Kansas Metropolis Chiefs obtain warning from Houston Texans as Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry dominate once more, writes Neil Reynolds

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry crushed the Pittsburgh Steelers, whereas the Houston Texans protection delivers a warning to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – Sky Sports activities NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has the ultimate phrase on Wild Card weekend within the playoffs…

Let’s have a look again at Wild Card weekend within the NFL as we whittled down 14 groups to eight within the race to Tremendous Bowl 59.

Can the Rams go all the best way?

Monday evening noticed the Los Angeles Rams finish a tumultuous week with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings, reminding me that this staff believes they are often anyone within the league – wherever they play. Sean McVay rested his starters in Week 18 and we thought which may have given them a more durable recreation within the first spherical of the playoffs towards the Vikings, however it definitely did not.

They needed to play in Arizona, McVay needed to evacuate his household dwelling within the days main as much as the 27-9 win, however they obtained the job completed with some ease. This protection is discovering its toes and coming into kind at precisely the suitable time.

They’ve key gamers who’ve received a Tremendous Bowl in Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, in addition to different established stars now in Puka Nacua and Jared Verse on protection. This staff has gone 10-3 since opening the league 1-4 – why cannot they hold it going?

Daniels stars once more for Washington

This Wild Card weekend will not go down as a traditional however it did serve up one other fantastic second that means the Washington Commanders are in actually good palms with their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He was inspirational of their 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, time and time once more making massive performs with out flapping, with out trying burdened, with out getting over-excited.

His touchdowns got here in big moments. His first to Dyami Brown was on a third-and-goal within the first half, and the one to provide Washington a 20-17 lead within the fourth quarter was on fourth all the way down to Terry McLaurin. On each events you wouldn’t have even recognized he had thrown a landing cross – he was onto his subsequent piece of labor. That was massively spectacular.

This staff went 4-13 a yr in the past and simply recorded their thirteenth victory of this season. That is what occurs when you end up a real star like Jayden Daniels.

Hurts and Eagles with work to do regardless of win

The Philadelphia Eagles superior to the Divisional Spherical with a 22-10 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers, however it was removed from fairly and there’s work to be completed for the Eagles if they’re to tidy issues up earlier than they play the Rams. They have been penalised seven occasions, whereas Jalen Hurts obtained slowed down far too typically and threw for simply 131 yards on his return.

I do really feel like there’s extra within the passing recreation if wanted, however the reliance on Saquon Barkley is so robust they by no means actually need to open it up. Hurts can play inside himself, AJ Brown can learn his books on the bench and the Eagles can depend on some robust protection as nicely.

As for the Packers, I believe it can go down as a season the place they have been good however not adequate. They misplaced to numerous the standard groups on the finish of the yr and Jordan Love did not actually dwell as much as the $55m-a-year contract he signed within the offseason. He has an enormous yr forward of him in 2025.

The entire Payments

I believe Josh Allen is all the time going to seize the eye and create the headlines for the Buffalo Payments, however the motive I believe this staff is extra harmful than earlier groups is the stability they’ve.

Allen was wonderful once more in beating the Denver Broncos on Sunday, finishing 20 of 26 for 272 yards and two touchdowns with no picks. However the stability got here with James Prepare dinner main the best way on the bottom with 120 dashing yards and a landing; Buffalo as a staff rushed for 210 yards. They made performs on protection, so I believe it is a full staff now.

As for the Broncos, it was a season that delivered far more than they might have ever anticipated again in the summertime. They’ve motive to really feel very optimistic with Sean Payton guiding the younger profession of Bo Nix, who I believe shall be one of many NFL’s enjoyable quarterbacks to look at.

Lamar and Henry crush Pittsburgh on the bottom

Do not let the scoreline idiot you. Saturday’s 28-14 win for the Baltimore Ravens towards the Pittsburgh Steelers was a brutal beat down. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have been inconceivable to cease within the backfield, and that is all the pieces all of us envisioned when Derrick Henry was introduced on board this yr – you key as much as cease Lamar Jackson, and Henry runs the ball; you key as much as cease Henry, and Lamar tucks and runs.

Between them they averaged 167 yards per recreation through the common season and upped it to 267 on Saturday evening. Baltimore rushed for 300 yards after which took a knee to drop it to 299 on the finish of the sport. They crushed Pittsburgh’s souls and have been a dominant power.

It has now been eight years since Pittsburgh’s final playoff win as they finish the marketing campaign with 5 straight losses. I believe Mike Tomlin is secure for now for positive, this is not a knee-jerk reactionary franchise, however that’s the back-drop to his 2025 season and Pittsburgh need to discover a higher reply at quarterback.

Herbert’s Houston nightmare

Wild Card weekend started with Houston’s 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans nonetheless have some points on the offensive aspect of the ball, due to that strain that will get placed on CJ Stroud, who was sacked 52 occasions within the common season and one other three on the weekend.

However their protection makes them very harmful, particularly as they head to Kansas Metropolis to tackle the Chiefs, who’ve had safety points and who’ve had turnover points. Houston created 4 sacks, intercepted Justin Herbert 4 occasions on the finish of a season throughout which he had been picked off simply three groups beforehand. That was a very spectacular efficiency.

For the Chargers, there’s a lot to be pleased with, loads to be happy with after an 11-win season. They’re in good condition with Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh collectively, however they want extra offensive weapons. They want a spark and a few firepower, so I’d say it was an unsatisfactory finish and there’s work to be completed.

When is the Tremendous Bowl?

The playoffs enter the Divisional Spherical on Saturday January 18 and Sunday January 19, at which level the respective No 1 seeded Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Detroit Lions will be part of the motion following their bye.

It’s then onto the AFC and NFC Championship Video games on Sunday January 26, earlier than Tremendous Bowl LIX takes place on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.

It is going to be the eleventh time the Tremendous Bowl has been hosted in New Orleans, the primary time since 2013, and the eighth recreation to be held on the Caesars Superdome.

Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Tremendous Bowl half-time present.