NFL Divisional Weekend Recap

Story posted January 25, 2022 in

Wow, in the greatest weekend of football the NFL has ever seen, all four games were decided by single digits and that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Overtime rules were thrashed on social media and two of the greatest quarterbacks ever are pondering retirement, so here’s a recap of all four games.

Cincinnati Bengals 19, Tennessee Titans 16

If there was any team that was supposed to be a lock, it would be the Titans. After all, the squad was coming off a bye week and got workhorse Derrick Henry back in the lineup.

Well, the Bengals pretty much made every analyst, writer and talking head on television that predicted the Titans to win look like idiots.

Despite getting sacked NINE times and throwing ZERO passing touchdowns, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow racked up 348 passing yards and kept the offense steady in the game’s biggest moments.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 220 yards and one touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions, the last one ultimately giving the Bengals enough time to get into field goal range and kick the game winner as time expired.

San Francisco 49ers 13, Green Bay Packers 10

The biggest upset in this year’s playoffs, the 49ers pounced on the Packers’ horrendous special teams unit for their only touchdown of the game.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t his best, throwing for only 111 yards and a pick, which somehow led to a blocked Packers field goal to end the first half, but the 49ers defense stalled the Packers offense to earn the win.

On Green Bay’s side, this is one of the biggest disappointments in franchise history. Even with Rodgers’ mediocre play, running back Aaron Jones only had 41 rushing yards and NO touchdowns on 12 carries.

Now, Rodgers is 0-4 against the 49ers in the playoffs and the 49ers will face the Rams and try to get to their first Super Bowl since 2020.

Los Angeles Rams 30, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27

This game could only have one impression: Matthew Stafford beat Tom Brady.

In the first half, the Rams offense was firing on all cylinders, building up a 20-3 lead which should’ve been 27-3 if not for a Cam Akers fumble inside the Bucs’ 10-yard line right before halftime. But when you have the guy that erased a 28-3 deficit in the Super Bowl under center, you’re never out of a game.

Brady and the Bucs came back strong in the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points to tie the game up at 27 a piece with 42 seconds remaining.

On the next drive, Stafford showed he is cold blooded by leading the Rams on a 63-yard drive, including a 44-yard BOMB to Cooper Kupp to set up the game-winning field goal.

The Rams now turn their attention to the 49ers while the Bucs may face a complete overhaul if Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski retire but neither has made a decision.

Kansas City Chiefs 42, Buffalo Bills 36

This was supposed to be a redemption story. Bills quarterback Josh Allen leads the team into Kansas City and dethrones Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to reach a second consecutive AFC Championship.

Again…it was supposed to be that way. By the end of the first half, the game was tied at 14 and then the fireworks show started.

Bills wideout Gabriel Davis caught three of his record four touchdowns in the second half and in the last two minutes of regulation, both teams combined for 25 points. Moreover, Mahomes threw for 188 passing yards in the last two minutes alone.

Then, with 13 seconds remaining, Mahomes flipped the switch, charging the offense into field goal range to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Chiefs offense destroyed the Bills’ soul and ended the game on a Travis Kelce touchdown catch, setting up a matchup of two gunslingers in the AFC Championship.


Matthew McLaughlin is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mem6936@psu.edu.