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The NFL just concluded its first-ever Super Wild Card Weekend which turned out to be a show for every football fan. Saturday's proceedings saw the Buffalo Bills win against the Indianapolis Colts followed by the Los Angeles Rams edging the Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers eliminating the Washington Football Team.
Meanwhile, Sunday's games proved to be just as exciting with the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Tennessee Titans, the New Orleans Saints emerging victorious against the Chicago Bears, and the Cleveland Browns upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After witnessing surprising results, the Wild Card round certainly served as a preview of the events that could potentially transpire in the succeeding rounds as the postseason progresses.
Here are four takeaways from Super Wild Card Weekend of the 2020-2021 NFL Playoffs:
4. Washington's Taylor Heinicke put the league on notice with his performance against the Buccaneers.
With QB1 Alex Smith still dealing with a calf injury, the Washington Football Team called up Taylor Heinicke's number in time for a must-win game in the Wild Card Round. The former XFL quarterback made the most out of the opportunity to perform under the bright lights and didn't disappoint head coach Ron Rivera with his gutsy performance.
Heinicke came out with 306 passing yards on 26-of-44 passes completed along with a passing touchdown. He also ran for 46 yards and a scoring drive where he reportedly injured his shoulder in an attempt to sneak the ball in the endzone.
Washington entered the matchup against the Buccaneers as the clear underdogs but Heinicke's performance allowed the team to keep within striking distance of their opponents all throughout the game. He may not have led Washington to a victory but to have valiant efforts against Tom Brady's team will certainly help him prolong his stay in the NFL moving forward.
3. The Ravens' defense is just as capable as its offense.
The Ravens did their homework and came in prepared as they faced the Tennessee Titans for the Wild Card round. It is certain that Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will lean on running back Derrick Henry to put up points across the board but Ravens head coach John Harbaugh already saw it coming and had a counter for it in the first place.
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale orchestrated the Ravens defense to put their focus on Henry and limit him from gaining any momentum. The two-time NFL Pro Bowler was stopped in his tracks where he only notched 40 yards on 18 carries without a touchdown scored for the Titans.
With the running lanes all clogged up, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was forced to utilize the aerial attack which wasn't at its best all game long. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was also lethal on the ground where he ran 136 yards on 16 carries along with a scoring drive for his team.
The Ravens' offense is already being feared by many especially in the running game but it's about time that their defense gets recognition as well. Josh Allen and the rest of the Buffalo Bills will have to get creative if they want to work around the stifling Ravens defense that got the better of the Titans in the NFL Wild Card round.
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2. The Rams' defense will make a difference in their coming games.
In a surprising turn of events, Rams quarterback John Wolford suffered a neck injury in the first quarter of the Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks. His absence eventually forced Jared Goff to make an abrupt return under center despite his thumb injury. Nonetheless, the two-time Pro Bowler managed to deliver on the field as he tallied 155 yards on 9-of-19 passes completed along with a touchdown.
More than Goff's execution under center, the Rams defense did most of the work and buckled down against the dangerous Seahawks offense. Even if Russell Wilson's performance declined in the second half of the season, their ability to score in the endzone shouldn't be overlooked.
The Rams defense imposed its dominance on Wilson who was sacked five times in the game despite Aaron Donald's early exit due to a rib injury. Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey also tried his best to deny Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf and limited him to only 96 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns.
Ultimately, the efforts of the entire Rams defensive rotation was key to fending off the Seahawks' late-game comeback and securing the 30-20 victory. Head coach Sean McVay will hope that his defense will show out once again as they face another tough opponent in the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 16 in the NFL divisional round.
1. The Browns will be posing a threat to the Kansas City Chiefs with a healthy lineup.
The Browns were heavily seen as clear underdogs against the Steelers who had most of their starters back after sitting out the Week 17 tilt between the two teams. Not to mention that the Browns were also without their head coach along with four assistant coaches and a bevy of players due to the COVID-19 virus.
However, all it took was a botched pass from center Maurkice Pouncey to start the game in the wrong direction. The Browns capitalized on the miscue and concluded the opening frame with 28 unanswered points.
The Steelers gained momentum in the second and third quarters of the game led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. However, the Browns still countered the Steelers' attacks especially in the fourth quarter to hinder them from mounting a comeback.
With several team members ruled out of the game, the Browns still managed to upset the Steelers in a humiliating 48-37 loss. Even with their surprising victory, the Browns continue to be seen as underdogs heading to the NFL divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the reigning Super Bowl champions should not dare to take their opponents lightly, or else they'll suffer the same fate as the Steelers did come Sunday.
