Baltimore will host the AFC title recreation for the primary time since January 1971 after surging previous the Houston Texans with a robust second half.
The San Francisco 49ers braved rain and a decided Inexperienced Bay Packers to achieve their fourth NFC title recreation prior to now 5 seasons.
Listed here are the 5 fast hits from the day’s NFL playoff motion.
1. Lamar Jackson’s Forest Gump second
Coming into the sport this weekend, there have been some questions on Lamar Jackson.
Certain, the Baltimore quarterback has had a surprising season, dashing for 821 yards complete, and he’s undoubtedly an MVP contender.
But heading into this contest, he solely has a report of 1-3 within the playoffs.
“You recognize I heard that,” Jackson stated.
“However it’s what it’s. I do not actually care about what individuals say.”
Jackson is an motion man — and he delivered.
Jackson ran for 100 yards on 11 carries in opposition to the Texans, together with a surprising 14-yard effort on fourth-and-1 close to midfield that prolonged a drive that ultimately gave the Ravens some respiratory room by means of a landing to Isaiah Possible, one among his 16/22 profitable passing makes an attempt for 152 yards.
When he scored his second dashing landing to place the Ravens 31-10 up, he celebrated by carrying on working down the tunnel, Forest Gump-style, all the way in which to the AFC title recreation.
2. Sims’s punt return landing
The ultimate consequence was emphatically in favour of the Ravens, but it surely’s straightforward to overlook that at half time the rating was 10-10 and the Texans have been greater than hanging in with Baltimore.
CJ Stroud was taking part in neatly at quarterback for the Texans however could not get by means of a dominant Baltimore defence, whereas Jackson was struggling to beat the Texans’ blitz.
So when Steven Sims returned a Kaʻimi Fairbairn punt 67 yards for a landing to make it 10-10 on the half, Ravens followers might need began to concern the worst.
They needn’t have frightened: The Texans’ offence by no means did attain the tip zone in 120 minutes in opposition to the Ravens this season — they misplaced 25-9 within the season opener.
“They [the defence] motivated us to go put factors on the board,” Jackson stated.
“They’re stopping an opposing workforce, an excellent workforce, led by an excellent quarterback. Our defence, generally they get us and generally we get them … and it was them tonight.”
3. Kicker’s season struggles uncovered in greatest second
Few positions in sports activities are as polarising as a kicker within the NFL.
The highs of being the participant to win a giant recreation are second to none.
However kickers are paid to do one factor — put the ball between the posts.
When that does not occur, the cruel lows of a kicker could make them really feel just like the loneliest man on Earth.
Packers’ rookie kicker Anders Carlson got here into the Divisional Spherical playoff in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers with misses to his title.
He had missed 11 kicks this season (six area objectives and 5 further factors)
Carlson had missed one kick in 10 of the final 12 video games.
Late within the fourth quarter, along with his workforce up 21-17, Carlson had a 41-yard area purpose try to increase the Packers’ result in seven.
Within the rain, from the left hashmark, the rookie was wide-left, lacking the possibility to go up by a landing and giving the 49ers a great beginning area place to go on a game-winning drive.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy marched his males downfield, with star working again Christian McCaffery scoring what was the game-winning landing with simply 68 seconds remaining.
4. Dre Greenlaw steals the present for 49ers’ defence
In robust circumstances in northern California, the 49ers and Packers have been engaged in a battle worthy of two historic groups within the post-season.
These are the video games the place match-winning performances are immortalised.
For the 49ers, their hero got here within the type of linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
The 26-year-old, who was signed by the 49ers within the fifth spherical of the 2019 draft, made two essential interceptions in San Francisco’s playoff win.
The primary got here within the third quarter, with the Packers driving and holding a seven-point lead.
On third down, Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw a move over the center of the sphere, supposed for tight finish Tucker Kraft.
The throw was behind Kraft, who tipped the ball within the air whereas making an attempt to drag off a miracle catch.
Greenlaw was ready to pounce, with the ensuing drive netting a area purpose for the 49ers to scale back the deficit to 4.
With the lead and the Packers making an attempt to drive down the sphere to ship the sport into time beyond regulation, Love made a cardinal sin as a quarterback, throwing the ball throughout his physique into the center of the sphere.
Greenlaw was there once more, able to intercept the move and seal the playoff victory for his workforce.
5. Swifties and the muchies in Buffalo
As a result of it’s now inconceivable to speak about Kansas Metropolis with out some reference to pop idol Taylor Swift, it goes with out saying her presence shall be felt on the Chiefs’ divisional conflict in Buffalo on Sunday evening.
Followers attending the match at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium will now be capable to purchase meals gadgets which have a reference to Swift.
The Dangerous Blood Waffle Fries and The Karma Quesadilla shall be added to the menu for Sunday’s blockbuster match.
“Our culinary workforce has once more designed an excellent menu for the Divisional playoff recreation this weekend,” Andy Altomare, normal supervisor of the stadium’s catering accomplice, Delaware North, instructed NBC.
“We had a number of enjoyable with this week’s menu, including a couple of new choices that remember this unbelievable rivalry with the Chiefs and their star-studded followers.”
The infatuation with the romance between Swift and Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce could have some NFL followers feeling barely nauseous, however the Payments shall be hoping that one among their different choices, reminiscent of a Kansas Metropolis bowl of tears, will go down simpler.
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