Tier IV – Good Teams, Good Games, but Something Missing
47.) 2013 AFC Divisional - (A6) Chargers 17 @ (A1) Broncos 24
Review: The Broncos did everything to lose this game, but since they're just better than the Chargers, they still won it. The Broncos had a fumble at midfield, missed a field goal, had Wes Welker drop a TD, had Eric Decker bat a TD into the air which ended up as a pick, and then gave up an onside kick. But after all that, they won the game. How? Well, holding Rivers to one yard passing in the first half helped. Their defense was amazing, coming together against one of the best offenses in the NFL to play insanely well through three quarters. Also, Peyton Manning is a really good player. Manning's stats (25-36 for 230 yards) don't look that special, but with the team giving up yards, and TDs, all over the place, he still played darn well. He also had one of the best clutch plays that no one will remember, converting a 3rd and 17 with 2:00 left up just 7. That pass to Julius Thomas iced the game, a game that the Broncos did as much to give away as they did the year earlier when they did it.
Interesting/Memorable Play: All of the Omaha's. Manning used "Omaha" as a count signal roughly 40 times, and the term, the city, and the whole thing caught fire over the next week.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The win by Denver assured the continuation of another weird streak, with just five teams hosting AFC Title Games in the last 14 years, all multiple times (New England and Pittsburgh x4, Indianapolis, Oakland and Denver x2).
Review: For three straight years, the Ravens were a Wild-Card team, having to go at it the hard way on the road. Finally, they won the division again, and even earned a 1st round bye and were able to get the TJ Yates Experience to come into M&T Bank. The game really did just come down to Yates (and Jacoby Jones muffing a punt). The Texans defense was great, sacking Flacco five times and limiting the Ravens to just 227 yards. On offense, Arian Foster had 132 yards on 27 carries, and Andre Johnson had 111 yards on 8 catches. The only problem was Yates. He threw up way too many balls for grabs, and despite dropping three potential interceptions, the Ravens picked him off three times. Ed Reed, as he always does, provided the capper, picking Yates off on a deep throw to the End-Zone with two minutes left. For all the talk about the Texans playing better, the Ravens held the Texans scoreless in the 2nd Half, winning with defense… again.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was just the Ravens 2nd home playoff win in their franchise history. Despite the Ravens winning 10 playoff games since 2000 (T-4th in the NFL with the Giants behind the Patriots (16), Steelers (12) & Eagles (11) ), they’ve won only two at home. The other win was their Wild Card Round win in 2000, and in between they lost as Division Winners in 2003 and 2006.
Interesting/Memorable Fact 2: Kris Wilson caught a one-yard TD catch to make the game 17-3, and that marked Wilson’s 4th career catch in a playoff game. Two have gone for TDs (2009 Chargers against). Wilson has also caught a 2-point conversion. So, his catches have led to points 60% of the time he’s been involved on a play.
45.) 2017 NFC Divisional - (N6) Falcons 10 @ (N1) Eagles 15
Review: The Falcons came in with some momentum, and the Wentz-less Eagles the opposite of momentum, but in the end, the Eagles defense won out, limiting Atlanta time and time again in the second half, including a final goal line stand. The only reason this game ranks so low is actually somewhat unfair: coming into the game, most thought it was the consolation game in the NFC. It was also really sloppy, with fluke plays and poor play calling ruining what was an otherwise competitive contest. In hindsight, this was a very enjoyable game, but at the time, it felt fairly drab.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Eagles became just the third team since the NFL's 2002 realignment to be underdogs in the Divisional Round ('10 Falcons, '11 49ers), and the first #1 seed ever to be an underdog in their opening - so great was the impact of Foles's poor performances in two meaningless games in Weeks 16-17.
Interesting/Memorable Play: A run to an eventual Super Bowl was almost never there if not for a crazy play at the end of the first half. Trailing 10-6, Foles threw a wild pass over the middle that should have been an interception, but hit the Falcons defender right in the knee, popping the ball up to be caught by the Eagles for a first down. The Eagles scored a field goal on that drive, cutting the lead to 10-9.
44.) 2014 NFC Divisional - (N4) Panthers 17 @ (N1) Seahawks 31
Review: The hype around this game was more than you would expect for a team that was 8-8-1 going on the road to play a team 12-4 that had won their last 8 games. That was due to recent history where these two teams played really close games each of the past three seasons. It started out that way as both dominant defenses played dominant, but soon you saw the walls start to leak for the Panthers. They started to blitz a bit and Russell Wilson's high-arcing loops were on point, time after time hitting guys deep. Cam Newton and the offense played valiantly, especially given the opponent and location but it was never really going to be enough. The Panthers hung in there, with the game tied at 7 midway through the 2nd quarter, and just 14-10 at the start of the 4th, but it was pretty obvious they were 'hanging in there' at best. It eventually folded with Kam Chancellor's 90-yard interception return that turned a game that was close to being 24-17 into a 31-10 margin. The Seahawks won by 14, but this game showed the resiliency of the Panthers, the brilliance of Russell Wilons's deep ball, and just how good you have to be to stay with the Seahawks in Seattle.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game really turned on a 63-yard TD from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse - again it come off of a beautiful looping throw, but also had a great catch and run. I'm really not sure why the Panthers blitzed as much as they did.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: The Panthers cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime with a field goal at the gun, but right before that they had a field goal blocked when Kam Chancellor leaped over the line. It was called back but that was the first of many memorable plays by Chancellor.
43.) 2020 AFC Divisional - (A6) Browns 17 @ (A1) Chiefs 22
Review: This game will likely be remembered for Chad Henne relieving an injured Patrick Mahomes in the 4th quarter, with the Chiefs already far ahead. Henne was fine, but more surprising than anything was Andy Reid trusting him on a roll-out 4th down conversion to ice the game, when failure meant giving the ball to Cleveland near midfield with 1:10 to go. The game prior to this was fairly routine, with Mahomes a steady 21-30 for 255 yards during the period he was in the game, with Kelce and Hill both picking up 100+ yards. For a game the Chiefs led 19-3, it is surprising, and speaks to the competitiveness of the Mayfield Browns at their peak, that we remember that Henne conversion.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game could've been a whole lot closer a whole lot earlier if not for a reappearance of the league's worst rule. The Browns were inches away from cutting it to 16-10 when Daniel Sorensen tackled and jarred loose the ball from Rashard Higgins, having it go through the end zone for a touchback. Just the worst rule.
Review: The Jaguars played about as well as they could on offense and about as strangely as they could on defense. For one half, it worked, as the game was tied 14-14. In the 2nd half, the Jaguars stopped scoring TDs, while the Patriots continued, and that was the game. The game was notable for Tom Brady’s 26-28 day (for 266 yards and 3 tds), where one of the incompletions was a drop by Welker. The Jags gave Brady all day and he cut them up in surgical fashion. The strangest part was Randy Moss, fresh off his 23-TD season, had just one catch. In the end, the Jags gave their best shot, taking the necessary risks on offense (Throwing deep on 4th and 4 on the first drive), but taking no risks on defense. Because of Brady’s insane accuracy, as well as Garrard’s good day, the game flew by, with each team staging long drive after long drive. Before you knew it, the game was over, and the Patriots went to 17-0.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The best TD came on Brady’s 2nd TD to Wes Welker. He took the shotgun, but faked a direct snap to Kevin Faulk and turned his back to the field with his arms raised. After keeping his back to the field for at least a full second, he turned around, fired a laser to Welker, and the game was mostly over. It was a sweet, sweet play.
Review: A year after the Packers gave the Falcons the biggest home loss for a #1 seed, the Giants gave the Packers a loss nearly as surprising in its ease. The Giants absolutely destroyed the 15-1 Packers in nearly every category imaginable. Their only failing was with their coverage scheme Rodgers ran for six first downs. On the day, Eli Manning threw for 300 yards before the 1st half was over, including two long TDs to Hakeem Nicks. The Giants sacked Rodgers four times, and forced four fumbles and recovered three of them. The Packers were just out of sync all day on offense, as Rodgers, fresh off the most efficient QB season possibly ever (a record 122.4 passer rating), went just 24-45 on the day. The Giants played arguably their best offensive game of the year, and their defense dominated the 2nd half. Before halftime, Tom Coughlin told Pam Oliver that the to-that-point average pass rush “was coming” and it sure was. By the end, the Giants were dancing in Lambeau, celebrating a playoff win there, again.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The game could have easily been a lot more one-sided. The Giants had two drives in their dominant 1st half end in Green Bay territory, with Eli Manning throwing a pick and the Packers blocking a makeable field goal. Plus, the Packers two TD drives both were aided by questionable decisions. First was Bill Leavy’s ridiculous overturn of a Greg Jennings’s fumble on the 1st TD drive, and then was a soft roughing-the-passer call on Osi on the 2nd.
Interesting/Memorable Fact 2: This was the 1st time that two Super Bowl MVP Quarterbacks met in a playoff game, with Eli Manning winning his in Super Bowl XLII and Rodgers in XLV. Of course, the 2nd would happen three weeks later, with Manning and Brady. With Brady, Manning and Roethlisberger in the AFC and Manning, Rodgers and Brees in the NFC, it is hard to imagine it not happening more.
40.) 2018 NFC Divisional - (N3) Cowboys 22 @ (N2) Rams 30
Review: Against what had been one of the better defenses in the NFL, the Rams ran and ran and ran, gaining 273 yards rushing, with 100+ from both Todd Gurley and a purely svelte CJ Anderson. On the other end, the Rams gobbled up Ezekiel Elliott to 47 yards on 20 carries, with both Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh have huge games against the run. The Rams offense wans't as explosive and fun as it had been on many occasions but their methodical ruination of the Cowboys was fun to watch. They too either scored or had one missed field goal on their first seven drives. Everything seemed perfect in the first playoff win in Los Angeles for a home team in twenty-four years.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: CJ Anderson had just 299 yards in the regular season, making him the first player to have 100+ yards in a playoff game after having less than 300 for that team in the regular season - and probably the first to do so while looking obese.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Despite this game feeling like a blowout, the Cowboys had a 4th and 1 in rams territory down 23-15 in the second half. They handed off to Zeke who was stoned behind the line. The Rams then scored a TD eleven plays later, a drive that ended with a CJ Anderson TD on 4th and Goal from the 1.
39.) 2012 NFC Divisional - (N3) Packers 31 @ (N2) 49ers 45
Review: Well, the Packers do know how to lose with their defense looking as bad as possible. Unlike in 2009 and 2011 when they were hopeless against the pass, this time they decided to be hopeless against both. The 49ers ran it 43 times for 323 yards, with Kaepernick setting an NFL record for most rushing yards by a QB (this is a record for the playoffs AND the regular season). Kaepernick was the star, but it was his ability to overcome a terrible pick-six on the first possession of the game that made it all work. On the other side, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were only able to put up 17 points on offense when the game was in the balance, but really it was that they never got time. It is hard to when you allow your opponent to run it 43 times.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The play of the game was Kaepernick's read-option 56 yard TD to break a 24-24 tie midway through the 3rd quarter. He just made Erik Walden look so, so bad that it will be his "God Dammit Donald" moment, the one that defines his career no matter what he does.
Interesting/Memorable Plays: With a 31-24 lead, and backed up at their own 7, the 49ers went on one of the great power-football runs I have ever seen. Two drives, 19 plays, 186 yards, two TDs to make it 45-24 and end it. Those back to back 90-yard TD drives should be engraved on Jim Harbaugh's coaching gravestone.
Review: Well, the Packers do know how to lose with their defense looking as bad as possible. Unlike in 2009 and 2011 when they were hopeless against the pass, this time they decided to be hopeless against both. The 49ers ran it 43 times for 323 yards, with Kaepernick setting an NFL record for most rushing yards by a QB (this is a record for the playoffs AND the regular season). Kaepernick was the star, but it was his ability to overcome a terrible pick-six on the first possession of the game that made it all work. On the other side, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were only able to put up 17 points on offense when the game was in the balance, but really it was that they never got time. It is hard to when you allow your opponent to run it 43 times.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The play of the game was Kaepernick's read-option 56 yard TD to break a 24-24 tie midway through the 3rd quarter. He just made Erik Walden look so, so bad that it will be his "God Dammit Donald" moment, the one that defines his career no matter what he does.
Interesting/Memorable Plays: With a 31-24 lead, and backed up at their own 7, the 49ers went on one of the great power-football runs I have ever seen. Two drives, 19 plays, 186 yards, two TDs to make it 45-24 and end it. Those back to back 90-yard TD drives should be engraved on Jim Harbaugh's coaching gravestone.
38.) 2019 NFC Divisional - (N5) Seahawks 23 @ (N2) Packers 28
Review: The Packers were a pretty poor 13-3 team (you know, for a 13-3 team) but didn't look it here, racing to a 21-3 halftime, and 28-10 lead against the Seahawks. Their revamped pass rush led by the Smiths (Preston and Zadarius) sacked Russell Wilson five times, and completely shut down the running game. But with the Carroll & Wilson-era Seahawks, they are never out of a game. Two TDs on either side of a Packers three-and-out cut what was once a huge lead to 28-23. A slow drive to the Seahawks 40 was ended by the one sack the Seahawks got on Aaron Rodgers all game, but the Packers returned the favor, with Preston Smith sacking Russell Wilson on 3rd down the all but end of the game. It was a game of two blue blood NFC QBs, but it was the stronger defense that ultimately won the day.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Packers were leading 21-10 when Aaron Rodgers completed just a perfect pass to Davante Adams to make it 28-10. Now three years later with the Rodgers to Adams era over, we'll have these few plays to remember them by.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: After the Preston Smith sack on the Seahawks last drive, the Seahawks faced a 4th and 11 from their own 36 with 2:41 to go. It was I guess a reasoanble decision to punt, but a touchback was then followed by the Packers methodically icing the game. Russell Wilson would never get closer to another NFC Championship appearance than this.
37.) 2020 AFC Divisional - (A5) Ravens 3 @ (A2) Bills 17
Review: This wasn't the way people would've expected the 2020 Bills - the highest scoring team in the NFL - to win a playoff game, but they did it in a way that would make their 2019 counterparts (defensive teams) happy. The Bills defense played Lamar brilliantly, limiting him to 34 yards no 9 carries, and just 162 yards passing, before he left the game injured. On the other side, Allen was ok, but Stefon Diggs was a monster, with 106 yards on 8 receptions and the TD that broke what was a 3-3 game open. The game though was made most memorable by Taron Johnson's 101 yard pick-six of Lamar, turning what was so close to being a 10-10 tie to a 17-3 Bills comfortable win. For one moment, the coolest place in the NFL was good old Orchard Park once again.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This game coincided with New York State allowing 10% capacity at outdoor events, so 7,500 fans got to see this win. Somehow the 7,500 fans reacting to the 101-yd pick-six was every bit as loud as I would imagine 70,000 being. It was an incredible moment.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Taron Johnson interception was not only this incredible game changer, but stands as the longest defensive touchdown in NFL playoff history. Of course, it isn't somehow the longest interception return, because of a little game and play coming up next....
Review: In front of a jacked-up crowd in the first playoff game at Invesco Field, the Broncos had the most deceiving zero-sack game, repeatedly pummeling Brady into mistakes and into his first playoff loss of his career. The game originally started out in Patriots-style, with the Broncos dominating statistically but not taking advantage with a failed 4th & Goal and a pick in the red zone by Samuel. But it all changed right after the two-minute warning, with Kevin Faulk fumbling. One controversial pass interference on Samuel later, it was 7-3 Broncos. They would add another field goal off a fumble by New England and take a 10-3 lead into the half. The game was finally shut when on 3rd and Goal for the Patriots trailing just 10-6, Tom Brady threw a pick in the end zone to Champ Bailey, who of course returned it controversially to the one yard line. The Patriots ended up with a lot more yards, but that is what happens when one team scores 14 points in just two yards of offense. In the end, the Patriots did everything wrong for the first time, with Troy Brown muffing a punt and Adam Vinatieri missing a field goal. It was all so new for the Pats, and all so fun for the Broncos and Pat-Haters.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Broncos utilized what was called the “punt-rush defense” where they put corners off-man on the receivers and had everyone else line up at the line in a punt-rush formation. The Broncos used it enough that it didn’t work all the time, but led to Brady getting rocked often, and the pick by Bailey.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: On the pick, it was Brady’s 3rd career playoff interception thrown into the end zone (’03 AFC Title, ’03 SB) and he has done it twice more since (’07 AFC Title, ’11 AFC Title). What is fun about the play is noting the sudden disappointment in Jim Nantz’s voice when Bailey first makes the interception. To his credit, he gets excited when Bailey seemingly gets a clear path for a touchdown. Now, I must admit. That probably was a touchback, but if there is any merit to the idea of “conclusive evidence” no way can that be overturned with the camera angles given.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This game marked the 1st playoff game where both coaches had won multiple Super Bowls. In fact, from 2002-2011 (the timeframe for this countdown) the only other playoff game that had two coaches that had won any amount was the Giants and Packers divisional with McCarthy and Coughlin.
Review: In a game that was eerily similar to the 2000 Divisional meeting between these two teams, the Ravens won despite being outgained by 180 yards, the fourth largest margin since the 16-game schedule. The 3rd largest margin? The Ravens over the Titans in 2000, who were outgained by 183. The Titans, off their almost unbelievable 13-3 season led by Kerry Collins, rolled up 391 yards of offense but were just 2-for-5 in the red zone, turning it over three times in the area. The Ravens really did nothing other than hang around and force those turnovers, with Flacco hitting just one big throw – an admittedly pretty 48-yard throw to Derrick Mason. The game also ended controversially, with the Ravens converting a 3rd and 10 for 23 yards after snapping the ball a good two seconds after the play clock expired. There was never any good explanation given. Either way, in a game that featured a scary sense of déjà-vu, the most underrated playoff rivalry of the 2000s had its most memorable finish. With Matt Stover’s game winning field goal ushering the top-seed Titans out of the playoffs, again.
Interesting/Memorable Play: A key for the game was Chris Johnson leaving in the 2nd quarter with an injury. He had rushed 11 times for 72 yards and caught a pass for 28 yards before he left, and he just seemed to be operating at a different speed than most of the Ravens defense. It might not have changed anything,, but the Titans were never really the same in the game after.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This loss made some infamous history for Jeff Fisher, making him the 2nd coach ever to go one-and-done with the top-seed multiple times (did it in 2000). The other was Marty Schottenheimer, who’s done it three times (’95, ’97, ’06).
Review: In a fascinating chess match between the league’s best offense (and probably most forgotten great offense of the 2000s) and the league’s best defense (and probably most forgotten great defense of the 2000s), the Colts won the 2nd playoff game ever that featured no TDs. Peyton Manning, facing an epic defense, played the most highly praised bad game I have ever seen. He was just 15-30 for 170 yards and two picks (to Ed Reed, of course), but was only sacked once, confused the Ravens dominant pass rush and anchored four 50+ yard drives. McNair was worse, considering he wasn’t playing the Ravens defense, going 18-29 with two picks of his own. The story of the game, other than the kickers, was the Colts run game rushing for 100 yards against the league’s best run defense and the ultra-conservative nature of the Ravens attack. In the end, the Colts won a fun, if slightly defensive and offensively inept, game by out Raven-ing the Ravens.
Interesting/Memorable Play: What might have been the two biggest plays of the game were defined by each quarterback throwing to covered receivers. Down just 3-0, the Ravens had 3rd and Goal from the 3, when McNair threw to Todd Heap who was double-covered at the goal line. Antoine Bethea picked it off, and the Ravens never got that close again. Then, on 3rd and 5 with four minutes to go up 12-6, Manning iced the game with a ridiculously tight throw to Dallas Clark, who was draped by Corey Ivy. One guy made his throw, the other did not.
Interesting/Memorable Player: Ed Reed had what might have been his greatest game. He had two interceptions (the 2nd one he lateralled to Chris McAlister right before going out of bounds, but the refs thought he was already out), a huge hit on Dallas Clark, another sure interception tipped away early by Ray Lewis, and a play where he ran from deep centerfield to the left sideline and leaped and took the ball away from Marvin (he came down out of bounds). Ed Reed was by far the best player that day on that field.
Tier V – The Good Games
33.) 2016 AFC Divisional - (A3) Steelers 18 @ (A2) Chiefs 16
Review: The Steelers persistance ended a dream 12-4 season for the Chiefs, outlasting Kansas City with a lot of Le'veon Bell, and even more field goals - six from Chris Boswell. The Steelers won despite having just two trips into the red zone, one ending in a field goal and the other an interception. Roethlisberger was poor, Alex Smith mostly as bad. This was not a game for the offense heavy, with both defenses exerting tons of control. In the end, Le'Veon Bell was the star, with his 30 carry 170 yard day keeping many drives alive - the Steelers ended the game with six field goals on their nine drives. The Chiefs never got a consistent flow, scoring a late TD to make it 18-16, only to give up a first down on the final drive to end it.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This game was delayed from its initial 1pm timeslot due to a snowstorm in KC, making it the first Sunday primetime Divisional Game. The ratings were huge, and I'm already somewhat surprised the NFL hasn't made this a thing. Sunday Night Football is the NFL's golden goose, it only seems natural to extend that to the playoffs.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Steelers broke the record for most field goals in a win where the only points scored were on field goals, beating the Colts record of five in 2006. It was almost 10 years
to the day from when the Colts beat the Ravens 15-6 scoring only field goals.
32.) 2020 NFC Divisional - (N5) Buccaneers 30 @ (N2) Saints 23
Review: Just writing about this game is depressing. In what ended up being Drew Brees's last game, he lost to Tom Brady in a game where neither QB played all that well. Brady going just 18-33 for 199 yards against a top defense, and Brees 19-34 for just 134 yards - unsurprising given how limited he was by the end of that season. The Saints took an early 6-0 lead but the Buccaneers chipped away. The game turned with the Buccaneers scoring the last 17 points, off of two Brees interceptions and Brady not making a last mistake. And when Brady couldn't do enough, the running game was solid picking up 5-8 yards consistently against a defense selling out against the pass. It wasn't a clinical performance but a damn opportunistic one by the Buccaneers on their road to a title.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Enough dancing around it, the game fully turned when the Saints, driving up 20-13, turned it over deep in Buccaneers territory. Brees hit Jared Cook for a first down on 3rd and 2, getting to the Buccaneers 40 before he lost the ball. Brees would never get closer to scoring again.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: After the Buccaneers scored right after a Brees interception to make it 10-6 Tamp, the Saints took the lead quickly back on a rare Jameis sighting. Winston may end up retiring with a perfect career passer rating, 1-1 for 56 yards and a TD.
Review: In the 1st playoff game ever to have no punts, the Colts played ‘Catch Me If You Can’ with the Chiefs, by outgunning them in Arrowhead. The only reason that this isn’t higher is other than the Chiefs first drive of the game, they never had the ball with a chance to tie the game. The Colts were that good, scoring on each of their six real possessions in the game (they ran out the clock in the other). The Colts didn’t play perfectly, as the Chiefs rolled up 408 yards on 60 plays, with a 176 yard day for Priest Holmes. The Chiefs even got a Kick-Off Return TD from DeAngelo Hall (remember him?). But Manning never wavered. He was flawless, going 22-30 for 304 yards and 3 tds, and Edgerrin James had his best playoff game of his career, with 125 yards on 26 carries and two TDs. The Colts made it look easy, and even though the Chiefs made it look almost as easy, the one turnover, a fumble by Priest Holmes in the beginning of the 2nd quarter, was the only break the Colts needed.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Manning entered the game off of his perfect passer rating day in Denver, and was nearly as good. For the two combined games, he was 44-56 (78.6%) for 681 yards (12.2 ypa!!) with 8 TDs and no picks. That’s a passer rating of 156.9, the highest ever by any QB ever in a two-game stretch.
30.) 2015 NFC Divisional - (N6) Seahawks 24 @ (N1) Panthers 31
Review: In the ultimate tale of two halves, the Panthers played maybe the best 30 minutes of football any team has played during this stretch of playoff games and NFL seasons. The first 30 minutes saw them take a 31-0 lead, scoring three TDs and a Field Goal on their five drives, picking of Wilson twice (including a pick six) and sacking him two other times. It was absolute dominance, especially scary given who they did it against. But the Seahawks just don't ever get blown out in the Wilson era, and they didn't hear, with a great second half that showed their Championship mettle. They scored two quick TDs, then a third on a ridiculous scramble and heave. The comeback finally ended with the Seahakwks not recovering an onside kick down 7, but until then the game was a feature of how great the 2015 Panthers were, and how mentally tough and physical the Russell Wilson-era Seahawks were and continue to be.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game started auspiciously, with Jonathan Stewart taking the hand-off for 59 yards. So often we hear about teams practicing those first 15 plays, well the Panthers probably practiced that first 1 play dozens of times and ran it perfectly.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Much was made of the Seahawks having to play the game at 1PM EST, and maybe for good reason. They have had to do it five times in the Pete Carroll era, and are 2-3 in those games. More stark, they have been outscored in the first half in those games 0-17, 10-14, 0-20, 0-6 and 0-31. Cumulative score: 10-78.
29.) 2018 NFC Divisional - (N6) Eagles 14 @ (N1) Saints 20
Review: Ten minutes into the game, the Saints had thrown an interception on their first play, which the Eagles turned into a TD, the Saints had then gone three and out without gaining a yard, which the Eagles also turned into a TD. The Saints actually then were forced to punt on their next drive after Brandon Graham sacked Drew Brees. The Eagles then drove to midfield. At this point, 1:15 into the second quarter, everyone in America had to fully accept that Big Dick Nick is real and this team was destined. And then Foles threw an interception on the next play and the Saints were able to ever so slowly wedge their way back into the game. At no point in that game were the Saints seemed in control, but the Eagles were lifeless after that interception for a long, long time on offense. The Saints finally took the lead on a monster 20 play (22 with penalties) drive that took 11:29 off the clock. The drive featured the Saints overcoming two different offensive holding penalties, and converitng four different 3rd downs. It was great, and it almost different matter. With the Eagles 27 yards away from stealing the game right before the two minute warning, a well thrown pass near the 15 fell through Alshon Jeffery's hands and was intercepted to end the game and breath some life into what had been a breathless Superdome.
Interesting/Memorable Play: On the monster 20-play drive, twice the Saints tried to use Taysom Hill as QB - a thing that was maddeningly common in 2018 - but both were called back for offensive holding.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: With the Eagles taking a 14-point lead, this became the first time in the 32-team era (since 2002) that all four divisional games featured one team taking a 14-point lead.
28.) 2003 AFC Divisional – (A5) Titans 14 @ (A1) Patriots 17
Review: On a bitterly cold night, with wind chill at -10, the Patriots outlasted a game Titans team on Adam Vinatieri’s most forgotten clutch kick. The game started out fast, with the Patriots taking a 14-7 lead two minutes into the 3rd quarter, but became a struggle after as the wind picked up. Brady had an odd day. On the good side, he didn’t turn the ball over and threw a gorgeous 41-yards TD to Bethel Johnson, but he also completed just 21 out of 41 passes. McNair was efficient, going 18-26 against the league’s best defense, but made two crucial mistakes. The 1st was an interception. The 2nd was a lot more harmful. After the Titans tied the game on a nifty TD catch-and-run by Derrick Mason, the Patriots ran a 33 yard drive leading to Vinatieri’s game winning field goal. However, that was still with 4:11 left on the clock. The game finished hauntingly. At the 2:00, the Titans had 2nd and 3 at the Patriots 33 yard line, about ten yards out of reasonable field goal position. McNair then took an intentional grounding, which was followed up holding penalty. 2nd and 3 became 3rd and 23. After a nice gain, on 4th an 11, McNair launched a pass that Drew Bennett dropped around the Patriots 10. End of game, and end of classic in the bitter, bitter cold.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game ended strangely, with the Patriots, with 0:03 left, on 4th and 15 actually running a play. Instead of risking a punt return (a pretty minimal risk), Belichick instructed Brady to run backwards, run out the clock and launch a pass out-of-bounds. It worked perfectly, and the Patriots securely finished the game.
27.) 2021 AFC Divisional - (A4) Bengals 19 @ (A1) Titans 16
Review: The Titans surprising top seed season came to a crashing end, with the Bengals walking off with a game winning field goal, the fourth field goal of the day for rookie kicker Evan McPherson. The game winning drive was set-up with a batted pass intereception of Ryan Tannehill with the Titans driving near midfield. Burrow hit one key pass to get the Bengals in position for the win. The game itself was remarkably choppy. Tannehill played well aside from three interceptions - including one on the first drive of the game on a truly awful pass. Burrow was harassed, getting sacked 9 times but he still managed a great game throwing for 348 yards. The Titans were never able to get a lead, but kept the game close, just close enough to lose at the end in a game they really could have stolen if not for that last interception.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the third time the Titans got the #1 seed in the AFC, and the third time they lost their divisional round game. First two to the Ravens in 2000 and 2008, and now to the Bengals.
Interesting/Memorable Fact 2: Burrow became the player who was sacked the most in a playoff win. This was a record he nearly tied two games later with his loss in the Super Bowl.
Review: The two teams combined for 389 yards. That’s combined. They also combined for 55 points. This was the most defensive high-scoring game ever, and that weird dichotomy probably ruined it from being as memorable as it was. In many ways, this game was seeing both teams play defense as well as they could, but the Steelers did it just a little bit better. They both forced and recovered two fumbles, but the Steelers got the game’s only interception. The Ravens had five sacks, and the Steelers had six. Terrell Suggs had three sacks, and James Harrison answered him with three of his own. In the end, what is memorable is the Steelers not even flinching when falling down 21-7, and missing a field goal going into the half. The Steelers scored 17 points around two Ravens turnovers to take the lead, but credit the Ravens for coming back and tying it up. The final nail in the coffin, though, was a 58-yard bomb to Antonio Brown on 3rd and 19 to set up the game winning TD run by Mendenhall. At the end, it was a far more entertaining game than one that features 11 punts, five turnovers and 389 yards of offense.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Game essentially ended when TJ Houshmandzadeh dropped a 4th and 18 pass that would have been a 1st down on the final drive, but it really went bad for the Ravens when Anquan Boldin dropped a TD on 3rd and Goal on the drive that tied it at 24.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Here are the lengths of the TD drives in this game: Steelers: 80 (26 via penalty), 23, 25, 65; Ravens: 68 (28 via penalty), 0 (fumble return), 16. That’s how you get a 31-24 game. Have the seven TD drives combined be just 223 yards of offense.
Review: The 1st of two great Jets upsets, Rex and Co. beat the Chargers, who entered the game on an 11-game winning streak. In reality, it was more the Chargers buying the sword that the Jets used to do the slaughtering. In perfect Chargers fashion, they did everything wrong. Nate Kaeding missed three field goals (two from inside 45 yards). They committed two 15-yard penalties that stifled late drives. They didn’t take advantage of a 1st half where the Jets offense could do nothing. Philip Rivers threw two interceptions, the 2nd of which was a horrible pass out of his own end zone. The Chargers did almost everything right besides these self-destructive plays, and the Jets took full advantage. Mark Sanchez did enough with what Philip Rivers gave him, and Shonn Greene continued his breakout posteason with 128 yards, including a dramatic, game-clinching 53 yard TD run to make it 17-7. Rex Ryan’s schemes didn’t work perfectly (Rivers threw for 298 yards), but they confused Philip just enough. It wasn’t the brilliant defensive performance that came a year later, but it was maybe more stunning. In a weekend where the three previous bye teams all won at a combined 99-20, the Chargers fell flat.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Rivers’ first interception was just a ridiculous play by Darrelle Revis, where he jostled the ball out of Jackson’s hands, and when they both fell to the ground, had it bounce of V-Jax’s ass, where Revis scooped it up. Almost as shocking as the play was the fact that the officials got it right on the field.
24.) 2017 AFC Divisional - (A3) Jaguars 45 @ (A2) Steelers 42
Review: This might have been the most unlikely game in this whole run, with the league's best defense giving up 42 points and winning, because their much maligned offense woke up for a game. In the end, the 45-42 score overrates teh actual game, in which the Jaguars led 21-0, and the Steelers never had the ball with a chance to win, cutting it multiple times to one score only to see the Jags take the lead right back. Early on, the game played to the Jaguars script, with Fournette getting two TDs and the defense forcing both an interception, and fumble they would return for a TD. The game would become something of a brilliant farce, though, when Roethlisberger connected on 4th down on a long TD to Martavis Bryant, a play that the Jaguars had perfectly covered, to make it 28-14 right before half. Roethlisberger did the same thing in the second half, with another 4th down TD bomb, but it was never enough, The Jaguars somehow kept their calm all day and made out with a win - the first team to win a divisional game in Pittsburgh.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Jaguars became the first team to lead the NFL in scoring defense and win a playoff game when giving up more than 30 points - again, they gave up 42. Predicting a Jaguars win wasn't impossible, but doing so when giving up 42 points was truly ridiculous.
23.) 2015 AFC Divisional - (A6) Steelers 16 @ (A1) Broncos 23
24.) 2017 AFC Divisional - (A3) Jaguars 45 @ (A2) Steelers 42
Review: This might have been the most unlikely game in this whole run, with the league's best defense giving up 42 points and winning, because their much maligned offense woke up for a game. In the end, the 45-42 score overrates teh actual game, in which the Jaguars led 21-0, and the Steelers never had the ball with a chance to win, cutting it multiple times to one score only to see the Jags take the lead right back. Early on, the game played to the Jaguars script, with Fournette getting two TDs and the defense forcing both an interception, and fumble they would return for a TD. The game would become something of a brilliant farce, though, when Roethlisberger connected on 4th down on a long TD to Martavis Bryant, a play that the Jaguars had perfectly covered, to make it 28-14 right before half. Roethlisberger did the same thing in the second half, with another 4th down TD bomb, but it was never enough, The Jaguars somehow kept their calm all day and made out with a win - the first team to win a divisional game in Pittsburgh.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Jaguars became the first team to lead the NFL in scoring defense and win a playoff game when giving up more than 30 points - again, they gave up 42. Predicting a Jaguars win wasn't impossible, but doing so when giving up 42 points was truly ridiculous.
23.) 2015 AFC Divisional - (A6) Steelers 16 @ (A1) Broncos 23
Review: In what was just the second ever playoff meeting between Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning, the Broncos took every shot the Steelers had, capitalized on one little mistake, and stole a well played game in tough, windy conditions. The game started well for the Broncos, with two long punt returns setting their first two drives up in Steelers territory, but both turned into field goals. From that point onwards, the Broncos just held on. Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers were special, where despite missing Antonio Brown, they had 8 different plays for 15+ yards. Bad field position turned all of that explosivity into just 13 points, but midway through the 4th quarter, they were clinging to a 13-12 lead. A fumble by back-up running back Fitzgerald Touissant was recovered by Demarcus Ware. The Broncos scored on the ensuing possession to take a lead they would not relinquish, but that drive took one patented Manning pass, a seam throw to Bennie Fowler for 20 yards on 3rd and 12 - one play where Manning seemed to go back in time five years. Manning finally got his revenge against the Steelers and Big Ben, but not before fighting off every challenge the resourceful Steelers could pose.
Interesting/Memorable Play: A very strange play nearly ruined the game in controversy, when Markus Wheaton seemed to muff a punt, which then rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Pittsburgh. At first, the Steelers were given the ball on the 20. Then it was turned to the 6 (where Wheaton first touched the ball) but somehow it was not given as a safety.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Because of Mike Tomlin's smart decision to immediately kick a field goal when down 23-13 when in range, the game became the second push of the weekend (Patriots were favored by 7), making this the first Divisional Weekend when multiple games were pushes.
22.) 2014 NFC Divisional - (N3) Cowboys 21 @ (N2) Packers 26
Review: This might seem low for a game played between two marquee franchises, both being really good teams, that had a infamous play and refereeing decision swing the game, but that really speaks more to how good Divisional Weekend has been. The Packers and Cowboys played a great game here, with the largest margin being 8 points. Both QBs played excellently. Aaron Rodgers was noticeably limping and hobbling with no real mobility in the 1st half, but seemed re-born in the second, a half that had two bullet throws for TDs, first a catch and run to Devante Adams to make it 21-20, and the final rocket to Richard Rodgers to take the 26-21 lead. Demarco Murray, in his final game as a Cowboy, had a solid game with 123 yards on 25 carries, but couldn't get a few key third downs early. Romo was pressured, but mostly made great plays, but in the end it all comes down to the bad call. On 4th and 1 near midfield, the Cowboys showed giant cajones, throwing deep to Dez Bryant, who caught it leaping over Sam Shields, and extended to the end zone. Of course, because the ball bobbled when Bryant reached for the end zone, it was ruled incomplete in another use of the famed Calvin Johnson rule. That effectively ended the game, one that if the TD stood would have probably been higher up the list, especially if the Packers drove down and did something with their next position down 27-26 or 29-26.
Interesting/Memorable Play: That game was defined by a few 4th downs, but also two 4th downs where the Cowboys decided not to use their all-world O-Line and running back. In addition to throwing deep on 4th and 2 for Dez, they passed up two chances on 3rd and 4th and 1 in the end of the first half, in the end throwing incomplete (again deep) and then a false start pushed the field goal back and finally no good.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first time since the Ice Bowl, that the Packers beat the Cowboys in a playoff game.
Interesting/Memorable Play: A very strange play nearly ruined the game in controversy, when Markus Wheaton seemed to muff a punt, which then rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Pittsburgh. At first, the Steelers were given the ball on the 20. Then it was turned to the 6 (where Wheaton first touched the ball) but somehow it was not given as a safety.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Because of Mike Tomlin's smart decision to immediately kick a field goal when down 23-13 when in range, the game became the second push of the weekend (Patriots were favored by 7), making this the first Divisional Weekend when multiple games were pushes.
22.) 2014 NFC Divisional - (N3) Cowboys 21 @ (N2) Packers 26
Review: This might seem low for a game played between two marquee franchises, both being really good teams, that had a infamous play and refereeing decision swing the game, but that really speaks more to how good Divisional Weekend has been. The Packers and Cowboys played a great game here, with the largest margin being 8 points. Both QBs played excellently. Aaron Rodgers was noticeably limping and hobbling with no real mobility in the 1st half, but seemed re-born in the second, a half that had two bullet throws for TDs, first a catch and run to Devante Adams to make it 21-20, and the final rocket to Richard Rodgers to take the 26-21 lead. Demarco Murray, in his final game as a Cowboy, had a solid game with 123 yards on 25 carries, but couldn't get a few key third downs early. Romo was pressured, but mostly made great plays, but in the end it all comes down to the bad call. On 4th and 1 near midfield, the Cowboys showed giant cajones, throwing deep to Dez Bryant, who caught it leaping over Sam Shields, and extended to the end zone. Of course, because the ball bobbled when Bryant reached for the end zone, it was ruled incomplete in another use of the famed Calvin Johnson rule. That effectively ended the game, one that if the TD stood would have probably been higher up the list, especially if the Packers drove down and did something with their next position down 27-26 or 29-26.
Interesting/Memorable Play: That game was defined by a few 4th downs, but also two 4th downs where the Cowboys decided not to use their all-world O-Line and running back. In addition to throwing deep on 4th and 2 for Dez, they passed up two chances on 3rd and 4th and 1 in the end of the first half, in the end throwing incomplete (again deep) and then a false start pushed the field goal back and finally no good.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first time since the Ice Bowl, that the Packers beat the Cowboys in a playoff game.
21.) 2012 NFC Divisional - (N5) Seahawks 28 @ (N1) Falcons 30
Review: The game was defined by what has made the Matt Ryan era so fascinating. First, was the 0-3 playoff record staring them in the face, included getting beaten by the collective score of 72-23 the previous two seasons. They finally broke that playoff barrier in the most Matt Ryan way possible, with a FG to win on a drive that started with less than 30 seconds to go, as he's done more in his career than anyone else. The game before that was a testament to how to come back in games: keep calm and play your game. The Seahawks fell behind 20-0 because they were partly unlucky and partly run over. They came back by not abandoning their offense, and Russell Wilson, who never had to lead such a comeback, did so with ease. His 385 yards passing on 36 attempts is unbelievable. He and the Seahawks played admirably in defeat, but this was Matt (B)Ryan(T)'s day, as the QB led the drive, and the old kicker banged it true from 47. The other story of the game was a resurgent Falcons run game. After being a weakness all year, the run game picked up for an average Matt Ryan game, with both Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers getting over 6 yards a carry. In the end though, it was that 30 second drive. Two passes, to Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez. Matt Ryan needed just two passes to undo years of playoff failures and to avoid his most embarrassing potential failure yet.
Interesting/Memorable Player: Zach Miller was underused in the regular season, but the Seahawks quickly realized the Falcons were apparently unaware of the position of TE, and hit him repeatedly, as Miller finished with 8 catches for 145 yards and a TD. I hope for the Falcons sake they learned how to cover TEs over the offseason.
20.) 2021 NFC Divisional - (N4) Rams 30 @ (N2) Buccaneers 27
Review: In an absolutely infuriating game for any Patriots hater, it ended well with a walk-off field goal to win the game. This of course came after the Rams blew a 27-3 lead on the road. They were absolutely hammering the Bucs, getting 70+ yard touchdowns for Cooper Kupp, forcing Brady interceptions and fumbles. But then they did what so many teams have done staring a win over Tom Brady in the face: trip over themselves time and time again. After scoring a TD to make it 27-3, they went proceeded to fumble three times, punt twice, and miss a field goal in their ensuing six drives. They were so bad that despite the Buccaneers also in this stretch fumbling on a strip sack and turning it over on downs twice, they still managed to come back, with a Leonard Fourtnette run on 3rd down to tie it. The Rams seemed ready to fulfill their destiny. Facing a 2nd & 11 with 35 seconds left, he hit Kupp for 20, and then hit Kupp for 44, beating an all out blitz for enough yards to safely hit a field goal. In this game nothign was safe, but Matt Gay couldn't miss from 30 yards, ending one of the great escapes and avoiding absolutely infamy.
Review: The game was defined by what has made the Matt Ryan era so fascinating. First, was the 0-3 playoff record staring them in the face, included getting beaten by the collective score of 72-23 the previous two seasons. They finally broke that playoff barrier in the most Matt Ryan way possible, with a FG to win on a drive that started with less than 30 seconds to go, as he's done more in his career than anyone else. The game before that was a testament to how to come back in games: keep calm and play your game. The Seahawks fell behind 20-0 because they were partly unlucky and partly run over. They came back by not abandoning their offense, and Russell Wilson, who never had to lead such a comeback, did so with ease. His 385 yards passing on 36 attempts is unbelievable. He and the Seahawks played admirably in defeat, but this was Matt (B)Ryan(T)'s day, as the QB led the drive, and the old kicker banged it true from 47. The other story of the game was a resurgent Falcons run game. After being a weakness all year, the run game picked up for an average Matt Ryan game, with both Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers getting over 6 yards a carry. In the end though, it was that 30 second drive. Two passes, to Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez. Matt Ryan needed just two passes to undo years of playoff failures and to avoid his most embarrassing potential failure yet.
Interesting/Memorable Player: Zach Miller was underused in the regular season, but the Seahawks quickly realized the Falcons were apparently unaware of the position of TE, and hit him repeatedly, as Miller finished with 8 catches for 145 yards and a TD. I hope for the Falcons sake they learned how to cover TEs over the offseason.
20.) 2021 NFC Divisional - (N4) Rams 30 @ (N2) Buccaneers 27
Interesting/Memorable Play: The real "what the hell, rams" play was one of two choices. Up 27-13, the Rams strip-sacked Brady on the Bucs 25. They were already in field goal range to take a three score lead, but on the subsequent snap, the Rams center fired one over Stafford's head, which the Buccaneers recovered around midfield.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: The second was even more harrowing. With 2:32 left, a first down away from effectively winning the game, Cam Akers broke free for what would be a first down, and then he, of course, fumbled. It was that type of day.
19.) 2010 AFC Divisional – (A6) Jets 28 @ (A1) Patriots 21
19.) 2010 AFC Divisional – (A6) Jets 28 @ (A1) Patriots 21
Review: One year after beating the 13-3 Chargers who entered on a 11-game win streak, the Jets beat the 14-2 Patriots who entered on an 8-game win streak. Not only were the Patriots the best team in the NFL, but they had beaten the Jets 45-3 in that same stadium. Rex Ryan said he had to be better than Bill Belichick for one day, and he was. His defense masterfully confused Brady, dropping back into coverage and flooding the middle zones. Even when the Jets didn’t get pressure, Brady had nowhere to throw. It was scintillating defensive football. Mark Sanchez was confident, throwing for three TDs, including one on a ridiculous catch by Santonio Holmes. Rex Ryan called it the “2nd biggest game in the Jets’ franchise history.” That could be debated, but it was a giant game that the Jets showed up for. I have never seen Brady that rattled without being pressured that much, and I have never seen or enjoyed, Gillette being that stunned in silence.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Brady entered the game having not thrown an interception since Week 6 against Baltimore. On the first drive of the game, Brady floated a screen pass that David Harris picked off. The audible gasp by the crowd was a harbinger of the awful day it would be for the Patriots.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: There was controversy as the game started, as Bill Belichick benched Wes Welker for the 1st series after Welker playfully alluded to the alleged foot-fetish videos created by Rex Ryan and his wife. It was very clever, but probably out-of-bounds (don’t go after someone’s private sex life), and most certainly put the Patriots in a weird funk at the start.
Review: The 3rd straight Jets game brings us to their most harrowing loss. In Ben Roethlisberger’s first playoff game following his astounding 14-0 rookie season, he looked very much like a rookie, throwing two interceptions including a key pick-6. The Steelers did lead the game 10-0, and had a lot of success on the ground, running for 193 yards (101 from Bettis), but the Jets led late 17-10 after returning a punt and pick for scores. After a nice drive was capped off with a Roethlisberger TD to Ward with 6 minutes to go, the Jets staged two drives into Steelers territory, but two missed kicks by Doug Brien, from 47 and 43 yards, and his life was never the same. Unlike Giants’ kicker Lawrence Tynes in the 2007 NFC Championship, Brien never got a 3rd chance in OT. The Steelers won in OT on a kick by Jeff Reed, keeping their dream 15-1 season alive.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Doug Brien attempted both his field goals into the open end of Heinz Field, which is historically incredibly tough to kick into. Of course, the next week, Adam Vinatieri would nail a 48-yarder into that same end, setting the record for the longest field goal into the open end (at the time).
