Wild Card Round Review: Five of Six Games Deliver Dramatic Finishes
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Settle in with your pre-Steelers versus Texans snack of choice, to review the previous headlines created by five of the six games from this weekend. If you thought the end to the Ravens and Steelers AFC fixture was dramatic, then reader you are in for a treat! We enjoyed (or endured if you were a nervous fan of one of the teams) a post season record series of five games that saw the Fourth Quarter lead change twelve times! Four games were decided by a final play, with the Patriots the only “comfortable” winners by the end of the Saturday and Sunday games. The five fixtures so far completed were an absolute joy to behold, and it is an injustice to pick only two to review: roll on the podcast with the lads! It may surpass the hour mark! Here, I will review the Bears win over the Packers and the Bills upset of the Jaguars. I will also lay out the future of the respective Divisional Rounds, with the Steelers and Texans yet to conclude the final Wild Card fixture early on Tuesday morning.
Bears Reign Supreme against the Packers
The Bears were one of three teams to take the lead from behind during the final two minutes of their respective games. While the Bills and Rams repeated the feat, it was the Bears who did it in the most dramatic fashion. They were 21-6 down to the Packers at the end of the Third Quarter. Needless to say, Bears’ QB Caleb Williams does well when faced with adversity. In the Fourth Quarter, with a spent defence and a flailing offense, the DC native threw for 184 yards, two TDs AND a successful two point conversion to tie this game on it’s head. His 184 yards was more than his output during the previous three quarters (177 yards). He lead his team in a composed manner to become just the fourth team in the history of the NFL to claw their way back from being fifteen points down during the Fourth Quarter. His game winning twenty-five yard pass to DJ Moore is a thing of beauty. It is clear Ben Johnson’s “never say die” attitude has been wholly absorbed by the squad he has assembled. This resilient streak will be needed in the next round … just a little matter of the high flying Rams.
Bears 31 Packers 27
Allen Garners Headlines with Vintage Display against Third Seed Jags
The watching fans, at home and in the stadium, were treated to yet ANOTHER monumental display from Josh Allen. This display was made even more impressive by the Jags ability to dampen down James Cook’s running game. This Jags defense was the best in the NFL when defending against the run. Cook had been excellent during the regular season: pushing the Bills to the top of the NFL charts in yards per run. When the two collided, the Jags held him to a mere 46 yards on 15 carries. It was then that Allen innovated: counting on Khalil Shakir (twelve receptions) , Brandin Cooks, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. His adversary across the field was the in-form Trevor Lawrence, the grilled one! The two duked it out, securing important yardage through the air or on the ground, WHATEVER the situation needed! Both were exquisite: giving their team the best opportunity to win. Allen, roughed up and placed in harm’s way in odd calls, remained the composed one. It was Lawrence who blinked, twice. With the second interception, claimed by a grateful Cole Bishop, ending the game.
Bills 27 Jags 24
Steelers/Texans to Complete Divisional Round
With the completion of the Tuesday morning fixture, the Steelers versus the Vikings in Pittsburgh. The Divisional Round Bracket will be complete. In the AFC, the number one seed Denver Broncos will take on the number six seed Buffalo Bills. The number two seed New England Patriots, fresh from their win against the Chargers, will take on the winner of the Steelers and Texans. In the NFC side of the play offs, the highly favoured Seattle Seahawks will hope to make it to the NFC title game with a win against the injury ravaged San Francisco 49ers. Who vanquished last year’s superbowl champion, the Eagles. The Bears and the Rams will collide a day later in the hope of facing Mike Macdonald’s side when they face off in Soldier Field.
AFC:
17th January: Broncos versus Bills
18th January: Patriots versus Steelers/Texans
NFC:
17th January: Seahawks versus 49ers
18th January: Rams versus Bears.
And so, dear reader, more outstanding QBs, receivers, defensive ends take their leave of the stage: banished to watch from the couch like the rest of us mere mortals! And what treats we have in store! Enjoy the build up to the Divisional Round, the Conference Championship round and Superbowl LX which will be held in California … GaelicGridiron is your place to follow on all social media to keep up to date on all things NFL!