NFL
Reviewing Every NFL Game from Super Wild Card Weekend
See the most entertaining highlights, best facts to know, and major takeaways from every NFL Super Wild Card Weekend game!
PSO via USA TODAY Sports
Super Wild Card Weekend certainly lived up to its name with a weekend full of exciting matchups to keep the NFL fanbase entertained. To get things started, the Bills got their first playoff win in a quarter during a tight game against the Colts, and later the Rams upset Seattle on the road. Day 1 concluded with an inspiring performance from WAS backup QB Taylor Heinicke, who was signed to the practice squad just weeks before making just his second career start and going toe-to-toe with Tom Brady.
Lamar Jackson earned the first playoff win of his career, getting the monkey off his back and helping Baltimore get revenge on Tennessee. The Saints dominated Chicago with their offense back to full health, and Wild Card Weekend finished with a bang as the Cleveland Browns got a postseason victory for the first time since 1994 as they stormed off to a 24-0 lead.
Enjoy PSO’s Premium Review for every NFL game from Super Wild Card Weekend:
KEY FACT: Buffalo Bills have won a playoff game for the 1st time since 1995, a year before Josh Allen was born (1996)
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
THIS DUO. @JoshAllenQB @StefonDiggs #BillsMafia
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2021
📺: #INDvsBUF on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5sY57d5FGR pic.twitter.com/GmcVY7d4m7
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Philip Rivers is the last QB a team would want to lead them on a GW-drive with the season on the line
In what could very well have been Philip Rivers’ last NFL game, he once again came up just short of postseason advancement. With only five postseason wins in his career, Rivers has just one game-winning drive in the playoffs, which ironically came against his current team in 2009. Saturday’s game was no exception though, and now it is speculated that Rivers may retire with his contract set to expire in IND and him hinting at it a few weeks ago. Despite his playoff shortcomings and disappointing results when it matters most late in games, Rivers’ career has been a resounding success and he likely has earned a spot in Canton.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): @BUF (-340) d. IND (+275) 27-24 [IND +7 | o50.5]
BUF STOCK PRICE: $16.25 | IND STOCK PRICE: $13.75
KEY FACT: Cam Akers had the 2nd most YScm (176) by a rookie in his playoff debut in NFL history
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
DARIOUS WILLIAMS PICK-6 #RamsHouse
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2021
📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/eO7M1HRW6M pic.twitter.com/Qlikkil8ll
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Cam Akers had one of the best playoff debuts of all-time
When opportunity knocked, Cam Akers answered the door and showed out. After Darrell Henderson went on the IR with a high ankle sprain, Akers was moved up the depth chart and did not disappoint. He took advantage of the Seattle Seahawks’ injured defense and dominated, totaling 176 scrimmage yards, which was the most by a rookie in his playoff debut since 1960. Akers will likely take over the Rams’ running game for their playoff run going forward after showing he is more than capable of doing so. Akers not only had one of the greatest postseason debuts ever, but also proved he could be the Rams featured back of the future as well.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): LAR (+152) d. @SEA (-180) 30-20 [LAR +3 | o42.5]
LAR STOCK PRICE: $11.11 | SEA STOCK PRICE: $12.63
KEY FACT: Tom Brady has eliminated more teams (17) in the postseason than any other QB in NFL history has playoff wins
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
TAYLOR HEINICKE. #WashingtonFootball
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2021
📺: #TBvsWAS on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/yWHeL8jeLS pic.twitter.com/LsIkR1vyOV
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Tampa Bay has the greatest collection of weapons ever assembled
While Tom Brady vs. Taylor Heinicke is the biggest playoff QB mismatch of all-time on paper, the argument could be made that Heinicke outplayed the GOAT when looking at the film where he rarely had any inaccurate passes and picked up crucial first downs and touchdowns with his legs, adding a dimension to the game Brady is unable to replicate. However, what lifted Tampa Bay over Washington was it’s arsenal of weapons coming to play opposed to Washington’s WRs that completely underwhelmed.
The Bucs had a couple drops that cost them some extra yards, but not nearly as prevalent or monumental as DC’s pass-catchers consistently unable to bring in accurate passes from the former practice squad signal-caller. While Tampa’s secondary deserves some credit for knocking balls loose and making it hard on them to corral some 50/50 balls, many times it was just a simple drop. On the other side, Tampa Bay was able to make Washington’s solid secondary look suspect as they got open with ease, making Brady’s life much easier, and lived up to their names in their first playoff game together.
Having Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski all on the same team might be the best trio of pass catchers to ever wear the same uniform. Add Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate, Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, and Scotty Miller, and this is unquestionably the most talented group of skill players on the same team, and that proved to be the difference in their matchup with the Washington Football Team.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): TB (-500) d. @WAS (+385) 31-24 [WAS +10 | o45]
TB STOCK PRICE: $14.67 | WAS STOCK PRICE: $11.67
KEY FACT: Baltimore Ravens have the most RUSH YDS (1,573) in a 6-game span (including playoffs) since 1950
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
LAMAR JACKSON. 49 YARDS. TOUCHDOWN. #RavensFlock @lj_era8
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2021
📺: #BALvsTEN on ESPN/ABC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/ENQWXuJbe8 pic.twitter.com/yZNUr2CWFK
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Lamar Jackson has accomplished more by age 24 than almost any QB ever
At just 24 years old, Lamar Jackson has already won MVP, made the All-Pro 1st Team, and a Pro Bowl while also becoming the youngest quarterback to ever start a playoff game at just 21 years old in 2019. One major thing was holding him back in critics’ eyes however: he flopped in the playoffs.
After taking control and leaving Nashville, TN with a victory on Sunday, Jackson and the Ravens took all the preconceived notions about how they’ve performed in the postseason over the last few years under Jackson’s leadership and squashed them. The narrative that the Titans “own them,” “Lamar can’t win a playoff game,” and that they “can’t come from behind” were all put to rest thanks to another commanding performance by their QB who showed how dynamic he is with the ball in his hands and can win games without passing that effectively.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): BAL (-188) d. @TEN (+158) 20-13 [BAL -3.5 | u53.5]
BAL STOCK PRICE: $10.48 | TEN STOCK PRICE: $12.94
KEY FACT: New Orleans Saints allowed the fewest PTS (9) & total YDS (239) in a playoff game in franchise history
BEST HIGHLIGHTS:
.@CantGuardMike is BACK. #ForNOLA #SuperWildCard
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2021
📺: #CHIvsNO on CBS / NICK / Prime Video
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/somlcvX71N pic.twitter.com/3fcGRZCGiE
Brees to Thomas for 38 yards! #ForNOLA
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2021
📺: #CHIvsNO on CBS / NICK / Prime Video
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/somlcvX71N pic.twitter.com/WtzK22p4zy
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: When fully healthy, the Saints are as good as any team in the NFL
The Saints have gone through a majority of their season without one of their three most important players as Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, and Alvin Kamara have now only played four games together this season. New Orleans is 4-0 in those games with two big victories over Tampa Bay along with dominant wins over putrid offenses in Chicago and an injured 49ers squad. The emergence of Deonte Harris in this WC game gives NOLA another weapon at their disposal, providing Sean Payton with the most options he’s had all year. The Saints barely lost to the Chiefs in Week 15 without Brees or Thomas. With them, they can beat anyone.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): @NO (-560) d. CHI (+420) 21-9 [NO -11 | u48]
NO STOCK PRICE: $11.43 | CHI STOCK PRICE: $10.00
KEY FACT: Cleveland Browns posted the most 1st half PTS (35) by a road team in NFL playoff history
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
Cleveland’s fourth interception of the night! @STakitaki #WeWantMore
— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2021
📺: #CLEvsPIT on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/1RAy8atRT2 pic.twitter.com/UBNSAVGqZh
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: The Cleveland Browns just won their Super Bowl
After a year like 2020, of course it’s the Cleveland Browns who can finally claim a victory in the postseason. It took 26 years, but the Browns finally came full circle and earned their first playoff win since 1994 in the biggest way possible: by taking down their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. Of all 31 other teams, there’s no opponent the Browns would rather beat that the Steelers who have consistently got the better of them and owned a 17-year streak of beating their division-rival in Pittsburgh. Not this time, not in 2021 in what could be Big Ben’s final time playing against the team he never lost to at home before this day.
From PIT’s very first offensive snap that went over the head of Roethlisberger and ended in a Browns TD, CLE dominated all the way until the end. Scoring a whopping 28 points in the first quarter alone and holding a 35-10 halftime lead, the Dawg Pound shut down the Steel City and never looked back. No matter what happens going forward, Browns fans can celebrate like they won the Championship this year, because for the Browns, this was their Super Bowl.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): CLE (+194) d. @PIT (-235) 48-37 [CLE +5.5 | o47.5]
CLE STOCK PRICE: $13.75 | PIT STOCK PRICE: $13.33
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