Sure, we've buried the Patriots before. But this time it seems (really) real
Wild-card weekend sure felt like a changing of the guard.
It started Saturday night in Foxborough, as the Tennessee Titans -- behind a brilliant performance by running back Derrick Henry -- delivered the New England Patriots' earliest playoff exit in a decade. Now, the Patriots -- particularly aging quarterback Tom Brady -- need to answer serious questions about the team's direction moving forward. Really, will anybody outside of New England be sad to see this dynasty come to an end?
On Sunday, another veteran playoff stalwart quarterback -- Drew Brees -- had a subpar performance as the New Orleans Saints -- a popular Super Bowl pick -- were eliminated by the Minnesota Vikings.
While those veteran quarterbacks faltered, emerging star Deshaun Watson was spectacular in leading the Houston Texans to a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Bills.
Wild-card round rundown
- Seahawks 17, Eagles 9: Carson Wentz's head injury proved to be one injury too many for Philadelphia.
- Vikings 26, Saints 20 (OT): For the third consecutive season, the Saints were ousted from the playoffs in walk-off fashion.
- Titans 20, Patriots 13: Derrick Henry sent New England to its earliest playoff exit in a decade.
- Texans 22, Bills 19 (OT): Deshaun Watson directed a thrilling come-from-behind win.
- TOP PICS: Best of the 2019 season | Cheerleaders | NFL 100
Divisional playoff schedule
Saturday
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)
Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
Sunday
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs, 3:05 p.m. (CBS)
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers, 6:40 p.m. (FOX)
Quick hits: Must-see wild-card moments
- 32 things we learned from wild-card weekend: How about that for the opening weekend of the playoffs? A thrilling slate that included two overtime games and the defending champions being dethroned.
- Wild-card winners and losers: While new NFL playoff stars were born (Derrick Henry and DK Metcalf), two vets (Tom Brady and Drew Brees) suffered humbling wild-card weekend losses.
- Saints just can't get it done: The New Orleans Saints have this remarkable ability to rack up wins, statistics, records and Super expectations. Then comes January.
- Fans throw trash on field: The referees left the field hurriedly following the Saints' loss to the Vikings thanks to fans littering the field with trash.
- Jadeveon Clowney defends Carson Wentz hit: Clowney says he expects verbal abuse from Eagles fans after knocking Carson Wentz out of Sunday's wild-card playoff game.
- Bill Belichick stonewalls questions about Patriots' future: The Patriots are facing an offseason uncertainty after falling to the Titans in the wild-card round, but Belichick isn't ready to look ahead.
- Vikings TE stiff-arms controversy on deciding TD: Calls for offensive pass interference on the Vikings' game-winning touchdown didn't bother Vikings Kyle Rudolph, who lifted his team to the next round.
- Titans player relishes ending Patriots' 'revenge tour' early: Logan Ryan heard Patriots LB Kyle Van Noy speak of a "revenge tour," and the Titans cornerback didn't appreciate the notion.
- Hype video didn’t pan out exactly how Tom Brady would have hoped: After the Titans ended the Patriots' season, Titans OT Taylor Lewan mocked Brady's lion-themed hype video.
- Retirement 'pretty unlikely': Tom Brady's contract is set to expire at the end of the league year, and the QB didn't say much about his future -- with the Patriots or otherwise.
- Saints hold press box seat for broadcaster who died in plane crash: Sports reporter Carley McCord died in a plane crash on Dec. 28. The Saints reserved a press box seat in her honor for Sunday's wild-card game.
- Perfect timing: An epic postgame photo shows Vikings WR Stefon Diggs dancing in front of Sean Payton's handshake.
- This was an adventure: Football fans will always have Josh Allen's performance in the Bills' playoff loss to the Texans. It was a magnificent day of lunacy we will perhaps never see in the playoffs again.
What our experts are saying
- Patriots, Tom Brady are no longer dominant force in NFL: When the end comes, it comes fast. And rarely is it kind. The Patriots dynasty is over, writes Nancy Armour.
- Kirk Cousins answers $84 million question: With the Vikings' season on the line, Cousins was money, writes Jarrett Bell.
- Sean Payton's conservative approach backfires on Saints: The Saints wasted an epic performance from Taysom Hill in a gutting overtime wild-card playoff loss, writes Roy Lang III.
- Deshaun Watson keeps Texans alive with never-say-die approach: Watson engineered yet another dazzling play that proved to be the difference for the Texans in an overtime win over the Bills, writes Mike Jones.
- Bills go from dominant to anxious to horrendous: In what became the latest in unconscionable Buffalo playoff failures, the Bills unraveled in absolutely epic fashion, writes Sal Maiorana.
- Here's where Cowboys should look for next coach: The Cowboys have a big decision to make after moving on from Jason Garrett. Jarrett Bell looks at what the team should prioritize in its next coach.
2020 NFL draft
- Mock draft 1.0: With four months until the draft, here is an initial look at how the first round might shake out.
- 2020 NFL draft first-round order: Picks Nos. 1-24 are set, and the Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock.
- Underclassmen heading for the draft: It's that time of year when college underclassmen declare their intentions to enter the 2020 NFL draft. Here are those players who already have announced their plans to go pro.
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