On January 5, 2020 the NFL playoffs started. It was a crazy weekend full of close games with nail biting finishes. I will be running through each game in the ordered that it aired.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans
This game looked like the Bills for the taking. The team was up 16-0 at halftime, and the Texans offense was nowhere to be found. At halftime Bills quarterback, Josh Allen, had more receiving yards than Texans receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. The Texans looked all but done after stalling on their drive after halftime. When all hope seemed lost, three time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt came up with a huge sack to stop the driving Buffalo offense. From that point on the game was all Houston. The team scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. The Bills managed just two field goals in the second half, one was to send the game in overtime. The Texans won the coin toss and received the ball to start overtime. The Bills defense was able to hold the Texans and force a punt. The Bills offense was driving the ball down the field, and was in field goal range when, on third down, Cody Ford committed a personal foul, a blindside block. This took the team out of field goal range. The Bills were forced to punt. The Texans got the ball and started to drive the ball down the field. On second down from the Buffalo 54 yard line, Deshaun Watson made the play of the game. Watson broke two potential sacks, rolled out to his right, hit his running back who took it all the way up to the Buffalo nine yard line. The Texans then sent in their kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, who hit the game winning field goal. With this 22-19 win, the Texans will go to Kansas City to play in the Divisional Round.

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots
This game was signified by a goal line stand made by the Titans. The Patriots were one yard away from scoring a touchdown. The Patriots ran the ball three times, and the Titans stopped them all three times. The Patriots were down one point until there were four seconds left in the game. The Titans won this game behind Derrick Henry, who ran for 182 yards. Tennessee’s quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, only threw for 72 yards. The Patriots were forced to settle for field goals, and the defense was unable to stop Derrick Henry. The Titans won this game 20-13. The loss brings up questions about the Patriots’ dynasty and Tom Brady’s future with the team. For this season, the Titans will play the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round.

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
This game was a rematch of the 2017 meeting of these two teams. That game ended in crazy fashion with the Minneapolis Miracle. In this game the Vikings jumped to a 20-10 lead in the third quarter. The Saints were able to score a touchdown, and then the defense came up with a stop. The Saints, led by Drew Brees, were able to engineer a game tying field goal, capped off by a Thomas Morestead field goal. This sent the game into overtime. The Vikings won the coin toss, and received in overtime. The Vikings, led by Kirk Cousins, engineered a big drive, jump started by a 44 yard reception by Adam Thielen. This put the Vikings at the two yard line. Kirk Cousins took the snap, and threw the ball to tight end Kyle Rudolph in the back of the endzone. Rudolph caught the ball for a touchdown, and the Vikings won the game 26-20. This play is full of controversy as there was thought to be pass interference by Rudolph. Here is the play. This was the second year in a row that there was a controversial pass interference call that didn’t go the Saints way. In the 2018 NFC Championship game against the Rams, there was a clear pass interference by Rams’ cornerback Nickel Roby-Coleman. Saints’ fans are outraged with a call going against them for the second year in a row. This was also the third year in a row where teh Saints lost in heart-breaking fashion. With or without controversy, the Vikings will go to San Francisco for the Divisional Round.

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles
This game looked like it would be a great game between two of the league’s best quarterbacks. This thought went out the window when Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz was injured with 9 minutes left in the first quarter. This ended any real hope the Eagles had to win this game. The Eagles scored 9 points the entire game. Any chance that the Eagles had to come back were dashed when Seattle rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf caught his second touchdown pass of the game. Seattle won 17-9, and move on to play the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. This biggest headline of the game was Carson Wentz’s injury. Wentz has been to the playoffs for three straight years, but has been injured for every playoff game the Eagles have been to at that time. The Seahawks will have a rematch of the 2014 NFC Championship game with the Green Bay Packers.

That is the Wildcard Weekend summed up. The next round of the playoffs is the Divisional Round. The games will be as follows:
Saturday, January 11:
Vikings vs 49ers at 4:35 PM ET on NBC
Titans vs Ravens at 8:15 PM ET on CBS
Sunday, January 12:
Texans vs Chiefs at 3:05 PM ET on CBS
Seahawks vs Packers at 6:40 PM ET on FOX

After the Divisional Round is the Conference Championship. The NFC Conference Championship will feature the winner of the Vikings and 49ers and the winner of the Seahawks and Packers. The AFC Conference Championship will feature the winner of the Titans and Ravens and the winner of the Texans and Chiefs. The winners of the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games will play in the Super Bowl.