January Kicks Off NFL Playoffs

Wild Card weekend kicked off on 5 January with the Colts easily defeating the Texans 21-7 and then the Cowboys defeating the Seahawks 24-22; this was the only non-Wild Card team to win on Wild Card weekend. On Sunday, the Chargers and Ravens battled it out first, with the Chargers holding on to win 23-17. The Eagles and Bears was a game of inches, ending with an Eagle’s 16-15 win.

The Colts earned a lead on the Texans early and kept it throughout the game with the help of the defense holding the Texans scoreless until the fourth quarter. Dallas and Seattle battled hard throughout the game, but Dak Prescott led the Cowboys down the field and scored with little time left to secure a win for the Cowboys.

On Sunday, the Chargers led for all of the game. The Ravens offense was slow, getting hot just a little too late, falling short of a comeback. The Eagles and Bears were back and forth all game, but the infamous “Double Doink” saved the Eagles 16-15 lead. Cody Parkey missed the game winning 43-yard field goal after the Eagles iced him on the first kick. After being viewed, the NFL ruled that the ball was tipped by Eagles defensive tackle Treyvon Hester.

The Divisional round was held on January 12-13. On Saturday, the Colts and Chiefs started off first, with the Chiefs blowing the Colts out the whole game. The Chiefs won 31-17, advancing to the AFC Championship. The Cowboys and Rams battled Saturday night. The Cowboys took the lead in the first quarter, but after the second quarter, the Rams were leading 20-7. The Cowboys tried to make a comeback, but came up short, leaving the final score 30-22.

The Patriots jumped out to a twenty-eight point lead in the first half and kept control of the game from there on out, winning 41-28.

The Eagles scored a quick two touchdowns after an interception on the Saints first drive. The Saints took momentum of the game and kept the Eagles scoreless the rest of the game, coming away with a 20-14 win. Marshon Lattimore came up with a clutch interception off a drop from Alshon Jeffrey to seal the game.