Browns’ ride ends abruptly with blowout loss in Houston
The Cleveland Browns walked into NRG Stadium as two-point favorites but were handed a 31-point loss by the Houston Texans.
Houston took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, then each team scored two touchdowns on each of their next two possessions, leaving the score at 17-14.
Late in the first half, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud threw his third touchdown pass when the Browns’ secondary was out of position, leaving tight end Dalton Schultz wide open for a touchdown that would extend the lead to 24-14.
After forcing a punt on the opening drive of the second half, Cleveland had a promising drive in the making, but Houston pressure forced a poor throw by Joe Flacco, resulting in an 82-yard pick-six by Steven Nelson.
The following drive was no better, as Flacco threw a second pick-six, this time to Christian Harris.
The game got no better for Cleveland as Devin Singletary would score on a 19-yard rush to make the score 45-14, which would be the final score.
The Browns did all they could this year, facing an incredible number of injuries, but came out flat as the offense, defense and special teams were all underwhelming.
Houston will take on Baltimore on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with a spot in the AFC Championship on the line.
Chiefs handle Dolphins in sub-zero temperatures
On the coldest night in Arrowhead Stadium history, the Chiefs got off to a nice start, going up 10-0 in just over a quarter.
However, in his return to Arrowhead, Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught a 53-yard touchdown pass in which he did an impressive job evading Kansas City defenders. Unfortunately for Miami, this was the only score of the night for them.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker tacked on two more field goals before halftime, extending the lead to 16-7.
The first drive of the third quarter for Kansas City was 13 plays and went 69 yards, but did not make it to the end zone, resulting in another Butker field goal, making the score 19-7. At this point, it was still just a two-possession game, but it felt out of reach for Miami, as their offense was ineffective all night outside of the deep touchdown to Tyreek Hill.
Kansas City forced another Miami punt and took the ball down the field on a drive that lasted just over seven minutes, and this time, they punched it into the end zone for the dagger.
The Chiefs’ defense continued to shut down Miami, and Kansas City advanced to the Divisional Round against Buffalo with a 26-7 victory.
Miami will head into the offseason with hopes to fill roster gaps, along with questions about whether quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be extended.
Packers stay hot, embarrass Cowboys
Green Bay needed to win each of their final two regular season games just to get to the playoffs, and they did just that. That set them up with a trip to Dallas to face their former head coach, Mike McCarthy, and the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys.
A 3-yard touchdown run by running back Aaron Jones put the Packers up 7-0 in the first quarter, then Green Bay blew the doors open with a 20-point second quarter, including a pick-six. Dallas did strike back before halftime with a touchdown, but they still faced a 27-7 deficit at the break.
The Packers offense did not slow down as they continued their avalanche by scoring touchdowns on each of their first three second-half drives, leaving the Cowboys down 48-16.
Dallas made a late push, scoring 16 straight points, but it was much too little and well too late, as the Packers picked up their third playoff win at AT&T Stadium, matching the total number of playoff wins at AT&T Stadium for the Cowboys.
Dallas heads into another offseason frustrated and with concerns about their head coach, as Green Bay will look to face its demons next week at San Francisco on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
Stafford returns to Detroit, comes up short
Matthew Stafford, shockingly greeted by a shower of boos from the Detroit faithful, made his return to Ford Field to face his old franchise.
The game started with both defenses appearing unprepared, as Detroit scored 21 points on their first three drives, while Los Angeles scored 17 on their first three, giving the home team a one-score advantage at halftime.
The defenses tightened up in the second half as neither side would find the end zone. After a Rams punt, the two teams traded field goals, leaving the score at 24-20 entering the final quarter.
The Rams went down the field and cut the lead to one with eight minutes left, thanks to the third Brett Maher field goal of the night.
The Los Angeles defense got the stop they needed, and the ball was in Stafford’s hands with just over seven minutes left and a chance to win the game.
After getting down to the Detroit 34-yard line, a holding call knocked the Rams out of field goal range, forcing them to punt the ball and trust their defense with four minutes left.
The next time the Los Angeles offense stepped onto the field was to shake hands after they watched Detroit bleed out the final 4:07 of the game to secure a 24-23 victory and their first playoff win since 1992.
The Rams will look to build off of what most fans would call a successful regular season as Detroit’s young team will host the Buccaneers in the Divisional Round on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Buffalo defeats Pittsburgh after game is delayed
After days of snow that forced the game to be pushed back a day, fans helped shovel out the snow, and the Bills got to work.
On their first drive, Buffalo took it 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown.
After a Pittsburgh fumble, the Bills wasted no time as quarterback Josh Allen found rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid for a 29-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive.
Early in the second quarter, the Steelers had a chance to get right back in it, but Mason Rudolph threw an interception in the end zone, leaving Pittsburgh still down 14-0.
Buffalo’s ensuing drive went 80 yards for a touchdown to put Pittsburgh on the ropes.
After blocking a Buffalo field goal attempt, the Steelers took advantage of a short field and scored a touchdown, making the score 21-7 at halftime.
The two teams each cashed in a field goal, then Pittsburgh finally got it back to a one-score game when Calvin Austin caught a 7-yard touchdown pass.
Needing a stop down 24-17, Pittsburgh’s defense could not make a play, and Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw his third touchdown pass of the day, pushing the lead back to 14 points.
Pittsburgh could not strike back, turning the ball over on downs, and their season ended in a 31-17 defeat.
Buffalo will play Kansas City in the playoffs for the third time in four years, but this time, they will have home-field advantage.
Kickoff is Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh heads into the offseason with at least some good news, as head coach Mike Tomlin says he will stay with the Steelers.
Philadelphia finishes off horrendous collapse, blown out by Tampa Bay
The Eagles came into week 13 with a league-best record of 10-1 but finished the regular season 1-5 and were no better in their Wild Card matchup against the Buccaneers.
Right off the bat, it was clear Tampa came to play as their offense gained 188 yards in the first quarter, while Philadelphia only gained 26, leaving the score 10-0.
On the third play of the second quarter, Chase McLaughlin made his second field goal of the half that put the Buccaneers up 13-0.
A field goal by each team on the ensuing drives left the score at 16-3, then the Eagles’ offense found the end zone for the first time on a 5-yard Dallas Goedert touchdown reception. Head coach Nick Sirianni left the offense on the field for the two-point attempt, but it was unsuccessful, leaving Philadelphia still down 16-9.
Tampa Bay dominated the second half, outscoring the Super Bowl runner-up 16-0 on the back of two Baker Mayfield touchdown passes and a safety.
After the 32-9 victory, the Buccaneers will head to Ford Field to take on Detroit, while the Eagles will stumble into the offseason and look to replace their All-Pro center Jason Kelce.
Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
