Bleacher Report
NFL Wild Card Weekend is nearing its end with a slate of three more exciting games on Sunday.
The AFC East-champion Buffalo Bills opened the day by defeating the Denver Broncos and were followed by a pair of NFC matchups featuring the Philadelphia Eagles outlasting the Green Bay Packers in the matinee and the Washington Commanders upsetting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the nightcap.
The Wild Card Round will conclude with a Monday night matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.
But for now, let’s take a look at the updated playoff bracket following Sunday’s results.
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (bye)
No. 2 Buffalo Bills def. No. 7 Denver Broncos, 31-7
No. 3 Baltimore Ravens def. No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-14
No. 4 Houston Texans def. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12
No. 1 Kansas City Chief vs. No. 4 Houston Texans, Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 2 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 3 Baltimore Ravens, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. ET
No. 1 Detroit Lions (bye)
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles def. No. 7 Green Bay Packers, 22-10
No. 6 Washington Commanders def. No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20
No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 13, 8:00 p.m. ET
No. 1 Detroit Lions vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders, Jan. 18, 8:00 p.m. ET
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams or No. 5 Minnesota Vikings, Jan. 19, 3:00 p.m. ET
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion, Feb. 9
The Bills rode Josh Allen to their fifth straight wild-card round victory, as the presumptive frontrunner for the 2024 NFL MVP award put on a scintillating performance while becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns.
Allen threw for 272 yards, two scores and no interceptions on 20-of-26 passing to spearhead the victory. He also added 46 rushing yards on eight carries.
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JOSH ALLEN WHAT A THROW FOR THE TD ON 4TH & 1 😱🔥<br><br>UNREAL. <br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <br> <a href=”https://t.co/qF6J2B4LFG”>pic.twitter.com/qF6J2B4LFG</a>
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JOSH ALLEN TO CURTIS SAMUEL FOR THE 55-YARD TD 💨<br><br>Bills are running away with it 🔥<br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <br> <a href=”https://t.co/5WDMX2m3i5″>pic.twitter.com/5WDMX2m3i5</a>
In addition to Allen’s strong outing, Bills running back James Cook racked up 120 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Buffalo totaled 200 yards on the ground and dominated the time of possession.
Despite Allen’s perennial brilliance, the Bills have not advanced past the Division Round of the playoffs since 2020. Buffalo will be facing another tough test this year when it meets the Baltimore Ravens, so Allen will need to be at his absolute best if he hopes to keep up with reigning two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
It wasn’t easy, but the Eagles emerged victorious over the Packers in a chippy battle at Lincoln Financial Field. The two teams combined for 15 penalties, eight by Green Bay, but Philadelphia managed to overcome the sloppy performance to reach the Divisional Round for the second time in the last three years.
The Eagles took advantage of an early mistake from the Packers as Keisean Nixon fumbled the opening kickoff, leading to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Jahan Dotson.
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Jalen Hurts finds Jahan Dotson for the opening score in Philly 🔥 <br><br>Dotson’s first TD as an Eagle and it’s in the postseason 🦅 <br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <br> <a href=”https://t.co/WfboxaL0Wp”>pic.twitter.com/WfboxaL0Wp</a>
After the early lead, Philadelphia’s No. 1-ranked defense showed up in a big way and pitched a shutout in the first half. The Eagles picked off two passes from Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the second quarter and had another interception in the fourth quarter to seal the game.
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JORDAN LOVE THROWS HIS 2ND INT OF THE FIRST HALF 😬<br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <br> <a href=”https://t.co/rCIJ7RYd2k”>pic.twitter.com/rCIJ7RYd2k</a>
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EAGLES 3RD INT OF THE NIGHT SEALS THE W 🦅<br><br>ONTO THE DIVISIONAL.<br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <br> <a href=”https://t.co/cJ5UIhworh”>pic.twitter.com/cJ5UIhworh</a>
Hurts added a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert in the third quarter to provide some breathing room. Green Bay made it a one-possession game with a one-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs early in the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia pulled away with a pair of field goals by Jake Elliott and a strong finish by the defense.
Hurts finished with 131 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions as well as 36 rushing yards. Star running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 119 yards on 25 carries in his playoff debut for the Eagles.
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
In arguably the most exciting game of the wild card weekend, the Commanders doinked their way into the Divisional Round with a game-winning field goal by Zane Gonzalez to take down the Buccaneers. It’s Washington’s first playoff victory since 2005.
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COMMANDERS DOINK THE FG TO WIN A PLAYOFF GAME 😱<br><br>WHAT AN ENDING ‼️<br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>)<a href=”https://t.co/5ub5ywH9gX”>pic.twitter.com/5ub5ywH9gX</a>
The Commanders are the first road team to earn a win this weekend, and they did so with a rookie quarterback leading the way.
Jayden Daniels went toe-to-toe with Bucs veteran signal-caller Baker Mayfield and rose to the occasion, throwing for 268 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding a team-high 36 rushing yards in the win. His touchdown pass to star receiver Terry McLaurin after veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner recovered a fumble by Mayfield early in the fourth quarter gave Washington a 20-17 lead.
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JAYDEN FINDS SCARY TERRY ON 4TH & 2 🔥<br><br>COMMANDERS TAKE THE LEAD 🍿<br><br>(via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>)<a href=”https://t.co/RgOCPdN4VS”>pic.twitter.com/RgOCPdN4VS</a>
After the Bucs tied the game with a field goal, Daniels marched the Commanders down the field for the game-winner. While Gonzalez’s kick wasn’t pretty, the ball went through the uprights for Washington.
The Commanders’ win earns them a date with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Detroit Lions. It can already be expected that Daniels will be ready to deliver on the big stage once again, so fans should surely be excited about next week’s matchup.
