Matthew Adams
Managing Editor
Once again the NFL playoffs arrived and fans and players alike were uncertain of what’s to come. Some are now distraught by their respective teams’ downfall or elated by the feat they have accomplished.
This year’s playoffs included the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Green Bay Packers.
The Wildcard had some very important and interesting games as two of the top teams were in the Wildcard. The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were two of the top teams during the regular season but both had a late-season collapse that would put them in this position.
The Cowboys would face the Packers. This game would come with the downfall of America’s team which would send the media into a frenzy. With that prior loss, the media would make deep assumptions about whether or not Dak and the Cowboys are ready.
A game that captivated the masses was the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens game. With C.J. Stroud being a rookie, many were in awe of how far he was able to go.
Even though many were rooting for his success, the challenge was too grand for the rookie quarterback and his rising team. Baltimore would end up winning this game. The score would be 34-10.
“I was really rooting for C.J. Stroud. I didn’t think he would beat Lamar but one can only hope,” said Myles Hampton, a senior engineering major from Atlanta, Ga., was slightly disappointed by the loss.
Another game that would keep the attention of many would be the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills game. Both teams have met previously so the tension was there pre-game.
In past years, Kansas and Buffalo have been the must-watch matchup. This game was not short of being a must-watch.
The Chiefs and Bills game would be a game of vengeful energy that would fill the air ten times over. This game would go down to the wire with a missed field goal from Buffalo. This would advance the Chiefs to the AFC championship against the Ravens.
Many would call the bout between the Chiefs and Ravens disappointing or great depending on who you were rooting for.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens planned on making it past the Chiefs but it was a feat that wouldn’t be accomplished as the Ravens would fall to the Chiefs in a gut-wrenching 17-10 loss.
With high spirits, Jackson stated, “Oh I’m not frustrated at all…..we’re going to build, this offseason we’re going to get right, get better, grind, and try and be in this position again, but on the other side, a victory.”
In the NFC, the Lions would be a team many would not have suspected to be in that position. Not too long ago the Lions were a team with a record of 3-13-1. This would improve over the years with some new additions to the team.
The Lions would inch past the Rams in the Wildcard round winning by one point with a score of 24-23. The Lions would advance to the divisional round against the Buccaneers which they would win by 8 points.
The next game would be a true testament to the skills of this team. The Lions would play the 49ers next in the NFC Conference championship.
Even though the Lions had some great plays this would only take them so far as they would lose 34-31. This game would send the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Osiris Corker, a junior business management major from New Orleans, La., was one of those disappointed fans.
“I just really didn’t want to see a repeat of 2020. The Lions really had a chance,” said Corker.
The playoffs are now over and the Super Bowl is upon us. The Super Bowl airs Feb. 1 and the Chiefs and the 49ers are playing.
