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Santiago Leon and Dan Madden recap the 2024 NFL Divisional Playoffs Weekend.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden – @danimal2478
NFL PLAYOFFS RECAP
Texans at Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens beat the Houston Texans 34-10 in the AFC Divisional Round. The Ravens scored first on a 53-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, but the Texans tied the game 10-10 at the end of the first quarter with a 50-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn. The Ravens struggled to move the ball and protect quarterback Lamar Jackson in the second half, but Jackson’s two touchdown passes and two running scores helped the Ravens win.
Jackson made some more history Saturday, becoming the first quarterback since at least 1948 — in the regular season or playoffs — with at least two touchdown passes, two TD runs, 100 yards rushing and a 100 passer rating in the same game.
Stroud threw for 175 yards and didn’t take a sack against a tough Baltimore defensive front, but the Texans dropped to 0-5 in the divisional round of the playoffs. They’re the only current franchise that hasn’t reached a conference championship game.
Packers at 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-21
- Christian McCaffrey’s 69-yard drive capped off the game-winning touchdown with 1:07 remaining on the clock.
- The Packers outplayed the 49ers for most of the game.
- The Packers scored six points in the first half on three red-zone trips.
- The Packers went three-and-out, missed a field goal, and had a turnover on three fourth-quarter possessions.
- Anders Carlson missed a kick for the sixth straight game.
- Dre Greenlaw’s second interception of the game sealed the victory for the 49ers.
Purdy — who struggled with his accuracy early on a rainy night — threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, and McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries.
Aaron Jones finished with 108 yards on 18 carries for the Packers, and Love was 21 of 34 for 194 yards for the Packers, who overcame a 2-5 start to the season to make it this far.
Bucs at Lions
The Detroit Lions defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23.
The Lions won with three touchdowns in the second half, and quarterback Jared Goff threw for 287 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also scored a touchdown and gained 114 yards.
The Lions’ victory advanced them to the NFC championship game, their first since 1992.
- First half: The Lions open with a 23-yard field goal, and the Buccaneers tie with a 43-yard field goal on the next drive. Tampa Bay also ties the game with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Cade Otton with 19 seconds left in the half.
- Second half: The Lions win with three touchdowns in the second half.
Jared Goff finished 30 of 43 for 287 yards and directed an efficient second-half offense for the Lions, who had long touchdown drives on three consecutive possessions. St. Brown had eight catches for 77 yards, and his TD catch capped a masterful 10-play, 89-yard drive.
Baker Mayfield threw three TD passes for Tampa Bay (10-9), including a 16-yard toss to Mike Evans that got the Bucs within one score with 4:37 left.
Mayfield was 26 of 41 for 349 yards. His early pick went off Mike Evans’ hands, and his late one was an ill-advised throw.
Chiefs at Bills
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 27-24 in the 2024 NFL Divisional Round on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at Highmark Stadium. The Chiefs’ victory advanced them to their sixth consecutive AFC championship game and set up a conference championship matchup with the Baltimore Ravens
In the game, Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes to Travis Kelce, and finished with 17 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Allen finished with 258 total yards, a passing touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns.
With just under two minutes left in the game, Tyler Bass’s field goal attempt sailed to the right of the uprights, ending the Bills’ season.
Mahomes was 17 of 23 for 215 yards, and the two TD passes to Kelce were the 15th and 16th times they’ve combined for scores in the playoffs. They have one more than Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski for the NFL record for most playoff TDs for a quarterback-receiver combination.
Allen went 26 of 39 for 186 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for two scores. His team-leading 72 yards rushing increased his career playoff total to 563, the second most among NFL quarterbacks in league history and trailing only Steve Young (594).
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.