team that faltered. The Houston defense sacked Herbert four times, holding him to a poor 40.9 passer rating and 46.4 completion percentage with 242 passing yards and four interceptions. Herbert averaged 15.1 yards per completion but managed only 14 completions in total. The lack of reliable pass-catching options hurt the Chargers; other than McConkey’s extraordinary performance (nine catches for 197 yards), no other Charger managed more than two catches or better than 16 yards. Multiple Chargers dropped passes throughout the game.
The Texans' supporting cast didn’t fare significantly better, but they contributed enough to keep the Chargers' defense honest all game and create openings for CJ Stroud. The Chargers need to bolster their reliable pass-catching options across the board, and while it’s not suggested to give up on a player like Quentin Johnston, they shouldn’t wait around for him to develop.
The Texans remain a bit of a mystery. If they play like they did over the last 50 minutes of this game, minus the turnovers, they can compete with any team in the conference, as many projected at the start of the season.
Herbert got the Chargers moving after JK Dobbins picked up their first conversion on the ground. Herbert completed his first three passes, all under high difficulty beyond five air yards, against a tough defense. The Texans’ defense held firm, pushing the Chargers back on a crucial 3rd-and-1, forcing them to settle for a field goal after they crossed into the red zone. Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead.
When the Chargers faced the Jaguars in the past, they forced five turnovers, which is how the Houston offense got started in this game. A Texans wide receiver secured the catch but had the ball ripped away by the Chargers' secondary, setting up a field goal and a 6-0 first-quarter lead for Los Angeles. For the Chargers, more was expected from two drives inside the Houston 25-yard line. For Houston, the game couldn’t have started worse, as their first two drives went nowhere; one ended in a turnover, and the other with no conversion, nearly resulting in another turnover.
The defense made a crucial stop before the end of the first quarter, preventing the Chargers from extending their lead on Los Angeles’s third drive and maintaining a stiff 6-0 score. CJ Stroud found some early success on the Texans' third drive, getting across midfield but ultimately being pushed back due to a sack, leading to a punt at midfield. The Houston offense continued to struggle in the second half, trading interceptions with the Chargers but failing to sustain drives. Neither team could run the ball consistently, and negative plays on second down knocked Houston off schedule, forcing them to punt. The Texans' number one threat, Nico Collins, struggled to get involved in the game.
**Ravens vs Steelers**
The Ravens rushed for over 299 yards, with 186 yards coming from Derrick Henry, and led throughout the game as Baltimore defeated the Steelers 28-14 to advance past the Wild Card Round. The Steelers’ offense, which struggled in the first half, came to life with a few flashes in the second half, piecing together two touchdown drives that included two explosive touchdowns of over 30 yards. However, fighting back from a three-score deficit, the Steelers needed more consistency rather than just opportunistic strikes against the Ravens’ secondary.
Like an explosion, the Steelers’ offense vanished in critical moments, lacking sustainability. In the end, the Ravens dominated the clock, controlling it for 39:05 compared to the Steelers' 20:27. In the same number of drives, the Ravens ran 72 plays, while the Steelers managed just 45. Russell Wilson completed 20 of 29 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns, a 121.3 passer rating, and an 8.3 completion percentage over expected (CPOE) but was sacked four times, most of which stalled Steelers' drives. Overall, the Steelers lacked firepower, and their offense couldn't dictate how they wanted to move the ball. Instead, the Ravens’ defense forced turnovers and made Wilson think rather than react instinctively, leading to multiple failed drives.
The Steelers are facing issues on both offense and defense, primarily due to a lack of athleticism.
Lamar Jackson received MVP chants from the crowd after completing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns, a crushing 16.3 CPOE, and a 132.0 passer rating, while also rushing for 81 yards.
Lamar Jackson's football legacy now finds itself at a crossroads, placing him in the company of great quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and John Elway during their prime years. Coming off an All-Pro season and yet another MVP debate, Lamar has built a resume that positions him as one of the best regular-season quarterbacks in league history. He has accumulated numerous awards, records, and accolades at a rapid pace, but postseason success has eluded him. In the 2000s, prior to his Super Bowl win in 2006, Manning and the Colts set numerous scoring and passing records, and Manning won MVPs and passing titles, yet watched quarterbacks like Brady and Roethlisberger win Super Bowls soon after him. Lamar’s postseason record stands at 2-4, and he has amassed more turnovers than touchdowns.
The Steelers’ first drive in this game epitomized the problems plaguing their offense: not enough playmakers to beat man coverage, Wilson's struggles with processing, and a loss of athleticism to escape incoming tacklers and secure first downs. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith does not have enough dynamism to create conflicts for the opposing defense. Instead of keeping defenses "honest," his offense has become limited.
The Steelers’ first three drives ended in punts because the offense lacked the ability to evade tackles. After four drives, the Steelers managed just 60 yards and two first downs.
On the other hand, the Ravens' offense showed few limitations. Despite starting deep in their own territory at the five-yard line, the Ravens executed a 95-yard drive, highlighted by Derrick Henry’s 34-yard run and capped off by a 15-yard catch. The Ravens lost some dynamism in the absence of Zay Flowers, but Rashod Bateman stepped up, putting them on the board first at 7-0. After a punt, the Ravens’ next drive featured 13 running plays split between Lamar and Derrick Henry, rushing for 85 yards in almost eight minutes, before scoring an eight-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Lamar and the Ravens orchestrated a harrowing nine-play, 90-yard drive with multiple explosive plays, including three passing plays of over 15 yards, culminating in a five-yard touchdown pass to Justice Hill.
Can the Ravens rush their way to the Super Bowl? We'll have to wait and see, but Baltimore certainly got off to a strong start.
The Ravens built a commanding 21-0 lead before halftime. The Steelers made it more competitive in the second half. Their defense forced a Ravens punt, and the Steelers stuck to their formula, executing two big plays—one for 21 yards to Mike Williams and another of 30 yards to Van Jefferson for a touchdown. The Ravens quickly responded with an explosive rebuttal: a 21-yard catch by Tylan Wallace, followed by a 44-yard run by Derrick Henry and another touchdown. The Steelers began to find their rhythm again, scoring another 30-yard touchdown this time to George Pickens for 36 yards. However, the Steelers' offense still lacked the necessary firepower to keep pace, allowing the Ravens to claim victory in this divisional rivalry, 28-14..
