The 2023-2024 Wild Card Weekend games have concluded, and now only eight teams remain in the hunt for a Super Bowl title. This is a quick recap of the games played this weekend.
AFC:
C.J. Stroud looked unreal in an absolute domination of the league's best-rated defense.
Stroud scored three times and got most of the attention, but Houston's defense deserves serious commendation. The Texans held the Browns to 14 points and scored 14 of their own on two pick-sixes. Kareem Hunt was the Browns' only scorer and Flacco struggled to handle Houston's blitzes. Stroud's Texans will go to Baltimore to face another elite defense in the #1 Ravens.
Josh Allen rolled on the visiting Steelers with three touchdown passes and a 52-yard rushing score. Mason Rudolph and the Steelers never went away but ultimately couldn't keep up with the Bills. Rudolph showed poise and got the game back to one score early in the final quarter, playing well enough to give the Steelers some quarterback questions to ponder this offseason. The #2 Bills will now host the #3 Chiefs in what will be an absolutely massive Divisional Round showdown between two of the league's best quarterbacks.
The Chiefs won one of the coldest games in playoff history against the visiting Dolphins, whose offense appeared frozen solid. Miami didn't convert a third down until the fourth quarter and only scored on a reliable deep ball to former Chief Tyreek Hill. Mahomes controlled a game that featured as much explosion as the subzero temperatures would allow. The Chiefs will be feeling the cold again next week when they travel to Buffalo to play the # 2 Bills.
NFC:
Jordan Love looked like a young Aaron Rodgers as the #7 Packers went straight through Dan Quinn's Cowboys defense. Love scored three times and running back Aaron Jones had a monster night, racking up 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Ceedee Lamb struggled and MVP Candidate Dak Prescott threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, as the Cowboys' playoff woes continue. The Packers will go to San Francisco next week against the #1 49ers.
Jared Goff and the Lions managed to spoil Matthew Stafford's return to Detroit in a close one-point game. Matthew Stafford put up an impressive 120.9 passer rating but could never get ahead, as the Lions led from first points onwards. The Rams went 0/3 in the red zone, while Detroit's Goff was 22-22 when free from pressure. Detroit will host their second playoff game in 30 years (and a week) when the #4 Bucs come to town.
The Eagles looked the worst they've looked all year in a total collapse on Monday night. Philadelphia couldn't tackle and went 0/9 and 0/2 on third and fourth downs respectively. They scored a meager nine points while Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White cut up the crumbling Eagles defense. Mayfield had an impressive 337 yards and three touchdowns. The Bucs will travel to Detroit next week to play the Lions.
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