Many a football fan expected NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend to be great and there are plenty of observations to be had. The initial impression from looking at the games on the docket was they would be competitive. There were also some prevailing narratives coming approaching game time, such as:
- C.J. Stroud’s performance on the big stage of the playoffs in his rookie season;
- Tyreek Hill’s return to Kansas City in a frigid Arrowhead Stadium;
- Would Dak Prescott turn into a pumpkin in the playoffs – again?;
- Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff facing their old teams;
- How a one-day weather delay in Buffalo could impact both the Bills and Steelers, and;
- Could the Philadelphia Eagles turn around their woes for a potential playoff run?
As the weekend progressed, the excitement soon turned to boredom as five of the six games were blowouts. Let’s look into my observations from what would be a (not-so) Super Wild Card Weekend.
Cleveland at Houston
Embed from Getty ImagesThe first set of observations from this Super Wild Card weekend will be from Cleveland visiting Houston. This game gave me vibes going back to the Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers rivalry. (I’m old.) Would Joe Flacco Magic continue in the playoffs? For the first 18 minutes of the game, it certainly seemed so as the Browns took a 14-10 lead. Then, C.J. Stroud took over. Immediately after the Browns took the lead, Stroud threw a touchdown pass to Brevin Jordan. Towards the end of the first half, Stroud threw his third touchdown pass of the half to Dalton Schultz. (Seriously, it was one of the best throws I’ve seen all year. Look at it. LOOK!)
CJ Stroud 🚀 Dalton Schultz
— PFF (@PFF) January 13, 2024
pic.twitter.com/RhCZfiRhQU
Would Flacco Magic bring the Browns back in the second half? No, because that magic ran out as the Texans’ defense took over. They took away the Browns running game and harassed Flacco into throwing two Pick Sixes on consecutive drives. The Texans were so far ahead that head coach DeMico Ryans could rest Stroud to get him ready for the next opponent. (Spoiler alert: it’s Baltimore.)
Miami at Kansas City
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second observations of this Super Wild Card weekend will be from Kansas City hosting Miami. This game took place despite a mass of frigid air moving through the Kansas City area.
But enough about Taylor Swift; let’s talk about the game.
Throughout the season, I have said on my podcast No Credentials Required that the Dolphins were frauds. When their high-flying offense faces a physical defense, they wilt after the first hard punch. It was proven correct once again as the Chiefs’ defense forced Tua Tagovailoa to throw two interceptions, sacked him twice, and limited the Dolphins’ running game. While the Chiefs’ offensive struggles have been well documented, they put enough points on the board to help the team advance. As for Tyreek Hill‘s performance, it was underwhelming like the rest of the Dolphin offense: five receptions, 62 yards and a touchdown. Most of those yards came on their lone touchdown (53).
Green Bay at Dallas
Embed from Getty ImagesNext on the observations of the Super Wild Card weekend is Dallas hosting Green Bay. If the Cowboys offense could score points on the Packers, it would be a blowout. On the flipside, if the Packers’ defense could limit the Cowboys on offense, they would have a chance to win. Here’s what happened: the Packers went up 27-0 before Cowboys fan could take the first sip of their beer. For all the praise Dak Prescott received this season, he once again failed to show up in the playoffs. He threw two first half interceptions which lead to 14 points for the Packers. This included a TAINT by Darnell Savage with 1:50 remaining in the second quarter to put the Packers up 27-0.
DARNELL SAVAGE PICK-6. WOW.
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2024
📺: #GBvsDAL on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Ut3BRhC2CE pic.twitter.com/ERbaOsRW08
While we can chuckle at the supposed suffering of Cowboys fan, let’s take a moment to give praise to Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Like Stroud on Saturday, Love was also making his playoff debut. He went 16/21 for 272 yards and three touchdown passes. That may look like an ordinary day, but it turned out to be a perfect day when it came to quarterback rating. Love has been exceptional the last month and his great play continued in this game.
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit
Embed from Getty ImagesNow it’s time to make observations of the fourth Super Wild Card weekend game as the Los Angeles Rams traveled to take on Detroit. We could go over all the narratives; the Lions’ first home playoff game in 32 years, Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit, and so on. It looked like this was going to be another blowout early on as the Lions took a 21-10 lead. The Rams battled back to get within four at halftime. Here’s the peculiar thing: it could have remained a shootout, but both defenses locked things down in the second half. Full credit to Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris for the adjustments at halftime. The Lions had a bend-but-not-break philosophy for the fourth quarter and stopped two Rams drives inside their 20-yard line.
Let’s address Rams fans for a moment: social media was full of Rams fans weeping and gnashing their teeth. This came especially after a pass interference penalty was not called when Cameron Sutton held Puka Nacua on a crucial third down.
Cameron Sutton gets away with pass interference on Puka Nacua.
— The Whole Delivery (@TWDTV1) January 15, 2024
As bad as the bogus false start on the Lions at the end of the first half, when it should have been a Rams offside.
Big calls botched by the refs #LARvsDET pic.twitter.com/VKBdPje0Ho
It seems like their memories are short ones because their team benefitted from the “NOLA No-Call” in the 2018 NFC Championship Game. Their fans were arrogantly telling Saints fans then, “Get over it.” Your turn to do the same, Rams fan.
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Embed from Getty ImagesUp next are observations from the fifth Super Wild Card weekend game is Pittsburgh visiting Buffalo. This game had to be postponed for a day because of wild snowstorms affecting the greater Buffalo Orchard Park area. Travel was banned, so the Steelers and their Yinzer fans were unable to travel. Not that it mattered anyway, because the Bills scored on their first drive, forced a turnover on the Steelers’ second drive, and immediately scored on their own second drive. The Bills rode a 21-7 lead into the locker room. Both teams had a stalemate in the third quarter as they exchanged field goals. The Steelers got within 24-17, but Khalil Shakir’s catch-and-run for a touchdown sealed the Steelers’ fate as the Bills advanced.
Speaking of fates, a peculiar moment happened during the Steelers’ post-game press conference. A Steelers beat reporter was just about to ask an ill-timed question about the future of head coach Mike Tomlin. She got nine words into her question and Tomlin disappeared like Homer Simpson into a set of bushes. The video is in the tweet below. Tomlin went on to say on Tuesday that he was committed to fulfilling the final season of his contract.
Mike Tomlin leaving podium when asked about having a year left on his contract #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/HpymjGukze
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 16, 2024
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay
Embed from Getty ImagesThe final game of this set of observations from Super Wild Card weekend is Tampa Bay hosting Philadelphia. The casual football fan had these feelings headed into the game:
- The Eagles would emerge from their month-long slump and beat down the Buccaneers;
- This game would be closer than everyone thought, but the Eagles would win a close game;
- The Buccaneers would take the Eagles to the woodshed.
Everything in this game went right for the Buccaneers. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield balled out with 337 yards and three touchdowns despite sore ribs. The Bucs’ defense limited Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts by sacking him three times and allowed only five yards rushing. They also did what many teams couldn’t do this season and they stopped the Brotherly Shove (or Tush Push – whatever).
.@Buccaneers stop the 2-pt tush push!!
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
📺: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rFlj59UzNi pic.twitter.com/Lpl1piR1IY
Following this game, Eagles fan is in a glass case of emotion. Their team started the season 10-1 and finished 1-5 down the stretch, then barely showed up in the playoffs. A demonstration of that was displayed by James Bradberry’s lack of effort to tackle Trey Palmer on Palmer’s way to the end zone. The touchdown basically put away the game.
James Bradberry can’t cover. James Bradberry can’t tackle. James Bradberry continues to play nearly every snap over a rookie who can do both of those things. pic.twitter.com/QAZDIN638A
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) January 16, 2024
More observations to follow the divisional rounds this weekend.
