2023 NFL Playoffs: Super Wildcard Weekend

Game 1: Cleveland Browns (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7):
Houston beats Cleveland 45-14
The Joe Flacco led Cleveland Browns made the trip to the south for their first postseason appearance since 2020 to face the rookie led Houston Texans who have something to prove.
1st Quarter:
The first quarter had six total possessions (3 a piece). Cleveland’s first two possessions ended in punts with no more than two and half minutes of possession. Houston’s first two possessions were slightly different. While their first ended in a punt, they were able to convert their second into some points with a 21-yard field goal. Cleveland responded by marching down the field 75-yard to get their first points of the game with a 1-yard run by Kareem Hunt. This put them in the lead 7-3. That lead would not last long though as the Texans would finish out the first quarter with their first touchdown off a 15-yard pass from rookie quarterback CJ Stroud to Brevin Jordan. Making the score 10-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
2nd Quarter:
The second quarter saw more of the same action from the first. Cleveland and Houston traded touchdowns on their possessions with Joe Flacco finding Kareem Hunt in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown and CJ Stroud tossing a rocket 76-yards to Brevin Jordan, giving the Texas regiment the lead again 17-14. The next three possessions (2 for CLE and 1 for TEX) were uneventful with them all ending in puts. With the offense back out on the field for the third time this quarter, the Texans took the opportunity to share the love and expand their lead with another CJ Stroud passing touchdown (37 -yards this time) to Dalton Schultz. End the half ahead 24-14.
3rd Quarter:
Oh man. I don’t know who said what or what they gave the Texans defense as midgame snacks but they came out a completely different defense. We start off the half with Houston receiving the ball just to punt it eight plays later. While technically, Cleveland had three possessions in this quarter, the first one was intercepted by Steven Nelson and returned for an incredible 82-yard touchdown. Adding another seven points to the Texans score, 31-14. Joe Flacco and the Browns immediately got the ball back for their second possession and lost it just as quickly with another pick-six from the Houston defense- this time it was Christian Harris who went 36-yards in the opposite direction for an extended 38-14 lead.
4th Quarter:
If there was ever a time for Cleveland to come back, these last 15 minutes would have been the time to do it. Houston would take the first possession of the quarter and add the last points that this game would see with a 19-yard rushing touchdown from Devin Singletary. Making this game a runaway 45-14. Cleveland’s fourth quarter strategy was to go for it on every down- and while they did, twice, both times ended in turnovers on downs. Essentially ending their season. Once the clock got under two minutes, the Texans took victory formation and ended the game. The Texans move on to the Divisional round to face the #1 seeded Baltimore Ravens.

Game 2: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas beats Miami 26-7
I will say, as a born and raised Denver Broncos fan, we will be rooting for the Dolphins throughout this game and, if we are being honest, it’s nice to see the Chiefs, who have been incredibly dominant since 2015, struggling this season. This game will be the real test of whether they still have it as a football powerhouse or if it is the beginning of the fall of a “dynasty”.
1st Quarter:
With the weather getting colder by the minute, the Chiefs got off to a hot start with a 69-yard opening drive touchdown off an 11-yard pass from QB Patrick Mahomes to Rashee Rice. Miami’s first possession would not be as exciting as they only went six plays before having to punt it away. The Chiefs did the same thing right after, only making it three plays though. On the last drive of the quarter, the Dolphins were doing their best to chug along through the bitter cold when QB Tua Tagovailoa tossed one up and right into the hands of Chiefs Safety Mike Edwards who hauled it in for the first turnover of the game.
2nd Quarter:
The Chiefs were unable to do anything substantial with the turnover, settling for a field goal after going 48-yards on 10 plays. Which would put their lead at 10 points over the Dolphins. Miami took their next possession- which only lasted 50 seconds- to finally put some points on the board with a phenomenal deep 53-yard pass from Tagavailoa to Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs answered back by tacking on another field goal, extending their lead 13-7. The next five posessions, three from Miami and two from Kansas City would not turn out to be anything exciting except for the addition of another Kansas field goal. At the end of the half, which saw the most possessions combined than any other quarter, the Chiefs were up 16-7 on the Dolphins.
3rd Quarter
Three and a half long possessions. That is all the third quarter consisted of. I think at this point, we started to see just how much of an impact on the elements were having on this game. But what is playoff football without Mother Nature making her presence known? There were seven incomplete passes and four rushes for no or negative yardage. The Dolphins received the ball to begin the half and their turn was over with a punt just as soon as it started. Kansas City made out a little better in their first possession of the half, settling for a field goal putting them up 19-7. Miami took the ball back with a little under half the quarter left and when their time was done- four minutes and forty-two seconds to be exact- they had taken nine plays to go nine yards. There was a first down in there (we see you brotherly shove and we respect you) but the sack of Tagavailoa negated most of those gains.
4th Quarter
The Chiefs received the ball back with a little more than three minutes left in the third quarter and they marched down the field for seven minutes and 64 yards, and a little help from some yellow flags, they found themselves in the endzone again off a shotgun snap not to QB Patrick Mahomes, but to RB Isiah Pacheco who then ran it in for a touchdown. It would be the last score of the game but it was enough to put the very frigid and frozen nail in the Dolphins coffin at 26-7. To the Dolphin’s credit, they did their best in their next two drives to risk it but they could not get the biscuit. Both drives ended at 12 plays and never got them close enough to add points. The last exciting piece of this game was the Chiefs last possession when RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was tackled by Miami CB Ethan Bonner who stripped the ball out on the way down causing a fumble that was recovered by Da’Shawn Hand which just goes to show you that even when they were down to the wire with literally no way to come back and win, they were resilient and balled out.
Kansas City’s playoff success continues but they will be faced with something they never have before, a road playoff game that is not the Super Bowl when they head to the North East to play the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.

Game 3: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay beats Dallas 48-32
Oh my goodness! This game was exciting! For Green Bay to come into Dallas and absolutely pull them apart piece by piece was not a pick I had on my bingo card.
1st Quarter
I mean, Green Bay did not come to mess around. And that point was made incredibly clear when they start the game with a touchdown drive. Eight minutes, 16 plays and 67 yards saw Aaron Jones run the ball in to put the pack up 7-0. I think we were all expecting Dallas to answer in a very similar fashion and yet, their first possession lasted a little over three minutes before they were forced to punt. Green Bay’s second possession went very much the same way. Now here is where the fun (or depression dependent on who you were rooting for) started. On Dallas’s second possession, QB Dak Prescott was looking for WR Brandin Cooks when Packers CB Jaire Alexander intercepted the ball with amazing field position.
2nd Quarter
The Packers would not squander this opportunity and finished what Alexander started by giving the ball to Jones again who crossed the pylons and adding to their lead 14-0. I would assume that the thought on the Dallas sideline at this point would be to get something going. It just wouldn’t happen on their drive as it ended the way their previous ones had thus far- in a punt. Green Bay on the other hand just kept it rolling. At this point, their defense wanted in on the points as well. The offense went first. 93 yards and 11 plays ended in a Jordan Love passing touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks- 21-0 to those keeping score at home. Dallas got the ball back again and proceeded to lose it five plays later on another ill-placed throw from Prescott that was intended for WR CeeDee Lamb that was intercepted (again) but this time by Darnell Savage who RAN IT BACK 64 YARDS FOR A PICK-6. With the extra point good, we were staring down the barrel of a 27-0 Packers lead over the undefeated at home Dallas Cowboys. Under two minutes left in the half and Dallas gets one last chance. They were actually able to do something with this one. Albeit they kept us waiting. With two seconds left in the half, Prescott finally found one of his own players in the form of TE Jake Ferguson in the end zone. Ending the half with a score of 27-7.
3rd Quarter
Dallas received the ball to start the second half and the hope was that they got the pep-talk of their lives during half time. Whatever it was, it kind of worked? I think what Cowboys fans were hoping for was for them to come out and turn it around-which did not happen. On their first possession of the half, they settled for a field goal making a small gain on the Packer’s substantial lead, 27-10. Green Bay got the ball back for their first possession of the half and did not let off the gas. If anything, they pushed harder. They held onto the ball for two minutes and forty-five seconds and 75 yards for yet another Aaron Jones running touchdown. Erasing the earlier points obtained by Dallas- 34-10. At this point, Dallas got a teeny tiny spark and it felt like they started to put in the effort. They responded with a touchdown of their own from Tony Pollard after an 82-yard barrage. 34-17. Looking at this you’d think, okay, no we’re talking. It’s interesting. Green Bay said, “Hold my beer.”. Jordan Love, seriously, this kid deserves all the praise. He gets it done and he gets it done quick. 1:36 was their TOTAL time of possession and it ended with a beautiful, 38-yard pass from Love to Luke Musgrave to the end zone to just continue the beatdown on the home team. 41-17. The third quarter would come to a close with Dallas doing their level best to stay in this game but it is just not going their way. This possession, like several others, would end in a turnover on downs giving Green Bay another great field position.
4th Quarter
With the fantastic field position, the Packers did not have to do much or go far to capitalize. but it was one of their longer drives. At this point in the game, I would think that the strategy shifts from putting points on the board to using up as much time as humanly possible. With this drive, they were able to do both. Love was able to take them down the 40 yards and get a pass of to Romeo Doubs for a touchdown. It would be their last score of the game and the cherry on top of a very delicious sundae. 48-17. Now Dallas finally found their rhythm during this quarter but it wouldn’t be enough. In their first 2 possessions of the game, they managed to find the endzone. The first one was a seven yard pass from Dak Prescott to Jaylon Ferguson and didn’t stop there. They went for the two-point conversion and succeeded. Cutting the Pack’s lead 48-25. Their second touchdown of the quarter was almost a mirror image of the first. Prescott threw a 14 yard pass to Ferguson and succeeded in another two-point conversion. But at the end of the day, it wouldn’t be enough. Dallas would get the ball one more time before the end of the game but it would end in a turnover on downs and it would end the Cowboys season in probably one of the most disappointing endings to a season in recent years. The Greenbay Packers ended the game 48-32 and will go to San Francisco next week to play the 49ers.

Game 4: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
Detroit beats Los Angeles 24-23
Staffords’ much anticipated return to Detroit is a one for the storybooks. With the home team making it’s first playoff appearance in 30 years, going up against Stafford and the Rams who happen to be Detroit QB Jared Goff’s former team, there is a lot of history here.
1st Quarter
The first quarter had Detroit coming out ready to go. They received the ball first and they made quick use of their time. In five and half minutes, they took the ball 75-yards and found their way into the end zone with a one yard rush from running back David Montgomery. 7-0. The Rams first possession of the game was not as efficient. While they spent almost the same amount of time on the field, they only made it 54-yards and had to settle for a field goal. 7-3. With their second possession, Detroit’s energy didn’t subside. In my opinion, it may have even gone up. They cut their total possession time for the drive almost in half and with a shotgun pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs for another touchdown. 14-3.
2nd Quarter
The Rams ended the first quarter and started the second by They topped off a 72-yard drive with a 50-YARD pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Puka Nakua. 14-10. The Lions answered right back on their possession- not in as little time, but they still went 69-yards. Ending the drive with a short two yard pass from QB Jared Goff to tight end Sam LaPorta. 21-10. At this point, the theme of the game was set. Neither team was going to back down and they are going score for score at this point. With their second possession of the quarter, the Rams continued to keep the Lions within not even a full score ahead. As not to waste the minimal time they had before half time, Stafford does what he’s been doing this whole game, going yard. This time he went 38 yards to find WR Tutu Atwell for another touchdown. 21-17. Detroit got the ball one more time before the end of the first half but were unable to do anything with it. They ended up punting it back to the Rams who ended the half trailing by 4.
3rd Quarter
Los Angeles got the ball to start the second half and did pretty much nothing with it. After a little over a minute and a half, they had to give the ball back to Detroit. Detroit, while they were able to get a little more out of their possession than LA did. While they were only able to go 44 yards, the most impressive part of their drive was the end when their Kicker Michael Badgely drilled one through the uprights from 54 yards. 24-17. With Detroit pulling away, the Rams had to figure something out. They did a little better on their last possession of the quarter- even getting to the red zone. But alas, the touchdown eluded them and they settled for a field goal as well. 24-20.
4th Quarter
With a very lack luster third quarter, the Lions got the back to start the fourth quarter and did absolutely nothing. Again. After only going 13 yards on six plays, they had to kick the ball away. Los Angeles’s next possession would be the last one to score points in the game. In what would be one of their last chances to bring it home, they fell just short. Literally. They got into the red zone but were unable to covert it into anything meaningful. Instead they settled for a 29-yard field goal that put them within one point of the Lions. I’m sure their hope was that the Lions wouldn’t be able to do anything with their remaining time on offense (spoiler alert: they didn’t). And then they would get one, maybe two more attempts if they were lucky to put some points on the board. Alas, both teams were unable to convert any of their offensive time on field into points and the Detroit Lions, for the first time in three decades not only won a playoff game, but did it at home in front of some very deserving fans.

Game 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Buffalo beats Pittsburgh 31-17
After a significant delay in this game due to Mother Nature deciding to absolutely DUMP and I mean feet on feet on feet of snow- to the point that the Bills hired fans to shovel the snow out of the seats. None the less, Buffalo is no stranger to the playoffs in recent years but luck has not been on their side. Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs to show that the years they’ve spent rebuilding their historic franchise.
1st Quarter
The first quarter was action packed with five puts, two touchdowns and fumble. With the Bills winning the coin toss, Pittsburgh was the first to receive the ball and start the game. It ended just as quickly as it started. After about two and half minutes, their first possession ended in a 31-yard punt- putting Buffalo at their own 20 for their first go. The Bills were a little more efficient with their first possession- going 80 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown from QB Josh Allen to Tight End Dawson Knox for a touchdown. 7-0. The next two possessions (1 by both teams) went less than ten yards and both ended in punts. On Pittsburgh’s third possession of the quarter, it lasted a who six seconds when WR Diontea Johnson fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Bills line backer Terrell Bernard- giving Buffalo great field positioning at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line. The Bills made the quickest possible work of the opportunity they could and on the next play, Allen found TE Dalton Kincade for a deep 29-yard pass and adds another seven points to their side of the scoreboard. 14-0. As the quarter came to an end, the next two possessions (again 1 for each team)- ended quickly and in punts.
2nd Quarter
The Steelers started off the second quarter with their offense on the field and looked like they were just marching on down the field for a touchdown. It started off incredibly strong with a 33-yard pass to TE Pat Freiermuth. There were a couple 11 and 12 yard plays sprinkled in there. In total, they went 79 yards before disaster struck when CB Kaiir Elam intercepted the ball intended for Diontae Johnson. Now, it’s not like Buffalo intercepted the ball and gained some great field position- they were spotted at their own 20-yard line. But if this next possession of theirs didn’t get you on the Josh Allen fandwagon (see what I did there?), then are you really a football fan? They took their time and got down the field in small incriments. A run for a few years here. A pass for a few yards there. The real, and i’m not afraid to say this, play of the game. The whole game. Came when Quarterback Josh Allen legged out a 52 YARD RUN FOR A TOUCHDOWN. If you haven’t seen this play, I got you covered. 21-0. The Steelers got the ball back for their second possession of the quarter and it ended pretty much just as quickly. They got a whole three yards before they punted it back to Buffalo. Their second possession was also fruitless. But not for the same reason. They actually made a good amount of progress towards some points but were denied when their field goal was blocked by defensive tackle Montravious Adams. This seemed to have lit a spark on the Pittsburgh side. They took advantage of the apportunity given to them by their defense and made quick work at the Bills lead. In thirty-five seconds of play time, the Steelers went the 33-yards needed and managed to get their first points of the game on the board. 21-7. Buffalo got one more chance before the half but were unable to do more than go a couple yards before kneeling the ball and calling it half time.
3rd Quarter
To start the second half, the Bills got the ball. If you happened to peep the Rams/Lions game over the weekend, then you pretty much saw exactly how this quarter went. With their first possession of the half, the Bills did absolutely nothing. They moved the ball a whole two yards before having to punt it away and give Pittsburgh their first crack at closing the points gap. Which, they kind of did. Settling for a field goal at the end of five minutes and 48-yards. 21-10. With their last possession of the quarter, Buffalo echoed the Steelers. They also went 48-yards, capping off an almost eight minute offensive turn with a field goal to offset the one just kicked by the Pittsburgh regiment. 24-10.
4th Quarter
To start off the last 15 minutes of this snow packed freeze fest, Pittsburgh had their work cut out for them. Trailing by two scores, every possession this quarter would be essential and their defense was going to have to put a stop to whatever Buffalo was going to throw (or run) at them. Their first attempt was as successful as they could have hoped. Their 75-yard trek down the frozen field was as capped off by a shotgun pass from QB Mason Rudolph to wide receiver Calvin Austin that ended up in the back of the endzone and cutting the Bills’ lead to just one score. 24-17. I won’t keep you in suspense though, it wouldn’t be enough. On the next possession, the Bills erased any progress that was made by scoring their own touchdown on a Josh Allen 17-yard pass to Khalil Shakir. 31-17. It would be the last score of the game as both teams would be unsuccessful in their final possessions. Pittsburgh left it all out on the field and ended up turning over the ball on downs for their last possession. Buffalo wanted to cement their win just a little more but missed the field goal on their last try. The Bills and Bills Mafia will move on to the divisional round where they play host to the Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Game 6: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay beats Philadelphia 25-9
Baker Mayfield is coming into the post season with nothing lose and everything to prove. For someone who is on his fourth team in six years, he is heading up a team that last saw the post season when a certain veteran QB was at the ships helm and lead them to a championship. Philadelphia is coming into this game not on the best foot. They have struggled this season more than in recent ones and if you watched this game, the struggle not only continued, it was a factor in their loss.
1st Quarter
The first quarter of this game was dominated predominantly by the Buccaneers. Their first possession lasted just under five minutes and was stopped short of any substantial score. But it’s early. They took the field goal and called it good. 3-0. The Eagles first possession was less fruitful in it’s endeavors. They charged down the field a whole 19 yards in seven plays before having to punt the ball back to Tampa. Part of what I really liked about this game was that the Buccaneers looked like they were just out there to have fun. And their second possession showed that mentality. They spent far less time on this possession- less than 90 seconds (playing time)- and got quite a bit more bang for their buck with a gorgeous 44 yard touchdown pass from QB Baker Mayfield to WR David Moore. 10-0. Philadelphia’s second and final possession of the quarter ended just like their first one except it took less plays and went fewer yards before they gave it back to the Bucs.
2nd Quarter
Tampa Bay ended the first and started the second quarter with the ball but for the over five minutes that they had the ball, they went only 40-yards and had to settle for adding just a little to their lead with a field goal. 16-0. Philadelphia’s first possession of the quarter was almost identical to Tampa’s but in half the time. They went 48 yards in two and half minutes but also had to settle for a field goal 16-3. On their second turn with the ball, Tampa did exactly what they did in their first possession. 14 plays and 45 yards later, they kicked yet another field goal. Are we getting the theme here? Don’t worry. The Eagles finally came through with a meaningful (or what we thought at the time would be) score. 80 yards ended with short little pass to TE Dallas Goedert for a touchdown. In an attempt to cut the Bucs lead even more, Philly went for a two point conversion but were unsuccessful in securing the extra points. 16-9. The end of the half was nothing of note. Tampa ended up punting after going only 23 yards and Philadelphia got only 31 yards before the half came to an end and both teams went to their respective locker rooms to regroup.
3rd Quarter
This half was DOMINATED by the Buccaneers. I don’t know what was said to them in the locker room at half time but they did not let off the gas. If anything, they pushed the pedal to the floor and the Eagles, as mighty as they are could not handle it. Philly got the ball to start the second half and almost immediately had to give it to Tampa. They had a total possession time of one and half minutes and managed to go -10 yards on just five plays. To be fair, the first four possessions of the quarter all went this way. Tampa punted on their first two possessions after gaining a handful of yards. The real fun didn’t start until Philadelphia was on their third possession of the quarter, starting from their own 10 yard line, QB Jalen Hurts was flagged for intentional grounding, incurring a 14 yard penalty and giving the Buccaneers a rare safety. 18-9. To add insult to injury, Philly had to kick the back to The Bay after. QB Baker Mayfield didn’t waste anytime either. Taking just under a minute, he went full send and got his team another seven points off a massive 56-yard touchdown to wide receiver Trey Palmer. 25-9.
4th Quarter
Like I said above, this half was all Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and nothing showed that more than this quarter. Let me give you a quick rundown of how the five total possessions went down in this quarter and let’s see if you can tell me which team had the ball:
Possession 1: Turnover on Downs
Possession 2: Touchdown
Possession 3: Turnover on Downs
Possession 4: Turnover on Downs
Possession 5: End of Game
To offer a little perspective here, the last time the Eagles would score in this game was in the second quarter. Both teams gave it their all but in the end, Tampa did simply out played the reigning NFC Champions. They put up a very impressive 32 points to Philly’s 9. With their upset, Tampa will have to head north to the Motor City and take on Detroit in the divisional series.