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The kick to luck: Riley Patterson (No. 10) completes the Jaguars comeback against the Chargers.
The NFL playoffs are on. And how.
The Jaguars’ miracle comeback
Ironically, the Jacksonville Jaguars write playoff history in their wild card match. Because their success in the last 14 years is more than manageable. Only in the 2017 season did they reach the knockout phase and even advance to the AFC Championship Game. Otherwise it rained regularly defeats.
It looks like that against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. 0:27 is now in the second quarter. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence made four interceptions in the first half (the football lands on the opponent instead of on the teammate). But the initial horror develops into a fairy tale. Lawrence and his colleagues turned the game around at home, winning 31:30 in the very last second thanks to a field goal by kicker Riley Patterson. The third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history is a fact.
Playoff freshman sets record
The San Francisco 49ers are also further, albeit much less dramatic. The 2020 Super Bowl entrant defeats the Seattle Seahawks 41-23. At half-time the favorite home team is still 16:17 behind. Brock Purdy, the Niners’ sensational backup quarterback, throws for over 300 yards and three touchdown passes. Something no player aged 23 years and 18 days earlier has managed to do in the postseason.
Buffalo on the brink of defeat
The first Sunday game between the Super Bowl favorites Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins is quite close. In the run-up, many experts are expecting a clear victory for the Bills against injury-plagued Miami. So they only play with their third quarterback and key players are also missing in other positions, with the betting shops the Bills are a 13-point favorite.
But the Dolphins are doing well against all expectations, catching up a 0:17 deficit and even leading until just before the last quarter. In the end, the big favorite prevailed, struggling to win 34:31. This puts Buffalo into the second round while Miami waits for their first playoff win since 2001.
The New York Giants, on the other hand, are celebrating redemption. The team from the Big Apple won 31-24 away at the Minnesota Vikings and celebrated their first win in the playoffs in eleven years. The result is a real surprise, Minnesota was among the best teams of the regular season, notching up 13 wins from 17 games.
NFL playoffs – the road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round
San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks 41-23
Jacksonville Jaguars-Los Angeles Chargers 31:30
Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins 34-31
Minnesota Vikings-New York Giants 24:31
Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens 24-17
Tuesday, 02:15 am: Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Dallas Cowboys
Divisional Round (8 teams)
Kansas City Chiefs-Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles
Cincinnati Bengals-Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Dallas Cowboys
Conference Championship Game (4 Teams)
On Sunday January 29th.
Super Bowl LVII
On the night of Monday February 13 in Arizona.
Wild Card Round
San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks 41-23
Jacksonville Jaguars-Los Angeles Chargers 31:30
Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins 34-31
Minnesota Vikings-New York Giants 24:31
Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens 24-17
Tuesday, 02:15 am: Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Dallas Cowboys
Divisional Round (8 teams)
Kansas City Chiefs-Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles
Cincinnati Bengals-Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Dallas Cowboys
Conference Championship Game (4 Teams)
On Sunday January 29th.
Super Bowl LVII
On the night of Monday February 13 in Arizona.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones put in a strong performance, throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns. So far (as of Monday morning) New York is the only lower-seeded team that can win in these playoffs. Now the “G-Men” meet the top favorites Philadelphia Eagles in the second round.
Defensive moves Cincinnati further
Also in the second round are the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year’s finalist (Super Bowl loss to the Rams) beats the Baltimore Ravens 24-17.
For the Bengals, the scene of the game is defensive. With a score of 17:17 in the last quarter, Baltimore has the football a meter in front of the end zone and only has to push it over the line. But nothing comes of it, the Bengals defense frees the play equipment, it lands right in the hands of 120-pound colossus Chuba Hubbard, who runs 99 meters in the other direction for a touchdown. Lead instead of behind, second round instead of playoff.
The last ticket for the second round will be awarded on Tuesday night. Then legend Tom Brady meets the Dallas Cowboys with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (yap/cat/bjl)