NFL Wrap Up: Week 18
All is well in the league as Damar Hamlin is okay and back home in Buffalo. This past week has proved more than ever: Football is more than just a game. Fans, players, and coaches are all in awe about the world coming together to support number 3. Hamlin has received a tremendous amount of love and has let us know he is more than grateful for it. Huge shoutout to the NFL medical staff and first-responders at the UC Trauma Center. Keep praying for Damar.
Without further ado, let’s wrap up the final week of the NFL regular season:
All For 3
The Bills won big time this week in more ways than one.
Josh Allen led the Bills to victory defeating the Patriots 35-23. They are set to play the Dolphins next Sunday at 1:00 in the Super Wild Card Round.
Something super special and storybook happened at the start of the game that made every single Bills player and fan feel all the emotions.
Nyheim Hines returned the opening kick off for a touchdown on the very first play of the game. This was truly a miracle as this was the Bills first game back after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during their game against the Bengals the previous Monday.
To make it even better, Hines went on to return another touchdown later in the game.
Josh Allen for one was left completely speechless. However, he left his heart out on the field as he threw for three touchdowns and 254 yards.
The Bills defense did their part as well combining for three interceptions.
Although the Patriots couldn’t get the job done, Mac Jones also threw for three touchdowns.
It is safe to say Damar Hamlin was there in spirit as his “three magic" was in the air.
Although most fans were happy to see the Bills pull off a win, we’re even happier Demar Hamlin is okay!
Jags Are In!
On Saturday night, the Jaguars hosted the Titans in Jacksonville in a “Win and In” situation. Trevor Lawerence and the Jaguars fought a hard battle to steal a 20-16 win over the Titans to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and just the second time since 2007.
The Jaguars made history becoming just the third team to start off the season 4-8 and make the playoffs.
Trevor Lawerence is finally making his playoff debut and the fans are more than excited to see what he can do.
The Jaguars defense stepped up to the plate in the fourth quarter stopping the Titans and a nervous Joshua Dobbs from a potential playoff run and AFC South title.
The Jaguars face the Chargers on Saturday night at 8:15 p.m.
Pack Is Not Back
For a few weeks there we thought Aaron Rodgers had it in him to turn things around for the Packers and lead his team to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Well, we were wrong.
Up until Week 12, Green Bay was 4-8 and their playoff hopes seemed to be too far out of reach.
But the Packers won four straight games improving their record to 8-8. Just about everything else seemed to go their way as the other NFC teams were losing left and right making the playoffs possible for the Packers.
On Sunday night it was truly simple, all the Packers had to do to make the playoffs was win.
However, former Packer Jamaal Williams came to play rushing for two touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 20-16 win.
Just like that, the Packers playoff dreams were crushed.
A true heartbreaker for Rodgers as this was arguably his worst season yet.
Seattle Gets Lucky
Thanks to the Lions, Seattle was able to sneak into the playoffs in the seventh and final spot.
Earlier on Sunday, the Seahawks pulled off a 19-16 overtime win against the Rams making the playoffs possible with a Packers loss.
Geno Smith and his team face the 49ers on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The Seahawks have a lot to work on if they want to have a chance in making it past the first round of the playoffs as the 49ers are extremely dangerous and have already defeated Seattle twice this season.
Brock Purdy is reminding us of a young Tom Brady and we all know that is a force to be reckoned with.
However, Geno Smith is all business and he has proved he is more than capable of what we thought.
An epic showdown awaits us and we are all here for it.
Gia Sabatino is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email gms6168@psu.edu.
