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Saturday Games
Green Bay 34, LA Rams 18
The Packers did everything that they had to do, making sure to take full advantage of playing at home, and knocking the Rams out of the playoffs.
To that end, Green Bay managed to hold onto the ball for over 36 minutes, earning 484 yards on offense, which was nearly double what the Rams managed to produce. They also earned 38 first downs, to just 17 for Los Angeles. Indeed, the Packers held virtually every significant advantage possible in this contest.
The Pack were on fire early, scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 16-3 lead. The Rams battled back to make it somewhat close, but Green Bay still gung onto a 19-10 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Packers added to that with an Aaron Jones rushing touchdown to open up a 25-10 lead, but the Rams managed to cut into that themselves with a touchdown late in the third quarter, to keep the game close. But the Packers finally put the game out of reach when Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 58-yard touchdown to ice the game.
On the day, Aaron Rodgers was sold, completing 23 of 36 passes for 296 yards and tow touchdowns. Allen Lazard was his favorite target in this game with four receptions for 96 yards, with that crucial late touchdown to clinch it for the Packers. On the ground, Aaron Jones added 99 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
In a losing cause for the Rams, Jared Goff completed 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown. His favorite target was Josh Reynolds, who grabbed three receptions for 65 yards. On the ground, Cam Akers added 90 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries.
The win clinches not just a second straight NFC Championship Game appearance for the Packers, but also assures that the game will be hosted by them right in Lambeau Field, which is obviously a tough place to play. That may be especially true since both the Saints and the Buccaneers, like the Rams, are warm weather teams. So whoever emerges to face the Packers will have not just a formidable team to face, but quite possibly a significant added obstacle if they weather proves to be a serious factor.
My pick: Accurate
Buffalo 17, Baltimore 3
The Bills pulled off another impressive postseason win, one that was probably more impressive than their win last weekend against the Colts. Not that that was not an impressive game, but the Ravens were beginning to look like a serious title contender, much like they appeared to be all of last season and for much of this season.
This was a very tight, very low-scoring game through the first half, as the two teams managed only one field goal apiece. Neither team was able to produce much with their running game, which was somewhat of a surprise, especially in regards to the Ravens, who usually are very effective on the ground. But not on this day.
Still, Baltimore did control the ball for over 35 minutes, a decisive advantage. They outgained the Bills, 340 yards to 220 for Buffalo, and had slightly more first downs, 19 to 17. But the Ravens had one turnover, which proved very costly. The key in this game came in the third quarter. With the Bills clinging to a 10-3 lead, the Ravens were threatening to put some points on the board, and either cut into that Buffalo lead with a field goal, or even tie the game up with a touchdown. Lamar Jackson stepped back and threw a pass into the end zone, thinking that he had his receiver there, looking for that tying touchdown.
Instead, Bills cornerback Taron Johnson stepped in front and picked it off, then ran 101 yards all the way to the other end zone for a Buffalo touchdown that served, in retrospect, almost like a knockout blow.
When you look at the game, it was the key turning point. Had the pass by Jackson found it’s intended target, the Ravens likely would have tied the game up with seven points. Instead, that play went for seven the other way. That’s a 14 point turnaround, and of course the Bills won by 14 points. It is not a stretch to think that it effectively ended the game. The Ravens were not able to put much of anything together again, and were not able to make the game closer.
On the day, Josh Allen enjoyed a decent day, completing 23 of 37 passes for 206 yards and that one touchdown to Stefon Diggs in the third quarter. He and Diggs connected eight times, with Diggs picking up 106 yards and that touchdown. The ground game for Buffalo was virtually non-existent. They only had two rushing attempts in the first half, one of the lowest in playoff history. Devin Singletary managed only 25 yards on seven carries in the game.
As for the Ravens, Lamar Jackson has a less than stellar day, completing 14 of 24 passes for 162, with one INT. Marquise Brown grabbed four of those receivers for 87 yards, leading all Baltimore receivers. On the ground, Gus Edwards picked up 42 yards on 10 carries.
With the win, the Bills now advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1993-94 season. You may remember that as the final season in the Bills historic run of four straight Super Bowls, a distinction that still belongs to the Buffalo Bills alone. They now await the winner of the Chiefs-Browns game later today. Should the Chiefs win, as expected, the Bills would go on the road to face Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium for the big game. If the Browns pull off the upset, they would travel to Rich Stadium, where the Bills would host the AFC title game, with a chance to reach the fifth Super Bowl in franchise history, and perhaps a chance to earn the franchise’s fist Lombardi Trophy.
My Pick: Inaccurate
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