2018 QB Class Dominates AFC Wild Card Weekend 2020
2018 QB Class Dominates AFC Wild Card Weekend
With the expansion of the NFL playoffs, the wild card round moved from two games per conference to three. In the AFC, all seven seeds had a record of 11-5 or better and all had a chance to make a run at the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, only three teams can move on, so let us analyze how these three games played out and what is ahead.
Josh Allen leads Bills to Tight Win over Colts
To kick off wild card weekend, the two-seeded Buffalo Bills hosted the seven-seeded Indianapolis Colts. In a close battle, Buffalo prevailed a stingy Colts squad on their way to a 27-24 victory. In the victory, QB Josh Allen went 26/35 with 324 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also led the ground attack with 54 yards and a touchdown to add to his big day. WR Stefon Diggs continued his success from the regular season, going 6-128-1, leading all receivers in the game. Defensively, the Bills defined “bend but don’t break”, allowing the Colts into opponent’s territory on every drive of the game, but giving up just three touchdowns in the narrow victory.
As for the Colts, it was an extremely tough loss that came down to a few miscues. Early on, the Colts elected to go for it on fourth down rather than kick the field goal and ended up failing to convert, keeping the score at 10-7 Colts. Another miscue was a missed field goal by K Rodrigo Blankenship. These two factors ended up playing pivotal roles in the outcome of the game. In what might have been his last game ever, QB Philip Rivers battled, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.
Ravens D Contains Henry as Lamar Earns First Playoff W
In a rematch from last year’s divisional round, the Baltimore Ravens faced the Tennessee Titans in a very even matchup. Both teams are run-based and want to win on the ground. On this day, Baltimore had the upper hand, winning by a narrow score of 20-13. QB Lamar Jackson totaled 315 yards and a touchdown in his first playoff victory, highlighted by a 48-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game after falling behind early. RB’s J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards chipped into the rushing attack as well, totaling 17 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown by Dobbins. As for the receiving core, it was pretty much quite outside WR Marquise Brown, who had 109 yards on seven grabs. Defensively, the Ravens did an extraordinary job of containing RB Derrick Henry, holding him to 40 rushing yards. CB Marcus Peters had the game-sealing interception as well.
After storming out to a 10-0 lead, the Titans’ offense went dull and got nothing going in the second half. QB Ryan Tannehill had a pedestrian day, going 18/26 with 165 yards with a touchdown and interception. Tennessee was dominated on the line of scrimmage and struggled to move the chains, going 4/12 on third down in the defeat.
With the Ravens and Bills winning, they will now face off in a heavyweight matchup in the divisional round. The last two quarterbacks in the first round taken in the 2018 draft will have a chance to advance to the AFC championship game in what should be a great game. Because they are the five-seed, the Ravens will be traveling to Buffalo on Saturday night. The big question is, who will come out on top?
Browns Stun Steelers in Blowout Fashion
After a week of chatter and trash talk, the Cleveland Browns let their play do the talking against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a game where they had no head coach and three starters out due to COVID-19, the Browns stomped on the Steelers, who were heavily favored, by a score of 48-37. In his first-ever playoff game, QB Baker Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers, complementing a dominant run game. Speaking of the run game, the dynamic duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb combined for a line of 26-114-2, with both rushing touchdowns scored by Hunt. WR Jarvis Landry led the air raid with 92 yards and a touchdown. TE Austin Hooper and Chubb also had receiving touchdowns in the victory. While they did not sack QB Ben Roethlisberger, the Browns brought pressure the entire game, forcing five turnovers which led to 24 of the Browns 48 points. CB M.J. Stewart and LB B.J. Goodson led the way with 10 tackles each.
As for Pittsburgh, this is as bad of a loss as you can suffer. On the first snap of the game, C Maurkice Pouncey snapped the ball over Roethlisberger’s head, leading to a defensive touchdown by the Browns. That was the first of five turnovers from a team that was supposed to win this game in blowout fashion. Instead, they were the ones getting blown out. Cleveland controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game and imposed their will on a usually stout Pittsburgh front. The Steelers looked lethargic and rusty from start to finish and did not look ready to play a playoff game.
With the win, the Browns will now try to slay the dragon by going into Arrowhead and defeating the one-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, who are also the defending champions. The game will be Sunday at 3:05 P.M. ET.
Info from profootballreference.com
Writer
-By: Richie Dordas