Josh Allen has performed loads of playoff video games the place, it doesn’t matter what he did, the Buffalo Payments would come up brief. Sunday’s wild-card win confirmed Allen’s want to let his recreation dictate the end result.
With Buffalo trailing late, struggling to muster a lot on the bottom towards a stout Jaguars defence, Allen did what franchise quarterbacks are paid to do in January: he put the group on his again.
On fourth-and-inches with simply over a minute left, Buffalo put its season in Allen’s fingers. He took a quarterback sneak for the primary down, stored his legs churning, and turned the play into the momentum that in the end sealed the win.
This was no simple recreation for Allen to navigate. The Payments quarterback absorbed a number of heavy hits and twice disappeared into the medical tent, but by no means altered his strategy — persevering with to ask and ship punishment when the second demanded it.
“When your quarterback’s that kind of warrior, that kind of competitor, it simply goes by the entire group,” Payments coach Sean McDermott instructed reporters after his group’s 27-24 win.
Extra spectacular than Allen’s willingness to tackle punishment for the win was his self-discipline and decision-making. This was not an evening of reckless gambles or compelled hero throws. He operated with persistence, leaned on high-percentage completions.
For a franchise lengthy outlined by post-season frustration, Sunday represented a breakthrough. The Payments rallied from a late deficit for his or her first such playoff win and ended a greater than three-decade stretch since their final street victory within the post-season.
Jacksonville had alternatives, particularly on the finish of the sport, offering Buffalo with an opportunity to give you the massive play that eluded them in prior years.
A tipped go by Tre’Davious White into the fingers of Cole Bishop ended any hopes of a comeback for Jacksonville and eased any considered one other playoff collapse.
In the long run, Allen set the desk, however the Payments nonetheless wanted the remainder of the group to come back collectively to make sure their quarterback’s effort wasn’t going to be wasted.
With no Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs standing of their method, the Payments have to be ok with their possibilities as they get set to tackle the AFC-leading Denver Broncos.
Patriots get job carried out, however room for enchancment
The New England Patriots have been seeking to present that they have been prepared to hold the legacy left behind, and the primary impression was actually a constructive one.
Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel handed the primary take a look at in a commanding 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers — the Patriots’ first playoff win since Feb. 2019.
Whereas many Patriots followers are excited to see their group again in competition, some shaky moments should be addressed going ahead.
Maye struggled to guard the soccer because the Patriots quarterback had two turnovers and struggled to get factors within the pink zone, as he was 0-for-3 in these conditions.
On the finish of the day, Maye additionally reminded individuals why he’s a frontrunner for the MVP award. He completed with 66 yards on 10 carries, together with a essential fourth-down play the place he confirmed some nice deception.
His landing go to Hunter Henry was a clutch throw in a strain second that confirmed that, whereas he had some tough moments, Maye is greater than able to delivering within the robust moments.
Whereas Maye obtained a lot of the consideration from the win, his defence deserves loads of credit score for the robust problem they introduced to the Charters.
In accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez didn’t permit a reception on any of his 5 targets throughout 26 protection snaps.
The New England defence additionally allowed only one completion on 10 makes an attempt on third down. If that is the kind of efficiency we will anticipate from the Patriots’ defence going ahead, they might be in line for a protracted playoff run.
New England will face the winner of Monday’s wild-card finale between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers to find out the ultimate matchup within the divisional spherical subsequent weekend.
Herbert, Chargers bullied in one other robust playoff loss
Justin Herbert doubtless wanted a number of ice packs after seeing extra time down on the sphere than within the endzone towards the Patriots.
After getting sacked six instances in one other lacklustre playoff efficiency, the Chargers proceed to search for their first post-season win with Herbert behind centre.
Herbert completed 19-of-31 passing for 159 yards, zero touchdowns and nil interceptions and now owns an 0-3 playoff file. To be truthful, Herbert didn’t have loads of help because the Chargers had 87 speeding yards, with 57 yards being registered by their quarterback.
As The Athletic’s James Palmer famous from Subsequent Gen Stats, Herbert was hit an NFL-leading 129 instances this season, 18 greater than some other quarterback. He additionally confronted extra strain than some other quarterback.
Simply to provide you an thought of how troublesome it has been for Herbert within the post-season, San Francisco 49ers receiver Juan Jennings now has the identical variety of passing touchdowns within the playoffs because the Chargers quarterback.
It is really a disgrace contemplating the L.A. defence held the Patriots to simply six factors within the first half. Sadly, the margin for error was fairly slim for Chargers’ defence, and till they discover a technique to defend Herbert and get a run recreation going, they’re going to wrestle to take that subsequent step.
Lawrence learns one other robust playoff lesson
In a one-possession playoff loss, the margin for error is unforgiving — and for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, there have been too many expensive moments to disregard.
The errors surfaced early. Lawrence threw an interception that gifted Buffalo three factors, then later got here up inches brief on a fourth-down run when his shin hit the turf earlier than the road to realize, erasing one other prime scoring alternative. In a recreation determined by three factors, these moments loomed massive.
The ultimate and most decisive error arrived with 59 seconds left and Jacksonville driving for a possible tying discipline purpose. Simply as Buffalo confronted criticism for leaving time on the clock, Lawrence’s go was tipped and intercepted, sealing the Payments’ win and ending the Jaguars’ season.
It was a irritating distinction to Lawrence’s late-season kind. He entered the playoffs after throwing 15 touchdowns towards only one interception over his ultimate six regular-season video games. Whereas he confirmed flashes Sunday — together with rallying Jacksonville twice within the fourth quarter — turnovers as soon as once more proved his undoing.
This marked Lawrence’s first multi-interception recreation since late November, and it provides to an uncomfortable post-season development. He now has seven interceptions throughout three profession playoff begins — not the résumé a franchise quarterback needs hooked up to his title.
What makes the loss sting most is that, regardless of the errors, Lawrence nonetheless had Jacksonville in place to win. In accordance with ESPN, he turned simply the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw a number of go-ahead landing passes within the fourth quarter of a playoff loss.
49ers show nice coronary heart regardless of robust accidents
A not-so-comfortable however acquainted theme as soon as once more introduced a troublesome hurdle for the San Francisco 49ers of their pursuit of a Tremendous Bowl… accidents.
On defence, these accidents have been an element all season lengthy, with stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner coping with important illnesses.
Accidents are a standard hurdle for groups, and the 49ers’ resolve was put to the take a look at when certainly one of their star offensive gamers was carted off. All-Professional tight finish George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon within the second quarter, ending his post-season and taking away an vital weapon for Brock Purdy.
San Francisco wanted to discover a technique to maintain pushing ahead, and it led to some surprising contributors stepping up.
Demarcus Robinson got here into the sport with 22 receptions for 276 yards and one landing throughout 14 video games within the common season. He was not anticipated to be a significant component, however he was precisely that with six catches on seven targets for 111 yards and a landing.
As vital as Robinson’s contribution was in Kittle’s absence, Christian McCaffrey continued to remind everybody why he’s the workhorse of this offence.
The dynamic working again got here up large in crunch time with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, together with one on a trick play. Credit score head coach Kyle Shanahan for trusting Jennings to search out McCaffrey for a 29-yard rating.
Regardless of a quieter recreation by three quarters, there was no denying the affect McCaffrey made late within the recreation, as he additionally secured the game-winning landing.
To not be neglected was the play of Eric Kendricks, who led the 49ers with six stops on 10 tackles, together with two tackles for loss and a go break-up on fourth down that secured the win. Kendricks didn’t come off the sphere on defence, certainly one of 4 Niners defenders to play all 72 defensive performs, in keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.
This can be a participant who was signed on the observe roster again on Nov. 26 and solely performed within the ultimate three regular-season video games.
The trail ahead would not get any simpler for the 49ers, however their means to adapt and push by adversity shouldn’t be neglected.
Eagles’ offensive letdown leaves main questions going ahead
Philadelphia followers have been rightfully pissed off by what they have been watching from their offence towards the 49ers.
The Eagles’ defence supplied many alternatives for the offence to take management of the sport, intercepting Purdy twice. Nonetheless, the Eagles scored simply three factors off the turnovers.
In the long run, the offensive effort price the Eagles their probability to repeat as champions, one thing that was a lingering concern going into the playoffs.
A part of the issue was that Jalen Hurts regarded nothing like a Tremendous Bowl MVP, throwing for less than 168 yards and a landing.
As admirable because it was for the Eagles quarterback to take possession for the loss, there was actually sufficient blame to go round. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has been on the recent seat for a lot of the season because the group struggled to get the explosive performs on offence that have been a staple to their championship run.
Then there was the sideline confrontation between head coach Nick Sirianni and receiver A.J. Brown. Each obtained up and shut and needed to be separated by coaches and gamers.
How this all will get resolved within the low season shall be one thing to observe, contemplating the expectations within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love.
