Tier III – It wasn’t close, but it was still a Good Ride
54.) 2016 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Giants 13 @ (N4) Packers 38
Review: We finally finish our tour of awful 2016 games with the Packers stomp over the Giants. I put this in the category of it maybe being a good ride because for a half, it truly was. The Giants ballyhooed secondary was smothering the Green Bay receivers. Unlike the 2011 playoff game where Rodgers couldn't react to this type of coverage and pressure, in this one he was special. The Giants forced the Packers into five straight punts to start the game, but once Rodgers got hot, it was over, as the Packers got four TDs and the field goal in their next seven drives. For the Giants, they couldn't keep up the pressure or the coverage, and they petered out late with two straight TDs on their last two drives. In the end, it was somewhat similar to the game above, the Packers coming back from an early slow start against an NFC East team to eventually steamroll them.
Interesting/Memroable Play: Obviously, it is Randall Cobb's hail mary catch on the last play of the 1st half. Firstly, for Rodgers, this was the third in a three-part hail mary act that started teh year before against Detroit, then followed in the Divisional Round against Arizona. Secondly, it was sweet revenge for the Packers, who got back at the Giants who got a critical hail mary TD on the last play of the first half in their stunning 2011 upset.
53.) 2009 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Eagles 14 @ (N3) Cowboys 34
I remember this game turning on one (admittedly correct) overturned interception. After a back-and-forth dull 1st quarter, the Eagles, with Michael Vick throwing a laser for a 76-yard TD to Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles appeared to pick off Tony Romo deep in Dallas territory. The stadium was damn silent at that moment, all thinking “here we go again.” In the end, the Cowboys somehow rattled off 20 more points in that quarter. The Cowboys played pretty perfect. Multiple TDs and no INTs by Romo? Check. Long run by Felix? Check. TD reception for Miles Austin? Check. Pound the shit out of the Eagles o-line missing starting center Jamaal Jackson? Check. It really was that simple.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: In what was Donovan McNabb’s last game as an Eagle, the Reid & McNabb Eagles lost their first playoff game for the first time, after not going one-and-done in 2000-2004, 2006 & 2008.
52.) 2009 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Ravens 33 @ (A3) Patriots 14
Review: The only thing wrong with this game was that the Ravens dominated the 1st quarter so much that the rest of the game was more of a bore than a beatdown of the Patriots should have been. Just a quick reminder: The Ravens scored on the 1st play of the game with an 80-yard TD. Brady was sack/fumbled, with the Ravens turned into a TD. After trading punts, Brady threw back-to-back interceptions which the Ravens turned into 10 more points, and it was 24-0 before 15 minutes were up. Julian Edelman replaced the ACL-ed Wes Welker admirably. Tom Brady seemingly played with no-ACL as well, as he put up a performance far worse than Manning has in any home playoff game.
Intersting/Memorable Play: Brady’s first interception (a scared throw into the middle of the field to an area where two Ravens and zero Patriots resided) was among the worst I have ever seen from a big-QB, yet that great duo of Nantz and Simms never once questioned the shittiness of the throw. Not even once. Had Mark Sanchez, or Philip Rivers made that throw, they would be talking about their "lack of poise" or some other Nantz & Simms derivative crap.
51.) 2002 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Falcons 27 @ (N3) Packers 7
Review: Michael Vick’s first playoff game started in style, with his team taking a 24-0 lead into halftime, courtesy of some solid play on his part, and the harbinger-of-an-upset blocked punt return touchdown (other than the Raiders doing it in Super Bowl XXXVII, I can’t remember a team getting one and not winning). Brett Favre was in top-form, with a 20-42 day with one td and two picks. If I do remember correctly, it was snowing during the game, making the play of the indoor team from Atlanta all the more stunning.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first time the Packers ever lost a home playoff game. Of course, since then, it has happened three more times (2004 Wild Card, 2007 Championship, 2011 Divisional), and the Packers have won just twice at home in that span.
50.) 2011 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Lions 28 @ (N3) Saints 45
Review: Here’s another game that went from a close game where an upset was brewing to a blowout because of one call, this one not so correct. The Lions sack/fumbled Brees and the ball was returned for a TD, but the play was blown dead. The score was 14-7 Lions at the time, and it would have made it 21-7. Of course, the Saints ended up scoring TDs on 5 straight 2nd half drives (and ending the 6th drive inside the 10) so it may not have mattered, but that run game might not have worked so well down 21-10 at the half. In other news: Brees threw for 466 yards and 3 TDs, while Calvin was Calvin.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Saints gained an NFL-playoff record 626 yards in the game, with 459 passing and 167 rushing. The game it beat was the Chargers over the Boston Patriots in 1964, where the Chargers put up 610 yards.
49.) 2004 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Vikings 31 @ (N3) Packers 17
Review: The Packers lost another home playoff game, and once again it was because they couldn’t stop a gifted African-American QB while Favre got pick-happy. Daunte Culpepper, fresh off of his 39 TD season threw four more (including a screen pass to Moe Williams, who was one of three interchangeable Vikings RBs along with the Whizzinator Onterrio Smith and Michael Bennett), while Favre answered it with four interceptions. This game was most notable for being the game where Randy Moss scored a TD and then faked mooning the crowd (or mooning the Lambeau Field goalpost).
Interesting/Memorable Play: What is more funny than Moss mooning the crowd was two incidents it led to:
1.) Joe Buck’s hilarious white outrage at that “despicable act” in a move where the only recourse for Buck is to say he was doing a Jim Nantz impression.
2.) Randy Moss’s impromptu interview during the week after the game where he responded that he would pay his fine with “straight cash, homey.”
1.) Joe Buck’s hilarious white outrage at that “despicable act” in a move where the only recourse for Buck is to say he was doing a Jim Nantz impression.
2.) Randy Moss’s impromptu interview during the week after the game where he responded that he would pay his fine with “straight cash, homey.”
48.) 2005 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Steelers 31 @ (A3) Bengals 17
Review: We all remember where we were when it happened, whenKimo von Ollhoffen, with great malice, basically ended the upward trajectory ofthe sports fastest rising star at QB. Carson Palmer was once the guy who would inevitably challenge Manning and Brady after a fantastic 2005 season. Instead, Ollhoffen did his thing, and despite a fun 1st half where the Bengals took a 17-7 lead behind Jon Kitna, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers won, went on to win the Super Bowl and it was Ben who challenges Manning and Brady to this day. The Kimo hit might be one of the five most memorable, important, “what-if?” plays of the 2000s.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The end-around pitchback TD throw by Ben to Cedric Wilson (who had a monster playoffs in 2005) was eerily similar to the pitch-pitchback TD throw by Warner to Fitz in the 2008 NFC Championship Game. The link: Ken Whisenhunt was the Steelers coordinator – where he earned the now-forgotten great nickname “Inspector Gadget.”
47.) 2021 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Patriots 17 @ (A3) Bills 47
Review: The first playoff game in the post-Brady era for the Pats didn't go as planned, but not really because of the offense. Mac Jones wasn't great in his first playoff game, but even Tom Brady in his prime probably loses this game. Why? Because the Bills had seven possessions and scored seven TDs. In those seven TD drives, they only got to 3rd down seven times, going 6-7 on those attempts. It was one of the purely greatest offensive performances in NFL playoff history. Josh Allen was masterful on a bitterly cold game, going 21-25 for 308 yards and 5 TDs, from shot passes to Josh Allen "Holy Shit" moments and throws. It was a commanding performance.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Again, nothing was really stopping Buffalo, but the game could have been interesting for longer if not for a ludicrous interception by Jordan Poyer on the Pats first drive on what for a few seconds seemed like a certain TD. The Bills scored a TD ten plays later and it was all more than over.
46.) 2017 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Falcons 26 @ (N3) Rams 13
Review: While the best 2016 Wild Card game featured an experienced playoff team beating a playoff newbie (first Giants' playoff appearance in five yearss), so too did 2017's worst, with the Falcons not making any mistakes, and the more talented Rams making all of them. Start with two special teams turnovers in the first half, gifting the Rams great field position. Todd Gurley also had a relatively poor game running into stacked boxes over and over again. The Rams never were able to mount much of a comeback, but kept it within striking distance the entire time, only put away by a great Matt Ryan to Julio Jones TD.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first playoff game in Los Angeles since 1994, occurring in just the Rams' second season back in Los Angeles. For the Rams, it was the first since 1989. The crowd was surprisingly good, only surprising since even in their big home games late in the year (e.g. New Orleans) the patrons had a higher than normal percentage of road fans.
45.) 2022 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Ravens 17 @ (A3) Bengals 24
Review: In what was a shockingly close game, the Bengals won with a shocking 98-yard fumble recovery by Sam Hubbard, basically stealing the ball away from Tyler Huntley who was one yard away from giving the Ravens a 24-17 lead. Instead, Hubbard took it the other way, made it 24-17 Bengals. The Ravens next two drives didn;t threaten, but the last one did, until the Bengals remembered they were playing Tyler Huntley, big-blitzed him a bunch, and the game ending incomplete-holding-incomplete-incompelte-incomplete. I'm probably being harsh on this game, but it was Joe Burrow vs. Tyler Huntley after all.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Sam Hubbard TD set a lot of NFL records on that one play. It is now the longest play by a defensive lineman in NFL history, and the longest fumble return for a TD in NFL history (both of those regular season or playoffs). The only longer defensive score in playoffs history is James Harrison's INT at the first half gun in Super Bowl XLIII.
44.) 2011 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Bengals 10 @ (A3) Texans 31
Review: The first playoff game in Reliant Stadium’s history gets extra points because it was just that. It was also a fun blowout because of the big-play Texans living up to that standard. Andre Johnson caught a long touchdown. Arian Foster had a long touchdown run. JJ Watt made an incredible snag of a Dalton pass and returned it to the house. It was a fun game in a raucous stadium that was built in the hopes it would one day have a game like that. The only sad part was that Matt Schaub (and Mario Williams) was on the sidelines while it happened, and instead we got TJ Yates, making this the first all-rookie QB game.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Marvin Lewis challenged the spot trying to make it 2nd and 1 instead of 2nd and 3 in one of the worst planned challenges I have ever seen. Of course, it wasn’t even overturned.
43.) 2020 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Buccaneers 31 @ (N4) Washington 23
Review: Tom Brady vs. Taylor Heinecke ended up being decided much like you would expect, but given how Brees, Mahomes (and to some degree Rodgers) would play through the Bucs playoff run, Taylor Heinecke should get a lot of credit for playing well here, going 26-44 for 306 yards. Arguably he outplayed Brady, who went just 22-40, admittedly for 381 yards. The Bucaneers led wire to wire but the Redskins kept it within 12 throughout, and had the ball at midfield down 8 with 2:30 to go. What was a nice game by that point ended quickly with three incompletes and a sack.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This is the only time that a sub-500 playoff team in this era (2002 - 2021) did not win their first playoff game, the Football Team losing here after three prior sub-.500 teams won their opener.
42.) 2006 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Jets 16 @ (A4) Patriots 37
Review: A lot of the talk before the game was about the handshake that would come at the end (yeah, that stuff started well before Spygate). In the end, after a nice victory, Belichick hugged Mangini in a “I’mdoing this to appease people, but you know I still own you” way. During the game, we saw the Patriots effortlessly take down a plucky, frisky Jets team that had the game at 23-16 early in the 4th quarter. What followed next was pure Patriots football: Vince Wilfork recovers a lateral as he’s the only one who doesn’t think it was an incomplete pass. Patriots score a TD. Asante Samuel gets a pick-6. You can’t script things any better for that team.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Peyton Manning apparently saw Brady quick-snapping the Jets a lot in this game and decided to utilize it against Baltimore, where it delivered mostly horrible results - Manning threw both his interceptions on plays where he quick-snapped.
41.) 2007 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Redskins 14 @ (N3) Seahawks 35
Review: This was the final game in the Redskins emotional Todd Collins led run after the death of Sean Taylor. The game is mostly memorable because of the Seahawks relentless pass rush, keyed by the disappeared Patrick Kerney, and a rare back-to-back pick-sixes by Marcus Trufant and Jordan Babineauxm, which turned a 21-14 Seahawks lead into a 35-14 laugher. Of course, what made the game really special was that it was Joe Gibbs final game (and only the 2nd time he went one-and-done), Mike Holmgren’s final playoff game, and another game for that incredible Qwest Field crowId.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game was 13-0 before a Redskins TD. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball bounced before the returner caught it and went straight up and was recoverd by the ‘Skins – the rare deep onside-kick in essence. At that moment, who didn’t feel Sean Taylor was hovering over that game.
40.) 2003 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Broncos 10 @ (A3) Colts 41
Review: Yeah, it is high, but if you want to see QB beingplayed as brilliantly as it ever will be played, watch this game. On just 26 throws, Manning threw for 377 yards and 5 tds (on 22 completions). He had just the 2nd perfect passer rating day in playoff history, and that all come when he had a Giant-sized monkey on his back having never won a playoff game. The game was notable for Brandon Stokley’s brilliance and the fact that the Colts won this game so easily (31-3 at the half) after losing to the Broncos in a meaningful game two weeks earlier in Indy 31-17 where they were outgained 465-183. Again, that was a meaningful game. Denver hammered Indy in Indy. Indy more than returned that favor.
Interesting/Memorable Play: On the game’s 2nd TD, Marvin Harrison caught a pass around the 25 yard line and went down. A cabal of Broncos surrounded him but argued who should have had the play and none of them touched Marvin down, so Marvin got up and raced for the world’s easiest TD. It was that kind of day.
Tier IV – The Good Games (no need for fancy titles now)
39.) 2022 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Giants 31 @ (N3) Vikings 24
Review: In a back and forth game, the most disrespected four-loss team in NFL history showed everyone why they are such, losing to the Wild Card Giants in a game that cemented the Daniel Jones & Saquon Barkley era as at the minimum a reasonable run. Jones was poised, going 24-35 for 301 yards despite as per usual having no great options, and Saquon was brilliant, rushing and receiving. The Giants defense didn't do much, but made the Vikings earn yards, and took advantage of one of the most bizarre QB decisions at the end to win it. However, what really won it for the Giants was great playcalling from Brian Daboll, great play from Daniel Jones and, yes, bad Kirk coming into play for that one play after what had been a great game (31-39, 273 yards).
Interesting/Memorable Play: We can't not talk about Kirk Cousins's to throw to a well covered TJ Hockenson for a 3-yard gain on 4th and 8 to end the game. Yes, the Giants had pressure on him, and no one was "open".... but you have Justin Jefferson, just throw a jump ball like you did in that Buffalo miracle and let him at least try it!
38.) 2020 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Rams 30 @ (N3) Seahawks 20
Review: In Jared Goff's last game as a Ram, he was ineffective before leaving for John Wofford, a player McVay it seems wanted to play anyway. Somehow though the Rams scored 30 points, aided by a pick-6 that turned a tight defensive affair into something else. On the other side, the best defense in the NFL that year shut down the Seahawks, limiting Russell Wilson to one of his worst games as a pro (11-27 for 174 yards), sacking him five times. It was beautiful to watch. Aaron Donald had two sacks - across three plays, with Leonard Floyd adding two more. It was a clinic, where even if there were fans in an empty stadium, it may have been equally quiet.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Darious Williams pick-6 came on him perfectly reading a screen pass. I think ESPN Stats & Info (or Elias or one of those) came out later and said it was the first interception on a WR screen pass in like three seasons, but this wasn't even a delayed or bubble screen; it was a fire screen and Williams just jumped it perfectly.
37.) 2012 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Seahawks 24 @ (N4) Redskins 14
The game of two games. The Redskins started the game like so: The Redskins ran 20 plays for 129 yards and two TDs, while the Seahawks ran three for -2 yards. The rest of the game: The Redskins gained just 74 more yards and didn't score, while the Seahawks gained 382 and scored 24 points. Of course, this glosses over the real story of the game, RGIII's knee, which looked gimpy as early as his TD run that made it 14-0. He finally tore it retreating to try to recover a bad snap, twisting it on the terrible FedEx Field Turf. The story of the Seahawks was mainly Marshawn Lynch's second Wild Card clinching run in three years, a TD that finished the game off. The atmosphere until the Griffin injury was electric, as it was the first playoff game in Washington since the 1999 season, but the dismay and emptiness in the building after the injury ended any hope of this being anything but an 'infamous' game.
Interesting/Memorable Play: That Lynch run had one other similarity to the incredible Lynch run to clinch the win over the Saints two years earlier: downfield blocking by unconventional people. The first one was unconventional since it was lineman 60 yards downfield throwing blocks. This was unconventional because Lynch's lead blocker near the end of the run was none other than Russell Wilson. It wasn't a great block, but still a cool sight.
36.) 2017 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Bills 3 @ (A3) Jaguars 10
Review: The Jaguars defense was generally worth the price of admission. Good thing for that, because even as a fan of defense, it is hard to consider a game that ends 10-3 being so well remembered, but that Jaguars defense was truly fantastic. Early on, it looked like it might end 3-0, with the Bills equally stifling the Jaguars Bortles-led offense, but overtime the Jaguars realized Bortles was better running than passing, and that was more or less it. The Jags smothered the Bills, limiting Tyrod Taylor to a 17-37 day. Even McCoy busted a few early runs, but by the second half was bottled. In the end, the Jaguars won a slightly exciting game, but there was never going to be much offense when the Jaguars were the Jaguars, both with their special defense, and dreadful offense.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Blake Bortles famously ran for 89 yards while passing for just 83. It was the first time in the moern NFL that a starting QB that finished a playoff game ended up with more rushing yards than passing. While we may rightfully laugh at Bortles ineffective passing, let's credit his nimble-ness on rushing.
35.) 2010 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Packers 21 @ (N3) Eagles 16
The game of two games. The Redskins started the game like so: The Redskins ran 20 plays for 129 yards and two TDs, while the Seahawks ran three for -2 yards. The rest of the game: The Redskins gained just 74 more yards and didn't score, while the Seahawks gained 382 and scored 24 points. Of course, this glosses over the real story of the game, RGIII's knee, which looked gimpy as early as his TD run that made it 14-0. He finally tore it retreating to try to recover a bad snap, twisting it on the terrible FedEx Field Turf. The story of the Seahawks was mainly Marshawn Lynch's second Wild Card clinching run in three years, a TD that finished the game off. The atmosphere until the Griffin injury was electric, as it was the first playoff game in Washington since the 1999 season, but the dismay and emptiness in the building after the injury ended any hope of this being anything but an 'infamous' game.
Interesting/Memorable Play: That Lynch run had one other similarity to the incredible Lynch run to clinch the win over the Saints two years earlier: downfield blocking by unconventional people. The first one was unconventional since it was lineman 60 yards downfield throwing blocks. This was unconventional because Lynch's lead blocker near the end of the run was none other than Russell Wilson. It wasn't a great block, but still a cool sight.
36.) 2017 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Bills 3 @ (A3) Jaguars 10
Review: The Jaguars defense was generally worth the price of admission. Good thing for that, because even as a fan of defense, it is hard to consider a game that ends 10-3 being so well remembered, but that Jaguars defense was truly fantastic. Early on, it looked like it might end 3-0, with the Bills equally stifling the Jaguars Bortles-led offense, but overtime the Jaguars realized Bortles was better running than passing, and that was more or less it. The Jags smothered the Bills, limiting Tyrod Taylor to a 17-37 day. Even McCoy busted a few early runs, but by the second half was bottled. In the end, the Jaguars won a slightly exciting game, but there was never going to be much offense when the Jaguars were the Jaguars, both with their special defense, and dreadful offense.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Blake Bortles famously ran for 89 yards while passing for just 83. It was the first time in the moern NFL that a starting QB that finished a playoff game ended up with more rushing yards than passing. While we may rightfully laugh at Bortles ineffective passing, let's credit his nimble-ness on rushing.
35.) 2010 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Packers 21 @ (N3) Eagles 16
Review: In a total reversal of what was expected, the Eagles had 100 more yards net of passing (Vick threw for 292 to Rodgers 180) but the Packers and their maligned run game outrushed the Eagles by 57. On the day, Rodgers had one of the quiter good statistical games you will see (18-27 for 180 and 3 tds with no picks and a fumble), but the Eagles could have still easily won if Nick Collins doesn’t make a game-saving tackle on DeSean Jackson, or if Michael Vick doesn’t throw a desperation heave to Riley Cooper of all people with time left, or if David Akers doesn’t miss two relatively normal field goals. In a game where the Packers never trailed and led 14-3, they were really pushed more than in any other game in their run.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was one of the rare games where the losing team had more yards and fewer turnovers. As is normal, Special Teams is generally the reason, and here it was with Akers. The Eagles are one out of just two to achieve such infamy at home, as the other is a little team I like to call to 2005 Colts.
34.) 2015 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Seahawks 22 @ (N4) Cowboys 24
Review: In one of hte stranger close games, the Seahawks were laughably inept at times, simply magical at others, and narrowly lost in one of the more maddening performances. The Seahawks went three and out six different times, in four of those going run-run-pass. Somehow still they got it to 24-22 late in the game but missed an onside kick. The Seahawks actually led 14-10, but the Cowboys answered with two TDs sandwiched around an interception. The two TD drives were classic Cowboys in the Dak era, with long, plodding, grating drives that repeatedly got the job done. In the end, the Cowboys were likely better, but the game did leave us wondering how good the Seahawks could be if they didn't run so much.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Seahawks started the game with three straight three-and-out's, which is the fifteenth time they've done that in a Russell Wilson start, a staggeringly poor stat that speaks to how dumb their approach has been for a long, long time.
33.) 2020 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Ravens 20 @ (A4) Titans 13
Review: In one of hte stranger close games, the Seahawks were laughably inept at times, simply magical at others, and narrowly lost in one of the more maddening performances. The Seahawks went three and out six different times, in four of those going run-run-pass. Somehow still they got it to 24-22 late in the game but missed an onside kick. The Seahawks actually led 14-10, but the Cowboys answered with two TDs sandwiched around an interception. The two TD drives were classic Cowboys in the Dak era, with long, plodding, grating drives that repeatedly got the job done. In the end, the Cowboys were likely better, but the game did leave us wondering how good the Seahawks could be if they didn't run so much.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Seahawks started the game with three straight three-and-out's, which is the fifteenth time they've done that in a Russell Wilson start, a staggeringly poor stat that speaks to how dumb their approach has been for a long, long time.
33.) 2020 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Ravens 20 @ (A4) Titans 13
Review: In a rematch of a huge upset the year before with Tennessee shocking Baltimore, here Baltimore just outplayed Tennessee. It took them a bit to get going, with teh Titans taking a 10-0 lead, but pretty soon the Lamar Jackson show took over. His 48-yard touchdown run to tie it at 10-10 was one of the best singular effort plays in playoff history in this time period, full with amazing soundbites like Mike Vrabel saying "he's the fastest guy on the field". On the other side, the Ravens limited 2,000 yard rusher Derrick Henry to 40 yards on 18 carries, just stopping the Titans in the mud from the jump. It was a defensive clinic, and an offensive singular masterful display.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the fifth time these two teams had met in the playoffs (2000, 2003, 2008, 2019, 2020) and the road team has now gone 4-1, with teh one home win being the Titans 20-17 OT win in 2003 - a game where the Titans limited the Ravens' own 2,000 yard runner (Jamal Lewis) to 41 yards.
32.) 2014 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Ravens 30 @ (A3) Steelers 17
Review: After a four year hiatus, the NFL's most enduring modern rivalry was finally rekindled on the playoff stage. From 2011-2013, there were a number of Ravens vs. Steelers games that seemingly all ended with a 3-point score, but never a playoff game. Now there was again. For the third time since 2008, the Ravens and Steelers squared off at Heinz Field - and for the first time the Ravens won. Unlike the previous tilts, this time it was Joe Flacco who was steady, going 18-29 with two TDs and no INTs, and Roethlisberger who had a few off moments. Ben was impressive going 31-45 for 334 yards, but had one bad pick and one unlucky one. He was under constant harrassment, as the Ravens sacked him five times, including two by Elvis Dumervil. The play of the game, though, was Terrell Suggs amazing interception he caught in his legs after tipping a screen pass. It was the type of play that never happened to the Steelers in this rivalry, but finally did. The Ravens were likely the better team, but they fought their way to a 5th consecutive playoff win emulating what the Steelers did best: play solid football and wait for hte opponent to make a mistake.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This game marked the 3rd playoff meeting between Flacco and Roethlisberger, tying them with four other pairs in the Super Bowl era for 3rd place. The leader in meetings is Bradshaw vs. Stabler - five times, with Manning vs, Brady at 4.
31.) 2021 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Raiders 19 @ (A4) Bengals 26
Review: Of course the game came down to the Bengals intercepting Derek Carr on the goal-lime as time expired, ending what was a fun, if poorly played game between two teams we thought to be playoff fodder (the Bengals would prove us otherwise). Burrow was great against what usually had been a great pass rush, going 24-34 with 244 yards adn two 2 TDs, while the Bengals odd playoff defense rise started here limiting one fo the more accurate QBs to 29-54 passing and sacking Derek Carr three times. The Bengals led by 4-10 points for a large portion of the game, but when it came down to it the Raiders had a chance to send it to OT, but Derek Carr forced a ball into double coverage, with Germaine Pratt locking down the Bengals first playoff win in 32 years.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The big play of the game aside from the pick was the Bengals scoring their first touchdown with Joe Burrow flinging the ball to CJ Uzomah a second before going out of bounds. The whistle clearly blew which should have stopped the play dead. The NFL definitely messed up - but that said it didn't really effect the play as the corner was far enough away to Uzomah that they were getting a TD anyway.
30.) 2017 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Panthers 26 @ (N4) Saints 31
Review: It was a strange game that at times never felt too close, but in the end the Panthers had the ball in reasonable position with a chance to steal it. For the year, the Panthers biggest weakness was New Orleans, going 0-3 against them and 11-3 against the rest of the NFL. Cam and Drew both played excellently, topping 340 yards easily with 2 TDs a piece. The Panthers shut down the Saints vaunted running backs, both rushing and receiving, but let the rest of the receivers go off, including Tedd Ginn in the latest revenge game. Still, the game was in the balance after a weird 4th down decision by the Saints led to the Panthers getting the ball needing 69 yards in 1:51 to win. They got down to the Saints 21 with 0:46 left, but went incomplete, intentional grounding, incomplete, sack, with the Saints releasing pass rush hell. It was a quick end to a quick, fiery game between two division stalwarts.
Interesting/Memorable Play(s): It is hard to say a game that ends 31-26 with boatloads of offense could ahve been turned early in a 0-0 game, but the Panthers came the closest to opening the scoring, getting a 3rd and 2 at the Saints 7. They settled for a field goal that was blocked. Two plays into the Saints drive, Brees hit Ted Ginn for an 80 yard TD.
29.) 2019 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Bills 19 @ (A4) Texans 22
Review: The Bills led 16-0 early in teh third quarter. The Texans then truned it over. That's the quick synopsis of the game, but in between that was a lot of weird stuff. From a performance where DeShaun Watson went 20-25 but was sacked seven, to Josh Allen showing all the ills of early career Josh Allen (like missed wide open throws, and stupid throws) with sprinkling in a small piece of brilliance in his 92 yards on 9 carries that would come to define part of his aura. The Texans nearly gave the game away trying to win it on a 4th & 1, after the Bills had to punt with Josh Allen being called for an intentional ground and a 19-yard loss on a sack on 4th down back to back. Yeah, it was that type of weird game.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The Bills nearly took a 20-0 lead as on the opening kickoff of the second half the Bills returner threw the ball thinking he had "downed" it. The Bills then raced down and receoverd. The NFL probably rightly overturned and gave the Texans their touchback, but it was a crazy play.
Review: In what will unthinkably be marked down as Peyton Manning’s last played game as a Colt, the Colts became just the 2nd team in NFL history to lose a playoff game where they scored to take the lead with less than a minute remaining. Somehow, despite airmailing throws all night, Mark Sanchez was able to pull it off, aided with a nice KO return by Antonio Cromartie, and of course that spectacular Jim Caldwell timeout for no reason. It should not be forgotten that LT had a really nice playoff game for once, and Adam Vinatieri was Adam Vinatieri, hitting what should have been the game winning kick from 50 yards.
Interesting/Memorable Play: Manning’s last throw as a Colt (again, can’t believe that that is the case) was an incomplete to Blair White, where Manning threw just low (if it was a better receiver, it probably gets caught). Had Manning completed it, the Colts could have run out the clock before the field goal.
Interesting/Memorable Play 2: Oh yeah, who was the guy on the kick coverage team that didn’t stay in his lane and cut down Cromartie earlier you ask? Why, it was bust extraordinaire Jerry Hughes.
27.) 2004 NFC Wild Card – (N5) Rams 27 @ (N4) Seahawks 20
Review: In what was a really fun game, a drop by Bobby Engram in the end zone kept this out of overtime (and probably a ranking in the top-10). Hasselbeck and Bulger both threw for over 300 yards (Bulger on only 18-32 passing). The game was memorable as it was the last moment of glory for the St. Louis Rams Greatest Show on Turf era. Torry Holt and Kevin Curtis each had 100 yard days, as did Darrell Jackson (who of course, had a pass bounce off of his hands for a pick) while Itula Mili came up two yards short. As usual Shaun Alexander did nothing, but in the end, two average at best teams combined for a darn exciting game.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: This is the only playoff game in NFL History where both teams were outscored for the season. The Seahawks were just a -2, but the Rams were a -73. Yes, that is how bad the NFC was in those days, that an 8-8 team outscored by -73 points was not only in the playoffs, but wasn’t even the 6th seed. The Rams also became the first 8-8 team to win a playoff game.
26.) 2008 NFC Wild Card – (N5) Falcons 24 @ (N4) Cardinals 30
Review: This game was overshadowed by what happened right after that day, but Kurt Warner’s first playoff game in Arizona did not disappoint. Somehow, despite outgaining the Falcons by 100 and committing two fewer turnovers, the game was in doubt late, which made it all the more exciting. Larry Fitzgerald started his epic postseason with a leaping TD grab, while Anquan Boldin injured himself during a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Antrel Rolle also returned a fumble for a TD. The game also featured a safety and the Cardinals being ballsy enough to throw for a game-clinching 1st down up just 6 on 3rd and 9. Basically, everything you want from a solid, if unspectacular game.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: The game would be known for the Falcons allegedly having just one snap count for the entire game. This was used, I guess, to help comfort rookie Matt Ryan, but it led to the Cardinalsgetting epic pressure, which directly resulted in the fumble that was returned for the TD and the safety.
25.) 2017 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Titans 22 @ (A4) Chiefs 21
Review: It was a tale of two halves, in Alex Smith's final game in a strange five-year odyssey in Kansas CIty. The Chiefs rolled in the first half to a 21-3 lead, and promptly lost the second half 18-0 to the Titans. In the second half, the Chiefs defense just became incapable of stopping Tennessee's old-school attack. It wasn't quick hits by the Titans in their three straight scoring drives, but rather slow burns, 15-play and 10-play drives bookmarking their comebak. On the other side, despite the Chiefs getting a muffed punt fall into their laps, they couldn't get the requisite field goal that they needed to end it. In a season that started out so well for the Chiefs, with an opening night win in New England, it ended in infamy, becoming the victim of the worst blown lead in a home playoff game ever.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Andy Reid went his first seven playoff appearances never going one-and-done; including five trips to the NFC Championship Game. With this loss, though, Reid would mark his fifth one-and-done in his six most recent playoff attempts, his third in KC (the exception being 2015, losing to New England in the divisional round) adding to his last two playoff years in Philadelphia.
24.) 2020 AFC Wild Card - (A7) Colts 24 @ (A2) Bills 27
Review: This is the one game people that are pro-playoff expansion will point to in saying that the league was right to go to 14 teams. The Bills were a 13-3 two seed that escaped the game Colts. It was something of a wild game, with the Colts leading 10-7 before a jump-pass TD by Josh Allen, following the Colts getting stoned on 4th and Goal, giving the Bills a 14-10 halftime lead. The Bills took their lead to 24-10, behind Josh Allen's fantastic 26-35 day for 324 yards. The Colts clawed back in Philip Rivers' last game of his career, going out well with a 300+ yard performance. However a 2-8 finish when teh Colts were down just three at their 37 yard line ended it, giving the Bills their first playoff win since 1994.
Interesting/Memorable Plays: Josh Allen's biggest mistake in his playoff loss the year before was taking awful sacks. Here he was at it again. WIth 3:00 left, the Bills were up 27-24, driving at the Colts 37 when on 1st and 10, Allen was sacked for a 18-yard loss and fumbled, whcih was recovered for a further 5-yard loss, setting up a beautiful 2nd and 33. Obviously they had to punt, leading to Rivers' final failed comeback attempt in a playoff game.
23.) 2003 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Titans 20 @ (A4) Ravens 17
Review: In the only chapter of an underrated playoff trilogy that the Titans won, the two teams battled it out gladiator style in a defensive game in the Cathedral of defense. The Titans held 2,000 yard rusher Jamal Lewis to 35 yards on 14 carries (somehow, Billick felt it pertinent to let Anthony Wright throw 39 times instead of running Lewis more), while Ed Reed and Will Demps picked off Steve McNair, who like McNair does, was playing with a broken thumb. Ancient kicker Gary Anderson won the game with a 46 yard field goal with a minute left, which was a great capper to a hard-hitting night.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: Since I couldn’t think of anything better and because it started with this game, Ed Reed has played three home playoff games (with this being the first) and has at least one interception in all three of them.
22.) 2022 AFC Wild Card - (A7) Dolphins 31 @ (A2) Bills 34
Review: This game started the way we all expected, given Skylar Thompson was starting for the Dolphins. After not getting a 4th down, the Bills forced a quick punt, got a TD, picked the Dolphins off, got another TD, forced another punt, and got a field goal, and were up 17-0. Of course, the Dolphins found themselves up 24-20 just a minute into the 2nd half, after picking off Josh Allen twice, and getting a long punt return, finally returned an Allen fumble for a TD. The Dolphins were up despite even at that point being outgained by roughly 120 yards. The Bills settled down thereafter, taking a 34-24 lead, but even that in this wild game wasn't safe. Thompson had his best drive of the day to cut it to 34-31, and then even had the ball two more times, but ended it with a 4th down delay of game, followed by an incomplete to give the Bills a great escape. Read the stat sheet, and you see the Bills outgain the Dolphins 423-231, with Allen throwing for 352, but look closer and cracks that showed themself the next week started to appear in this one.
Interesting/Memorable Play: One of the weirdest elements that effected the game was the ridiculous wind, which even impacted Josh Allen's ridiculous arm - in this case the play that for the moment seemed to turn the game, with the Bills driving at midfield up 17-3, Allen had a ball seriously impacted by the air, turning it into an interception that was returned to midfield. Allen did have some great throws later, but the wind got him here.
Interesting/Memorable Fact: There have now been six games between #2 and #7 seeds in the 14-team playoff era. Four of the games have not been competitive - the closest of those a 12-point win by the Saints against a woefully overmatched 2020 Bears team. The other two games: 3-point wins by Buffalo.
21.) 2015 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Steelers 18 @ (A3) Bengals 16
Review: The Bengals came in without Andy Dalton (who would have come back in the following game), and could do nothing on offense, and if not for Red Zone struggles by Pittsburgh the game would have been out of reach, but it was just 15-0 entering the 4th. Finally, the Bengals found life. They scored on a Jeremy Hill TD following a 40-yard DPI, then a brilliant catch and run by Green to take the lead with 2:00 to go. Previous sacks had knocked Roethlisberger out of the game, and Landry Jones threw a pick that seemed to end it. Then all the haunted Bengals issues came out. Jeremy Hill fumbled when trying to ice the clock, Roethlisberger, as he is wont to do, came off the bench to lead a gritty comeback that was highlighted by numerous penalties on Cincinnati, before a short game-winning field goal to make Marvin Lewis 0-7 in the playoffs, and end the Bengals best season one game before Dalton would have come back.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game essentially came down to one major play. With time running out with teh Steelers at mid-field, Roethlisberger threw to Antonio Brown who was headhunted by Vontaze Burfict. That 15 yards wouldn't have killed the Bengals, but in teh ensuing scrum, Pacman Jones got assessed another 15 yards, and more importantly Joey Porter, now a coach for the Steelers, came out and got mixed up with the Bengals and should have been tagged 15 yards. Instead, the 30 yards of penalties on Cincinnati ended the game.
Review: The Bengals came in without Andy Dalton (who would have come back in the following game), and could do nothing on offense, and if not for Red Zone struggles by Pittsburgh the game would have been out of reach, but it was just 15-0 entering the 4th. Finally, the Bengals found life. They scored on a Jeremy Hill TD following a 40-yard DPI, then a brilliant catch and run by Green to take the lead with 2:00 to go. Previous sacks had knocked Roethlisberger out of the game, and Landry Jones threw a pick that seemed to end it. Then all the haunted Bengals issues came out. Jeremy Hill fumbled when trying to ice the clock, Roethlisberger, as he is wont to do, came off the bench to lead a gritty comeback that was highlighted by numerous penalties on Cincinnati, before a short game-winning field goal to make Marvin Lewis 0-7 in the playoffs, and end the Bengals best season one game before Dalton would have come back.
Interesting/Memorable Play: The game essentially came down to one major play. With time running out with teh Steelers at mid-field, Roethlisberger threw to Antonio Brown who was headhunted by Vontaze Burfict. That 15 yards wouldn't have killed the Bengals, but in teh ensuing scrum, Pacman Jones got assessed another 15 yards, and more importantly Joey Porter, now a coach for the Steelers, came out and got mixed up with the Bengals and should have been tagged 15 yards. Instead, the 30 yards of penalties on Cincinnati ended the game.
