NFL
Patriots win first playoff game since Brady’s departure
The Super Bowl takes place at Levi’s Stadium just outside San Francisco – on the way home the 49ers throw out the defending champions. The Patriots are celebrating for the first time in seven years.
The New England Patriots won a playoff game in the NFL for the first time since their Super Bowl victory seven years ago – back then with Tom Brady as quarterback. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the football team led by Brady’s successor Drake Maye won 16:3 and ended a dry spell for the fans from the greater Boston area who had been so spoiled for success for a long time. “What a night for the defense,” Maye said. “Great win, that was fun.”
Maye only managed one touchdown pass in the first playoff game of his career, but he led his team carefully against the Chargers and will now face either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Houston Texans – this game will also take place at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots, who reached the Super Bowl nine times in 17 years with Brady and won six times, were not even represented in the playoffs in the past three years. Neither Cam Newton nor Mac Jones were able to build on the Brady years under former successful coach Bill Belichick. The two quarterbacks and Belichick are now history, ex-professional Mike Vrabel has been responsible as head coach since this season – and thanks to a strong season, Maye is one of the candidates for the award as the most valuable player in the main round.
49ers knock out defending champion Eagles
In the NFC, all decisions in the wildcard round have already been made. The San Francisco 49ers knocked defending champion Philadelphia Eagles out of the NFL playoffs with a narrow victory. The 23:19 on the US East Coast ended all of Philadelphia’s hopes of a return to the Super Bowl – the 49ers, on the other hand, can continue to dream of a home game at Levi’s Stadium on February 8th.
The 49ers are now heading to the Seattle Seahawks next weekend: the team that snatched first place in the NFC and a bye in the first round of the playoffs from San Francisco last week. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams have to go to the Chicago Bears and play at Soldier Field for a place in the conference finals.
The difference against the Eagles was made by Christian McCaffrey, who caught two touchdowns in the final quarter. “Our team fights. We take it day by day and always give it our all. Whether in training or in the game. I can’t say enough good things about this team,” said the 29-year-old 49ers professional. “We concentrated on every single move, we knew that it would be a twelve-round fight. Nothing fazed us and we trusted each other.”
The 49ers’ trick play ends with a touchdown
What was special was his first touchdown, which really brought the 49ers back into the game. The team was never far behind, but until then the Eagles seemed to be in control of the game. A trick play, at the end of which Jauan Jenkins fired the long pass to McCaffrey instead of quarterback Brock Purdy, made it possible to take the first lead after the score was 7-0 in the first quarter. This made San Francisco the team with the momentum. Bitter for San Francisco: Tight end George Kittle injured his Achilles tendon in the first quarter. It is unclear whether he will play against Seattle next weekend.
dpa
