NFL Divisional Round reactions

Last weekend, we saw chaos hit the NFL in the divisional round of the playoffs with unexpected upsets and dramatic endings.

So let’s look back on what was a great weekend in preparation for championship weekend.

Chiefs vs Texans - 23-14

The Chiefs were dominant in all levels of the game last week against the Texans. They play a style of complimentary football that is difficult for any other team to replicate. When the offense is having an underwhelming game, the defense is able to rally and disrupt the opposing offense with ease.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo is a mastermind with his defensive play calls, knowing when to blitz and understanding what situations are critical. They registered eight sacks in this game and turned on the pressure toward the fourth quarter when the Texans offensive line couldn’t protect CJ Stroud to save their lives.

Star defensive tackle Chris Jones has been a problem during this Chiefs dynasty and players like George Karlaftis, who recorded three sacks solely in the fourth quarter, have stepped up and elevated their performance to another level.

Talking about the officiating in this game, it was beyond questionable with the refs throwing many impactful flags that benefited the Chiefs, however, I don’t think there was a scenario where the Chiefs weren’t the team that was moving on to the AFC Championship.

Mahomes made plays when he needed to and Travis Kelce was playoff Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs will always find ways to win the football game and even though it may be ugly, they get the job done time and time again.

Commanders vs Lions: 45-31

Jayden Daniels is a special player. He doesn’t care about the pressure he has in these playoffs as a rookie quarterback and this game was evidence of that. Daniels and the rest of this Commanders team were up to the challenge and the No. 1 seeded Lions weren’t prepared.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz have helped bring veteran leadership to that offense and have given Daniels reliable targets he is able to trust.

Dan Quinn has truly turned this team around as they were looked at to be a noncompetitive team entering the season and should be a top candidate for coach of the year.

This game was definitely about how hot the Commanders are now heading into the NFC Championship on Sunday, but the Lions didn’t do themselves any favors during the game.

Turning the ball over five times isn’t the recipe for success, especially in the playoffs. Jared Goff struggled, throwing three interceptions in critical moments and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s play calling was suspect, calling trick plays facing a 10-point deficit.

The Lions have a bright future with the talent they have under contract but there’s a reality where this season was their best chance at a Super Bowl now that Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were hired by the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.

Eagles vs Rams: 28-22

The Eagles have put together a dominant season in the trenches on both sides of the ball and it was on full display in the divisional round.

With another dominant game against the Rams where he recorded 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Saquon Barkley is continuing his pace to have one of the best seasons of any running back in NFL history.

There is not much anyone can say to discredit his production in this game and through the course of the entire season. No one has rushed for more than 200 yards in consecutive games against an opponent in one season. He is their offense.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has to be credited for turning around a defense that totally collapsed last season and turning them into one of the best defenses in the NFL with young talent spread across every position.

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, linebacker Zack Baun and cornerback Darius Slay have given this defense a spark through these playoffs.

The Rams looked promising at points during the game going down the field on the final drive, trying to win it but it wasn’t enough. Several fumbles in snowy conditions were crucial in their failure to fight back the run game of the Eagles.

It is back to the drawing board for them with Matthew Stafford seemingly having retirement talks surrounding him after every season and wide receiver Cooper Kupp losing a step during the latter half of the year.

Los Angeles’ young defensive line led by rookie Jared Verse should give them some positives to look forward to as they enter the offseason.

Bills vs Ravens: 27-25

Both teams went into this game wanting to prove they were true Super Bowl contenders and it lived up to the drama, to say the least.

Josh Allen and the Bills controlled the majority of the game with turnover-free football and an effective run game, which played a key part in their ability to secure the win.

Allen didn’t have to take over the game on offense, showing his newfound ability to play conservatively and manage the game the correct way.

On the other side, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens started off the game hot with an opening drive touchdown but weren’t able to get going after that. Costly turnovers limited Baltimore’s ability to rely on Derrick Henry and the run game and put themselves in an 11-point hole entering the second half.

They gathered momentum and it felt like they were going to take this game away from the Bills, however, a fumble and a two-point conversion drop by tight end Mark Andrews sealed the game in Buffalo’s favor.

Jackson will likely earn his third MVP trophy, however, he will have no Super Bowl appearance or ring to show for it, capping off another disappointing end to the Ravens season. This result and performance raises more questions about Jackson’s ability to perform under the biggest lights in the playoffs as he showed improvements in this game but still fell short.

Championship week is this Sunday and it is loaded with key storylines.

In the AFC Championship, a big test will await Josh Allen as he faces Patrick Mahomes in one of the biggest games of his career so far. Mahomes has beaten Allen three times in the playoffs so we will see how he responds.

In the NFC Championship, we will see how the rookie Jayden Daniels will fare against a star-studded Eagles defense and how Saquon Barkley will lead Philadelphia’s offense in an NFC East division battle.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email opd5073@psu.edu.