2023 Divisional Weekend in the NFL

The 2023 Divisional round was four games of determination and grit. Four teams advance to the Conference Championship weekend. The final four are the best in the league and are one game away from a trip to Super Bowl LVII.

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

The young Texans team headed to Baltimore to play against MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson and the number one American Football Conference team the Ravens. The first half was a slow and tight match-up. The score was 10-10 at the half. The game of football is a game of inches and adjustments. Raven’s head coach John Harbaugh and his staff’s second-half game plan prevailed. The Ravens went on to score 24 points in the next two quarters behind the arms and legs of Jackson. The defense shut out the Texans not allowing a single point. Jackson totaled 252 yards and four touchdowns. The final was 34-10 Baltimore.

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers

Green Bay and San Francisco faced off for the third time in the last four playoffs in 2024. The previous two meet-ups went in favor of the 49ers. This time the Packers headed to Levi’s Stadium with a new young quarterback Jordan Love and a defense playing well the last few weeks. The 49ers came rested as they had the one-week bye after securing the National Football Conference one seed. It was a wet night as the rain showers came and went. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy entered the game with a glove in his throwing hand to help grip the football and quickly removed it after the first drive. Both teams were clumsy and played sloppy football. The scoreboard reflected that as the score was 7-6 San Francisco lead at halftime. Both teams adjusted to the wet field and ball. Green Bay scored 15 points in the third off of two Jordan Love passing touchdowns. San Francisco responded with a score from pro-bowl running back Christian McCaffrey a 39-yard run. After three quarters the score was 21-14 Green Bay leading. McCaffrey scored once again in the fourth off of a six-yard run to take the lead with 1:11 remaining. The 49ers defense held Green Bay scoreless and sealed the victory when linebacker Dre Greenlaw intercepted a Love pass on the final drive to win the game. 24-21 San Francisco was the winner.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions

NFC South Champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on the road to play the NFC North Champions Detroit Lions. One of the closest games of the weekend went down to the wire. Both teams are led by former number-one overall picks at quarterback. Lions Qb Jared Goff and Buccaneers Qb Baker Mayfield. The two have found new homes, resurrecting their career by leading their teams into the playoffs. The game was like a heavyweight fight, with both teams exchanging blows and the other responding. After three quarters the score was tied at 17-17. Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a nine-yard touchdown. Making the score 31-17. Mayfield and his offense quickly went down the field and made it a one-score game after he threw a beautiful pass to wideout Mike Evans. The score is now 23-31. The Buccaneers forced the Lions to punt the ball back to them with 1:39 on the clock. Mayfield up to that point was hot with over 300 yards passing and three touchdowns. On the second play of the drive, Mayfield was picked off by linebacker Derrick Barnes. Sealing the win 31-23 Detroit

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills

Two of the best teams with two of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL faced once again in the playoffs. The Chiefs have knocked out the Bills two times out of playoffs, in 2020 and 2021. This time the game was in Buffalo. The first time QB Patrick Mahomes had to head on the roads for a playoff game. After a 3-3 first quarter both offenses exploded in the second quarter. Kansas City added 10 points with a touchdown Mahomes pass to tight end Travis Kelce and a Harrison Butker field goal. Buffalo scored 14 points from the legs of quarterback Josh Allen’s rushing touchdowns. In the third, Mahomes hit Kelce once again for the pair’s second touchdown of the night. The Bills went on and had an 18-play drive which ended in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Allen to wideout Khalil Shakir. The score with 15 minutes left in the game was 24-20 Buffalo. Kansas City started the fourth quarter with a touchdown drive. Isiah Pacheco ran a four-yard touchdown giving the Chiefs the lead 27-24. With eight minutes left, the Bills needed a score to tie or take the lead. The Bills drove down the field to the Chiefs 26. They sent out their kicker Tyler Bass for a 44-yard field goal attempt. The kick sailed right missing the goal post. The Chiefs got the ball back and sealed the win with a first down. 27-24

AFC Championship
Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Jan 28 @ noon.

NFC Championship
Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan 28 @ 3:30 p.m.