Jordan Stephenson
South Bureau Chief
This 2023-24 NFL season was definitely an extraordinary season of football, because of all the storylines and parity in the NFL, and the playoffs has assuredly already been even more intriguing to watch. The Wildcard weekend playoff games and the Divisional playoff games took place the past couple of weeks. In those Wildcard weekend playoff games and the Divisional playoff games, there were quite a few of upset alerts that were extremely unexpected and upset alerts that I called in advance before the games.
The Texans unexpectedly upset the Browns, by defeating them 45-14 in a surprising blowout win. C.J. Stroud threw 16-21 for 274 yards, with three touchdowns in his 1 st playoffgame, and became the youngest QB to win a playoff game in NFL history. Nico Collins had six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Flacco played terrible and threw two costly interceptions, especially a pick six to Steven Nelson for a pivotal 82-yard interception return touchdown.
Tyreek Hill finally returned to ArrowHead for the 1 st time to play against his former team for the 2 nd time that traded him. The Chiefs expectedly defeated the Dolphins 26-7, in a top five coldest game in NFL history (-five degrees). Patrick Mahomes threw 23-41 for 262 yards with one touchdown, rookie Rashee Rice had eight receptions for 130 yards with a touchdown, and last but not least, Isiah Pacheco rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown. Even though the Dolphins lost, Tyreek Hill in his return had five receptions for 62 yards. Also, I felt that if the Dolphins were more healthy on defense, they would’ve definitely had a better chance of winning, but all in all they made the playoffs again and Tua Tagovailoa had his 1 st vital playoff experience.
The Bills vs Steelers game was postponed to MLK Day because of huge inches of snow, and the fans still had to bring their own shovels to shovel out snow from their seats. The Bills expectedly defeated the Steelers 31-17 in a typical playoff game. Josh Allen had a combined 274 passing and rushing yards, also with three total touchdowns. I don’t judge the Cowboys in the regular season, but in the playoffs like the 76ers in the NBA, mainly because they always seem to fold and come up short in the playoffs. As me and other people predicted, the Cowboys folded and got utterly exposed again in a 48-32 egregious blowout loss to the Packers at home.
Jordan Love threw 16-21 for 272 yards and three touchdowns in his 1 st playoff with the youngest team in the league on the road. Also, Aaron Jones accumulated 118 scrimmage yards with three total touchdowns, and Romeo Doubs had six receptions for 152 yards with a touchdown. Prescott had “empty calorie” stats with 403 passing yards, and three touchdowns, but he had two pivotal 1 st half interceptions, especially a pick six to Darnell Savage for a detrimental 64-yard interception return touchdown.
The Rams vs Lions game was extremely intriguing, because Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff were traded for each other a couple of years ago, and this was definitely an emotional homecoming for Stafford and his wonderful family. The Lions defeated the Rams in a close 24- 23 win, that proved to be the closest and most intense playoff game that weekend. Amon-Ra St. Brown had seven receptions for 110 yards, Goff threw a touchdown and both running backs had a rushing touchdown. Stafford had 367 passing yards with two touchdowns, and rookie receiver Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 181 yards with a touchdown. The Buccaneers defeated the reeling Eagles 32-9 in a blowout win. Baker Mayfield had 336 passing yards and three touchdowns to carry them, even though DeVonta Smith had eight receptions for 148 yards.
Stroud and the Texans had to battle the best team in the league, in the Ravens, who ultimately defeated the Texans 34-10. Lamar had his best playoff game by far by accumulating 252 combined passing and rushing yards, with four total touchdowns. The 49ers defeated the Packers 24-21, in a close intriguing game. Christian McCaffery carried them by having 128 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns, and Brock Purdy finally led them on a game winning drive, after being down late in the 4 th quarter, but the Packers missed field goal definitely looms large.
The Lions defeated the Buccaneers 31-23, in another close game. Goff threw 30-42 for 287 yards and two touchdowns, even though Mayfield had 349 passing yards with three touchdowns and two costly interceptions. The Chiefs defeated the Bills 27-24, in another close and entertaining matchup between these teams. Mahomes had 215 passing yards and two touchdowns, even though Allen had 258 passing and rushing yards and three total touchdowns; the Bills chance to win was plummeted by a missed clutch field goal.
Both Conference Championship games will be on Sunday, January 28. The 1 st game is Chiefs vs Ravens, and I’m picking the Ravens to win. The last game is Lions vs 49ers, and I’m picking the 49ers to ultimately win. So, I essentially think it’ll be the Ravens vs 49ers battling in the Superbowl.
caption: Jackson’s dominant playoff performance. Photo courtesy of ESPN.com