The NFL gave us this weekend one of the best – and surprising – Wild Card Rounds of recent years, with Baker Mayfield’s Cleveland Browns being the main protagonists.
In addition, the day also left us with painful defeats that would cause changes in the sports structures of various teams. Among them, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will have to meditate if they can get to a Super Bowl still with the future Hall of Fame, ‘Big Ben’.
Without further ado, here are the 15 takeaways from this postseason start:
1. The Bills won their first playoff game in 25 years. The defense allowed 472 yards and the offensive line struggled all afternoon. But success is vital to the confidence of Josh Allen and put the loss to Houston last year in the rearview mirror. #NFLxESPN
2. The Colts dominated the entire first half against the Bills and found themselves down on the scoreboard. Questionable decisions and poor execution. Sabermetrics is a tool, not the bible. If this was the end of Philip Rivers, it was nice to see him play and he’s Hall of Fame in my book. #NFLxESPN
3. The Rams defense is the best in the NFL; They recorded 5 captures and by air there is no one better. Cam Akers is the attack card. They have their 2 QBs between cottons, although both should be available. If Donald and Kupp are okay, the Rams are dangerous. #NFLxESPN
4. Russell Wilson had the fifth-worst passer rating of his career, and he didn’t look like himself in the second half of the season. The offensive line was a disaster again and Brian Schottenheimer showed little inventiveness from the wings. Ugly goodbye to the Seattle season. #NFLxESPN
5. The Buccaneers had their first playoff win in 18 years. The simple explanation is Tom Brady, who showed all his validity and played a great game. At the same time, I am concerned about Tampa Bay’s defense through the air, which will have to improve a lot if they want to be candidates. #NFLxESPN
2:27
With a very close game, the Buccaneers beat Washington 31-23.
6. The marshal Taylor Heinicke, who is going to be a free agent, earned several dollars and at least one reserve role with his great performance for Washington. It’s very probable that Alex Smith, with its incredible history, retire. Washington’s talented defense was left to duty. #NFLxESPN
7. Lamar Jackson he pulled the gorilla off his back, which meant getting his first playoff victory. You can contain it several plays, but at the minimum it fails, it burns you on the ground. The Ravens defense did a phenomenal job and limited to Derrick Henry at 40 yards. #NFLxESPN
8. While defense was Tennessee’s biggest problem all season, and they need to look for pass-rushers urgently, it was offense that disappointed against Baltimore. After an encouraging start, they were punctured and Derrick Henry found no spaces. #NFLxESPN
9. The Saints defense has been phenomenal in the last 10 games, and that trend continued against Chicago. Drew Brees He played a decent game, and will celebrate his 42nd birthday big on Friday. Will Lutz has missed four of his last seven field goals. #NFLxESPN
10. The lack of aggressiveness of the Chicago offense confirms the lack of confidence they have in Mitchell Trubisky, who probably played his last attempt as the Bears’ QB. Chicago’s defense did their part, but they finished the year 1-7 against winning teams. #NFLxESPN
11. The Browns hadn’t won a playoff game since 1994, had lost 17 in a row at Heinz Field, couldn’t practice for several days, and their coach wasn’t on the wing. Of course they forced five losses and were up 28-0 before the end of the 1st quarter. #NFLxESPN
12. Nick Chubb He is one of the best running backs in the NFL and I am very happy for the Browns fans, who have suffered so much. #NFLxESPN
13. The Steelers became the first team in history to lead the league in the sack department in four straight years, and they didn’t record any sacks in elimination against the Browns. #NFLxESPN
14. Ben Roethlisberger He had a game to forget, although I find it difficult to see him retiring after such a bad game. If he decides to retire, he still has 22 million in dead money, so logic would tell me that he restructures and plays one more year. We’ll see … #NFLxESPN
1:50
The Browns dominated the first half over the Steelers, who tried to overcome the score without succeeding.
15. Fact to consider: From 2000 to today, the teams that swept a two-game regular-season series against divisional rivalry won 75 percent of the third playoff games between them. #NFLxESPN
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