Recap – Divisional Round

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January 22, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

Saturday Games

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

C.J. Stroud, the Texans and their miracle season came to an end in Baltimore, losing to the Ravens 34-10. Mike McDonald, a head coaching candidate for the Commanders, had a game plan that held the Texans to 3 points on offense. Steven Sims, a former Washington player, scored the Texans’ only touchdown on a 67 yard punt return. Lamar Jackson had an outstanding game for the Ravens, going 16 for 22, passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns. Zay Flowers led the Ravens with 4 catches for 41 yards. Isaiah Likely and Nelson Agholor caught the touchdowns from Jackson.

Stroud was under constant pressure from the Ravens defense all game, much of it from the basic four-man rush. Stroud went 19 for 33 with 175 yards and no touchdowns. Devin Singletary was held to 22 yards on nine carries for the Texans. Nico Collins led the Texans in receiving with 5 receptions for 68 yards. The Ravens had three long touchdown drives in the game of 76 yards, 88 yards and 83 yards which consumed over 20 minutes (or one-third) of the game clock.

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

In a rainy, hard-fought game, the 49ers were able to come from behind and defeat the Packers 24-21. The lead changed hands several times during the course of the game and ended up being one the most entertaining games of the playoffs so far. Neither Brock Purdy nor Jordan Love had a stellar game. Purdy was 23 for 39 for 252 yards with one touchdown to George Kittle for 32 yards. Love was 21 for 34 for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but also two interceptions. The last interception was a lame duck throw over the middle of the field which ended the game for Green Bay.

Aaron Jones ran 18 times for 108 yards, including a 53-yard run. He also scored a 2-point conversion. Christian McCaffrey rushed 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including a 39 yard run. After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Packers scored 15 points in the third quarter to take a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter. San Francisco was able to get a field goal to cut the lead to 21-17, after having a field goal attempt blocked in the first half. After the Packers missed a 41 yard field of their own, the 49ers were able to drive the length of the field consuming over 5 minutes off the clock, with McCaffrey scoring his second touchdown to finish the drive.

Sunday Games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

The Lions pulled away from the Buccaneers in the fourth quarter to win 31-23 and put themselves into the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991, when they lost 41-10 to the Washington Redskins. Jared Goff was 30 of 43 for 287 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 103.5. Baker Mayfield went 26 of 41 for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two costly interceptions. The last interception ended any chance of the Bucs tying the game up and sending it into overtime.

For the Bucs, Mike Evans had a huge day, with eight receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown of 16 yards in the fourth quarter. Tight end Cade Otton had 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown also. For the Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs ran 9 times for 74 yards and a touchdown. Sam LaPorta had 9 receptions for 65 yards and Aman-Ra St. Brown had 8 catches for 77 yards, including a touchdown.

The game was close for the first three quarters as the Lions kept pulling ahead but the Bucs kept matching their scores. That lasted until the fourth quarter when the Lions scored on successive drives while forcing the Bucs into a three and out. The Bucs never recovered from that.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

In a shades of the Scott Norwood moment in Super Bowl XXV, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills when Bills’ kicker Tyler Bass missed a 44 yard field goal that would have tied the game with 1:47 remaining on the clock. Patrick Mahomes went 17 for 23 for 215 yards with 2 touchdowns with a 131.6 quarterback rating. Isiah Pacheco carried the ball 15 times for 97 yards and scored one touchdown. Travis Kelce caught five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Rashee Rice had 4 receptions for 47 yards plus Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught two balls for 32 yards and 30 yards.

Josh Allen went 26 of 39 for 186 yards, no touchdowns but also ran 12 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Khalil Shakir led the Bills in receiving with seven catches for 44 yards and one touchdown.

The lead changed hands 6 times in the game, making this the most exciting game of the weekend.

AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs at the Baltimore Ravens, 3:00 PM, January 28th

NFC Championship Game: Detroit Lions at the San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 PM, January 28th