Takeaways from the wild-card spherical of the NFL playoffs
The opening spherical of the NFL playoffs is without doubt one of the finest soccer feasts of the yr, however the 2025 version has to date lacked the standard drama.After 5 video games, the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Payments have all superior after blowing out the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos respectively. The Philadelphia Eagles moved on as effectively after a tricky win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.But it surely was the matchup between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers that was the spotlight of the weekend. The shut, back-and-forth sport ended on an unbelievable game-winning area aim that doinked off the upright and bounced by means of to present the Commanders a 23-20 upset over the NFC South Division champions.There may be nonetheless one sport to be performed on this opening spherical – the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening in Arizona.Listed here are some preliminary takeaways from the opening spherical of the NFL playoffs:Jayden Daniels outduels Baker Mayfield in a classicThe Washington Commanders have discovered themselves one in Jayden Daniels, the rookie quarterback who outdid Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield within the weekend’s standout sport.It was Daniels main Washington down the sphere on a game-winning drive, placing the exclamation mark on an unbelievable sport: 24-of-35 for 268 passing yards and two touchdowns whereas main the workforce in speeding with 36 yards.Daniels was returning to the scene of his first NFL begin, which led to a brutal 37-20 loss in Week 1. However the rookie who took the sphere on Sunday evening was a distinct model of the Commanders quarterback.The previous LSU Tiger appeared like he’d been on this stage many instances earlier than, speeding and passing as he had all season and taking management of lengthy drives that led to Commanders factors.Mayfield, in the meantime, continued his renaissance yr with one other robust efficiency – although a few key errors price his workforce.Mayfield fumbled the snap on a drive that began in Tampa territory after the Bucs protection stopped Washington on fourth down. Linebacker Bobby Wagner jumped on the ball to present the Commanders close to the Bucs finish zone early within the fourth quarter.That turnover changed into a Daniels landing move to broad receiver Terry McLaurin to go up 20-17.Mayfield answered that drive with certainly one of his personal to tie the sport, making huge performs together with his arm – although a miscommunication together with his middle on a crucial third down meant that the Bucs needed to go for the three factors as an alternative of pushing for a go-ahead landing.After that it was time for Daniels to work his magic within the closing minutes, as he had almost all season. Needing factors with the rating tied 20-20, Washington discovered themselves with a third-and-six however Daniels discovered broad receiver Dyami Brown for a 21-yard strike to maintain the drive going. A pair performs later, it was a fantastic thing about a move to Austin Ekeler that put the Commanders deep in Tampa territory, permitting them to start out killing the clock.The rookie out of LSU made one closing game-winning play, selecting up an important first down on third-and-short after making a person miss when it appeared like he’d be stopped within the backfield. From there, it appeared elementary – besides when Zane Gonzalez doinked the sphere aim off the upright. Fortunately for the Commanders, it bounced by means of and handed Washington a postseason upset.Washington faces a tall process subsequent as they face the NFC high seed Detroit Lions at Ford Subject subsequent weekend.The hard-hitting Eagles pressure a giant turnover on the sport’s first play, batter the PackersIt was a defensive battle all through the Philadelphia Eagles’ 22-10 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers, however the tone was set on the sport’s first play.Philly linebacker Oren Burks laid the increase towards kick returner Keisean Nixon, who misplaced management of the ball. The Eagles emerged with the ball and possession on the Inexperienced Bay 27-yard line simply seconds into the sport. The Eagles had been up 7-0 earlier than two minutes had run off the clock.From there, it was a bodily, smashmouth sport and a number of Packers needed to depart the sport with accidents. The Packers, already enjoying with out high broad receiver Christian Watson after a torn ACL in his knee final week, misplaced their high broad receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed to a suspected concussion and an upper-body harm. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw two interceptions that didn’t lead to any Philly factors however stored the Packers from establishing any form of offensive rhythm.The sport largely stayed as an alternate of punts till late within the third quarter after the Packers used a prolonged drive to get their first area aim of the sport. After that, bodily runs by Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert and Inexperienced Bay working again Josh Jacobs supplied a little bit of spark because the physicality ratcheted up even additional.Goedert’s landing run to place the Eagles up two scores was the sort of bodily, Soccer Play (capital F, capital P) that will get the guts going. He delivered two punishing stiff arms and a lowered shoulder to the Packers’ Carrington Valentine and rumbled into the tip zone, blunting the Packers’ momentum after they’d simply kicked a area aim on the finish of a 12-play drive.On the following drive, it was Jacobs’ flip to make one other Soccer Play, working by means of and over Eagles defenders for 31 yards. His shirt was stretched out behind him as defenders held on any means they might. He was initially signaled to have gotten into the tip zone however was dominated down simply in need of the aim line.A play later, he drove it that closing yard into the tip zone to get the Packers inside hanging vary. However the powerful Eagles protection wouldn’t enable the Packers to go additional than their very own 41-yard line on their subsequent possession and a turnover on downs largely put the sport out of attain for Inexperienced Bay.Texans make the required performs to return out on high of ugly, bizarre sport with ChargersThe NFL playoffs obtained off on a wierd, bizarre foot.The Chargers stormed out of the gate towards the Texans however couldn’t get into the tip zone on their first two drives and had been solely up 6-0. The sport stayed that means for a lot of the primary half till a turning level that set the tone for a wild second half.Pinned on the 1-yard line initially of the drive, Houston’s offense got here to life after a damaged play, wherein Stroud scooped up a botched snap and – whereas Chargers move rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack closed in on him close to the sideline – the Texans signal-caller linked with broad receiver Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard achieve. A few performs later, Stroud hit broad receiver Nico Collins for a 37-yard strike, and the duo capped the 10-play, 99-yard drive with a 13-yard landing for the 7-6 lead.From there, it was turnover metropolis. The Texans fumbled on the opening drive of the second half after which pressured a turnover on downs on the drive on the following drive. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert out of the blue obtained a case of the yips, throwing three second-half interceptions – he had 4 within the sport, greater than he had in your entire common season – and the Texans turned these picks right into a blowout.The Chargers obtained yet one more huge play – an extended landing move to broad receiver Ladd McConkey – however the Texans not solely blocked the additional level however then returned all of it the way in which to the tip zone for a two-point conversion.It was the primary time that had ever occurred within the postseason and was the ultimate nail within the coffin for the Chargers. The ultimate rating was 32-12 in favor of Houston, which is able to tackle the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the divisional spherical subsequent weekend.Ravens bully the Steelers and present their speeding assault is nothing to mess withBaltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and working again Derrick Henry is perhaps sufficient on their very own to hold the Ravens deep into the playoffs – they usually confirmed why Saturday in a 28-14 thumping of the Steelers.The thunder-and-lightning duo highlighted a Baltimore working assault that went for a workforce postseason-record 299 yards, pacing the Ravens to a 28-14 win over their AFC North rivals.Henry ran for 186 yards on 26 powerful carries, punishing the Steeler protection repeatedly with runs proper into the enamel of the line of defense. He discovered the fitting seams, breaking for an extended landing run and a shorter bruiser for his two scores.Jackson in the meantime was electrical as solely he might be. He rushed 15 instances for 81 yards whereas additionally finishing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The rowdy 70,000 followers at M&T Financial institution Stadium routinely serenaded their star with chants of “M-V-P!”After the sport, Jackson mentioned watching Henry run is like being in a film – “Vehicles,” particularly.“You understand when Lightning McQueen simply flying, flashing previous?” Jackson mentioned. “That’s how Derrick appears to be like when he’s passing all these guys. And it appear to be a film, bro.”Jackson and Henry merely ran by means of, round and over the Steelers’ protection on an enormous drive to start out the sport, going 95 yards to open the scoring. The most important play of the drive was Henry taking a direct snap and discovering a seam within the Steelers’ entrance seven, bursting for 34 yards in a play that was punctuated by a brutal stiff arm that despatched Steelers star security Minkah Fitzpatrick reeling. Head coach John Harbaugh mentioned that play was put into the playbook particularly for this sport towards the Steelers.The following drive confirmed it could be a bruising evening for Pittsburgh. It was an 85-yard, 13-play drive within the second quarter that featured precisely zero passes. It ended with Henry pounding by means of the tackles yet one more time to get into the tip zone, placing an exclamation level on a bodily dominating drive.It will find yourself being the story of the sport because the Steelers by no means obtained nearer than two touchdowns once more.Josh Allen is simply unstoppableThose “M-V-P” chants rang round Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Sunday afternoon as Payments quarterback Josh Allen confirmed why it’s such a decent decide between him and Jackson for the award.Allen made some actually jaw-dropping throws on Sunday towards the Broncos and used his toes to select up some key first downs within the first half as Denver jumped out to an early lead.It was a play within the third quarter that really exemplified the place Allen’s sport is at proper now. On fourth and brief close to Denver’s finish zone, Buffalo determined to go for it and Allen bounced round within the pocket, scanning for a receiver. Because the move rush closed in, it appeared like it might be a killer sack.However simply on the final second, Allen was in a position to unfurl a stunning move to the again of the tip zone for working again Ty Johnson, who made an equally superb catch – sliding and managing to maintain his toes inbounds – for his or her second landing connection of the afternoon. The rating was the twenty second postseason passing TD of Allen’s profession, surpassing Corridor of Famer Jim Kelly for essentially the most in franchise playoff historical past.The fourth quarter began with one other landing move from Allen, who linked with Curtis Samuel on a third-and-6 move for what would have been a primary down. However Samuel went one higher, spinning out of a sort out and sprinting to the tip zone for a superb 55-yard landing.From there, the ultimate quarter was a formality because the Payments defeated the Broncos, 31-7.The Payments victory implies that there will probably be a completely epic showdown within the divisional spherical subsequent week: Allen and the Payments vs. Jackson and the Ravens. It’ll be a matchup of two main MVP candidates who had been on the high of their sport throughout this opening spherical.Voting for the MVP award came about on the finish of the common season, however perhaps everybody ought to agree that the winner of that sport takes dwelling the award?CNN’s Ben Morse and Homero De La Fuente contributed to this report.
The opening spherical of the NFL playoffs is without doubt one of the finest soccer feasts of the yr, however the 2025 version has to date lacked the standard drama.
After 5 video games, the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Payments have all superior after blowing out the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos respectively. The Philadelphia Eagles moved on as effectively after a tricky win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
But it surely was the matchup between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers that was the spotlight of the weekend. The shut, back-and-forth sport ended on an unbelievable game-winning area aim that doinked off the upright and bounced by means of to present the Commanders a 23-20 upset over the NFC South Division champions.
There may be nonetheless one sport to be performed on this opening spherical – the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening in Arizona.
Listed here are some preliminary takeaways from the opening spherical of the NFL playoffs:
Jayden Daniels outduels Baker Mayfield in a traditional
The Washington Commanders have discovered themselves one in Jayden Daniels, the rookie quarterback who outdid Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield within the weekend’s standout sport.
It was Daniels main Washington down the sphere on a game-winning drive, placing the exclamation mark on an unbelievable sport: 24-of-35 for 268 passing yards and two touchdowns whereas main the workforce in speeding with 36 yards.
Daniels was returning to the scene of his first NFL begin, which led to a brutal 37-20 loss in Week 1. However the rookie who took the sphere on Sunday evening was a distinct model of the Commanders quarterback.
The previous LSU Tiger appeared like he’d been on this stage many instances earlier than, speeding and passing as he had all season and taking management of lengthy drives that led to Commanders factors.
Mayfield, in the meantime, continued his renaissance yr with one other robust efficiency – although a few key errors price his workforce.
Mayfield fumbled the snap on a drive that began in Tampa territory after the Bucs protection stopped Washington on fourth down. Linebacker Bobby Wagner jumped on the ball to present the Commanders close to the Bucs finish zone early within the fourth quarter.
That turnover changed into a Daniels landing move to broad receiver Terry McLaurin to go up 20-17.
Mayfield answered that drive with certainly one of his personal to tie the sport, making huge performs together with his arm – although a miscommunication together with his middle on a crucial third down meant that the Bucs needed to go for the three factors as an alternative of pushing for a go-ahead landing.
After that it was time for Daniels to work his magic within the closing minutes, as he had almost all season. Needing factors with the rating tied 20-20, Washington discovered themselves with a third-and-six however Daniels discovered broad receiver Dyami Brown for a 21-yard strike to maintain the drive going. A pair performs later, it was a fantastic thing about a move to Austin Ekeler that put the Commanders deep in Tampa territory, permitting them to start out killing the clock.
The rookie out of LSU made one closing game-winning play, selecting up an important first down on third-and-short after making a person miss when it appeared like he’d be stopped within the backfield. From there, it appeared elementary – besides when Zane Gonzalez doinked the sphere aim off the upright. Fortunately for the Commanders, it bounced by means of and handed Washington a postseason upset.
Washington faces a tall process subsequent as they face the NFC high seed Detroit Lions at Ford Subject subsequent weekend.
The hard-hitting Eagles pressure a giant turnover on the sport’s first play, batter the Packers
It was a defensive battle all through the Philadelphia Eagles’ 22-10 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers, however the tone was set on the sport’s first play.
Philly linebacker Oren Burks laid the increase towards kick returner Keisean Nixon, who misplaced management of the ball. The Eagles emerged with the ball and possession on the Inexperienced Bay 27-yard line simply seconds into the sport. The Eagles had been up 7-0 earlier than two minutes had run off the clock.
From there, it was a bodily, smashmouth sport and a number of Packers needed to depart the sport with accidents. The Packers, already enjoying with out high broad receiver Christian Watson after a torn ACL in his knee final week, misplaced their high broad receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed to a suspected concussion and an upper-body harm. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw two interceptions that didn’t lead to any Philly factors however stored the Packers from establishing any form of offensive rhythm.
The sport largely stayed as an alternate of punts till late within the third quarter after the Packers used a prolonged drive to get their first area aim of the sport. After that, bodily runs by Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert and Inexperienced Bay working again Josh Jacobs supplied a little bit of spark because the physicality ratcheted up even additional.
Goedert’s landing run to place the Eagles up two scores was the sort of bodily, Soccer Play (capital F, capital P) that will get the guts going. He delivered two punishing stiff arms and a lowered shoulder to the Packers’ Carrington Valentine and rumbled into the tip zone, blunting the Packers’ momentum after they’d simply kicked a area aim on the finish of a 12-play drive.
On the following drive, it was Jacobs’ flip to make one other Soccer Play, working by means of and over Eagles defenders for 31 yards. His shirt was stretched out behind him as defenders held on any means they might. He was initially signaled to have gotten into the tip zone however was dominated down simply in need of the aim line.
A play later, he drove it that closing yard into the tip zone to get the Packers inside hanging vary. However the powerful Eagles protection wouldn’t enable the Packers to go additional than their very own 41-yard line on their subsequent possession and a turnover on downs largely put the sport out of attain for Inexperienced Bay.
Texans make the required performs to return out on high of ugly, bizarre sport with Chargers
The NFL playoffs obtained off on a wierd, bizarre foot.
The Chargers stormed out of the gate towards the Texans however couldn’t get into the tip zone on their first two drives and had been solely up 6-0. The sport stayed that means for a lot of the primary half till a turning level that set the tone for a wild second half.
Pinned on the 1-yard line initially of the drive, Houston’s offense got here to life after a damaged play, wherein Stroud scooped up a botched snap and – whereas Chargers move rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack closed in on him close to the sideline – the Texans signal-caller linked with broad receiver Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard achieve. A few performs later, Stroud hit broad receiver Nico Collins for a 37-yard strike, and the duo capped the 10-play, 99-yard drive with a 13-yard landing for the 7-6 lead.
From there, it was turnover metropolis. The Texans fumbled on the opening drive of the second half after which pressured a turnover on downs on the drive on the following drive. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert out of the blue obtained a case of the yips, throwing three second-half interceptions – he had 4 within the sport, greater than he had in your entire common season – and the Texans turned these picks right into a blowout.
The Chargers obtained yet one more huge play – an extended landing move to broad receiver Ladd McConkey – however the Texans not solely blocked the additional level however then returned all of it the way in which to the tip zone for a two-point conversion.
It was the primary time that had ever occurred within the postseason and was the ultimate nail within the coffin for the Chargers. The ultimate rating was 32-12 in favor of Houston, which is able to tackle the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the divisional spherical subsequent weekend.
Ravens bully the Steelers and present their speeding assault is nothing to mess with
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and working again Derrick Henry is perhaps sufficient on their very own to hold the Ravens deep into the playoffs – they usually confirmed why Saturday in a 28-14 thumping of the Steelers.
The thunder-and-lightning duo highlighted a Baltimore working assault that went for a workforce postseason-record 299 yards, pacing the Ravens to a 28-14 win over their AFC North rivals.
Henry ran for 186 yards on 26 powerful carries, punishing the Steeler protection repeatedly with runs proper into the enamel of the line of defense. He discovered the fitting seams, breaking for an extended landing run and a shorter bruiser for his two scores.
Jackson in the meantime was electrical as solely he might be. He rushed 15 instances for 81 yards whereas additionally finishing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The rowdy 70,000 followers at M&T Financial institution Stadium routinely serenaded their star with chants of “M-V-P!”
After the sport, Jackson mentioned watching Henry run is like being in a film – “Vehicles,” particularly.
“You understand when Lightning McQueen simply flying, flashing previous?” Jackson mentioned. “That’s how Derrick appears to be like when he’s passing all these guys. And it appear to be a film, bro.”
Jackson and Henry merely ran by means of, round and over the Steelers’ protection on an enormous drive to start out the sport, going 95 yards to open the scoring. The most important play of the drive was Henry taking a direct snap and discovering a seam within the Steelers’ entrance seven, bursting for 34 yards in a play that was punctuated by a brutal stiff arm that despatched Steelers star security Minkah Fitzpatrick reeling. Head coach John Harbaugh mentioned that play was put into the playbook particularly for this sport towards the Steelers.
The following drive confirmed it could be a bruising evening for Pittsburgh. It was an 85-yard, 13-play drive within the second quarter that featured precisely zero passes. It ended with Henry pounding by means of the tackles yet one more time to get into the tip zone, placing an exclamation level on a bodily dominating drive.
It will find yourself being the story of the sport because the Steelers by no means obtained nearer than two touchdowns once more.
Josh Allen is simply unstoppable
These “M-V-P” chants rang round Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Sunday afternoon as Payments quarterback Josh Allen confirmed why it’s such a decent decide between him and Jackson for the award.
Allen made some actually jaw-dropping throws on Sunday towards the Broncos and used his toes to select up some key first downs within the first half as Denver jumped out to an early lead.
It was a play within the third quarter that really exemplified the place Allen’s sport is at proper now. On fourth and brief close to Denver’s finish zone, Buffalo determined to go for it and Allen bounced round within the pocket, scanning for a receiver. Because the move rush closed in, it appeared like it might be a killer sack.
However simply on the final second, Allen was in a position to unfurl a stunning move to the again of the tip zone for working again Ty Johnson, who made an equally superb catch – sliding and managing to maintain his toes inbounds – for his or her second landing connection of the afternoon. The rating was the twenty second postseason passing TD of Allen’s profession, surpassing Corridor of Famer Jim Kelly for essentially the most in franchise playoff historical past.
The fourth quarter began with one other landing move from Allen, who linked with Curtis Samuel on a third-and-6 move for what would have been a primary down. However Samuel went one higher, spinning out of a sort out and sprinting to the tip zone for a superb 55-yard landing.
From there, the ultimate quarter was a formality because the Payments defeated the Broncos, 31-7.
The Payments victory implies that there will probably be a completely epic showdown within the divisional spherical subsequent week: Allen and the Payments vs. Jackson and the Ravens. It’ll be a matchup of two main MVP candidates who had been on the high of their sport throughout this opening spherical.
Voting for the MVP award came about on the finish of the common season, however perhaps everybody ought to agree that the winner of that sport takes dwelling the award?
CNN’s Ben Morse and Homero De La Fuente contributed to this report.
