NFL divisional round: Lions' dream season continues, while Bills' year ends in nightmare
Let's hear it for the 1's and 3's.
The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, the conferences' top seeds, came away victorious during their divisional matchups on Saturday, and they will be joined on Championship Sunday next week by the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, both of whom prevailed as No. 3 seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively, Sunday in their divisional playoff games.
And just like that the NFL is down to it's final four.
Baltimore Ravens 34, Houston Texans 10 — Led by likely NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, the Ravens advanced to their first AFC championship game since the 2012 season. Jackson had two touchdown passes (16-for-22, 152 yards) and two touchdown runs (100 yards on 11 carries) for Baltimore in the win. The game was tied 10-10 at halftime after Houston's Steven Sims returned a punt for a touchdown in the second quarter, but the Ravens defense held the Texans scoreless after the intermission.
San Francisco 49ers 24, Green Bay Packers 21 — Brock Purdy led a 12-play, 69-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco survive in a 24-21 victory. Green Bay had a 21-14 advantage entering the fourth quarter after three lead changes in the third quarter. The Packers had a chance to tie or take the lead on their final possession with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but quarterback Jordan Love tossed an ill-advised pass over the middle to Christian Watson that was intercepted by 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Detroit Lions 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 — Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 287 yards with two touchdown passes, running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored a touchdown and gained 114 total yards and Detroit beat Tampa Bay to reach its first NFC championship game since 1991. Gibbs scored a 31-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 9-yard touchdown to take a 31-17 lead with 6:22 left in the game. Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield on Tampa Bay’s final drive of the game to seal it.
Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24 — In what has almost inarguably developed into the NFL’s greatest contemporary rivalry, Kansas City ousted Buffalo in the teams' latest playoff classic Sunday night. The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs advance from the divisional round to their sixth consecutive AFC championship game. A nip-and-tuck affair wasn’t decided until the final two minutes, when it appeared headed to overtime as the Bills mounted a drive into Chiefs territory. But Bills K Tyler Bass’ 44-yard field-goal attempt with 1:47 remaining was taken wide right by the Western New York winds. All Patrick Mahomes and Co. had to do from there was kill the clock, which they easily did.
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Divisional playoff storylines
- Young Lions, resilient Chiefs among biggest winners from divisional round: Detroit's offense came alive in the second half against Tampa Bay, and Kansas City's stars showed up to play, but Buffalo was doomed by wide-right again.
- Again, you say? What's Buffalo's history with 'wide right?': Tyler Bass' missed 44-yard field goal attempt immediately conjured up memories of Scott Norwood's miss that would have beaten the New York Giants in Super Bowl 25.
- The Lions are going to the NFC championship game!: For the first time since 1991 and only the second time ever, the Lions will play for a chance to advance to the Super Bowl. The last time Detroit played for an NFC title it was beaten soundly, 41-10, by Mark Rypien and Washington in D.C. Washington went on to win the Super Bowl against the Bills that year.
- Patrick Mahomes didn't break the Bills' hearts. It was much worse: The Bills had the Chiefs right where they wanted them. On their turf in the playoffs. Instead, writes columnist Jarrett Bell, Buffalo was cursed again.
- Lamar Jackson silences his postseason critics (for now): Four years ago, the Ravens found themselves in a similar spot. Jackson was the MVP. They were the No. 1 seed. And the Tennessee Titans shocked them at home. Postseason questions have followed Jackson, who entered with a 1-3 career playoff record, and the Ravens since. Now Jackson is two wins away from his ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl – and silencing those doubters forever.
- It wasn't pretty, but it was better than losing: Brock Purdy wasn't exactly consistent against the Packers, but the 49ers quarterback engineered a 12-play, 69-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to lead San Francisco to its third consecutive conference championship game. The 49ers will need to fix their mistakes. Fast, columnist Nancy Armour writes.
- Jason Kelce lost his shirt and his mind: The Philadelphia Eagles center and older brother to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce appeared to be having the time of his life at Highmark Stadium. Before the game, video captured Jason Kelce drinking out of a bowling ball with Bills Mafia. During the game, the CBS broadcast caught Kelce jumping down from his suite to cheer with the fans after Travis scored a touchdown.
- Deebo Samuel suffers two separate injuries: The 49ers lost their star wide receiver to head and shoulder injuries against the Packers, and he did not return to the game after leaving in the second quarter. Samuel's status will be closely monitored throughout the week.
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