Don't look now, but all of my predictions for Wild Card weekend proved accurate.
That said, not every game went the way that I had expected it to.
Let's take a closer look at how each game went down:
Sunday Games:
Buffalo Bills 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 24
The Bills and Jaguars went back and forth in a game with seven lead changes.
It was an even game in almost every way. The Jaguars produced more yards, 359 to 340 for the Bills. Both teams had earned 20 first downs.
Buffalo held onto the ball for nearly 34 minutes. And while the two teams were nodded at one turnover a piece, the Jaguars committed a crucial, ultimately game-deciding turnover very late in the game, which iced the outcome for the Bills. They knelt on the ball the rest of the way, and Jacksonville could not stop the clock as they were out of timeouts.
The end of the game proved intensely exciting. Buffalo clung to a 13-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the two teams suddenly exploded for four combined touchdowns in the final quarter.
Ultimately, it was the Bills who scored the crucial last touchdown to retake the lead. Josh Allen had run a quarterback sneak on the play prior, looking for a first down. He nearly ran it all the way into the end zone. Then they did score a touchdown immediately, in what I thought might be a bit too early, as it left the Jaguars offense over one minute to work with.
However, the Jaguars committed that final, costly turnover when quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a pass that was deflected by Buffalo Cornerback Tre'Davious Whitem, which then was caught for the game-clinching interception by rookie safety Cole Bishop.
Despite how successful this season proved to be for the Jaguars, with a 13-4 record and the AFC South division title, this loss will leave a bitter taste in their mouths.
As for the Bills, they survive and advance to the AFC Divisional Round, where they will have a date against the Denver Broncos at Mile High next Saturday.
My pick: Accurate
San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19
The Eagles were the defending Super Bowl champs. They dominated the time of possession and did not commit any turnovers.
Yet, it speaks volumes about the 49ers and their resilience this season that they were able to overcome two turnovers and a Philly lead late in the fourth to pull what seemed an improbable, come form behind win.
It was one of many exciting finishes in the Wild Card games this weekend, which for once, lived up to the billing.
Brock Purdy found Christian McCaffrey for a four-yard touchdown with just 2:54 left to play. It was McCaffrey's second touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia simply was not able to answer, and the 49ers preserved the win.
Now, the 49ers advance to meet the Seattle Seahawks next Saturday.
My pick: Accurate
New England Patriots 16, LA Chargers 3
The Patriots won one in predictable fashion. Their defense hung tough and limited the Chargers opportunities, holding them to just a field goal.
And while the Pats offense did not exactly light up the scoreboard, they scored more than enough to secure a comfortable 16-3, despite having scored only one touchdown in the entire game.
So despite committing one more turnover than the Chargers (two by the Pats, one by the Chargers), the Pats managed to win one comfortably at home in frigid Foxboro.
For the Chargers, a decent season that saw them compete for the AFC West title ends in disappointment with this defeat immediately in the playoffs.
For New England, however, their most successful season since the Belichick/Brady era continues, as they now will host the Houston Texans on Sunday.
My pick: Accurate
Monday Night
Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
The Texans and Steelers kept this one fairly close for most of the contest.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Texans only held a very slim 7-6 lead. It still really could have gone either way.
But the Texans were in scoring position, and added some seemingly crucial points with a field goal, taking a 10-6 lead early in the fourth.
Less than two minutes later, Houston Defensive Tackle Sheldon Rankins scored a touchdown on a strip sack by Defensive End Will Anderson of Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The score suddenly was 17-6 after the PAT.
The Steelers offense struggled all day. The six points that they managed was the lowest point total for Aaron Rodgers in his postseason history. Pittsburgh's defense also was worn down by the fourth, as the Texans marched down the field, running down the clock on a drive that was capped with a 13-yard touchdown run by Ja'quavious Marks. That made it 24-6, Houston.
Houston's defense was not done, for that matter. Calen Bullock later scored on a pick-six, in what might prove to be Aaron Rodger's last ever NFL pass, very late in the final quarter. Suddenly, it was 30-6. The game suddenly had become a blowout.
That's two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a postseason game. Something that had not been done since the Cleveland Browns did it in 1948, when they scored two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills (not today's franchise of the same name) of the AAFL.
After the game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stepped down, leaving uncertainty for Pittsburgh both at the head coaching position as well as at quarterback, where it is unclear whether or not Rodgers will be back.
This was the first playoff road win in the history of the Houston Texans organization. They now move on to face the Patriots in New England next Sunday.
My pick: Accurate
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