• Saquon Barkley carries the Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley racked up 205 yards and two touchdowns on the bottom because the Eagles defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
• Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce run it again: The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ famous person connection unites within the playoffs as soon as extra.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting to your favourite NFL group.
Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 14
Why the Chiefs gained
The Chiefs’ famous person connection ignites: The Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce connection got here to life when the Chiefs wanted it probably the most. Kelce caught seven of eight targets for 117 yards and a landing whereas carrying the majority of the receiving all afternoon. His 91.0 grade was his highest of the season, and Kelce confirmed off his potential to maneuver within the open discipline too, averaging 8.4 yards after the catch per reception.
An efficient blitzing: The Chiefs had success when blitzing Stroud. The protection blitzed on 39.0% of Stroud’s dropbacks and sacked him 3 times within the course of, and the Chiefs bought strain from all around the protection too. George Karlaftis led the best way with eight pressures, however six defensive backs and off-ball linebackers all registered a minimum of one strain. An indication that the plan labored.
A powerful defensive efficiency: Steve Spagnuolo’s protection delivered a robust efficiency, and their assured tackling all through the sport was emblematic of the unit stepping up within the playoffs as soon as once more. The Chiefs had only one missed deal with and 25 complete stops within the recreation, with 11 defenders registering a minimum of one strain.
Why the Texans misplaced
The Texans’ OL struggles once more: It’s arduous to win soccer video games when your quarterback is sacked 10 instances in a recreation. The Texans offensive line has struggled to guard C.J. Stroud all season, and it struggled as soon as extra, permitting 22 complete pressures and 10 sacks. Stroud was pressured on 53.7% of his dropbacks and struggled beneath duress.
Penalties stay a speaking level: Disregard the character of the penalties that have been assessed — a serious speaking level all through the sport, and the Chiefs season — however the truth that the Texans have been penalized eight instances, giving up 82 penalty yards within the course of, was an enormous issue within the recreation. A number of roughing the passer calls and pointless roughness penalties have been known as in favor of Patrick Mahomes, rightly or wrongly, they usually factored into the loss.
Factors left on the board by particular groups: The Texans left a variety of factors on the board by the use of particular groups and missed kicks. Ka’imi Fairbairn transformed on simply two of 4 discipline purpose makes an attempt within the recreation, lacking a 55-yard try earlier than he had a 35-yard try blocked within the last two minutes. Fairbairn completed with a 32.0 discipline purpose grade and likewise missed an additional level.
Washington Commanders 45, Detroit Lions 31
Why the Commanders gained
Jayden Daniels’ lore grows: Jayden Daniels was glorious within the win, and far of his manufacturing got here when the Lions blitzed him. Daniels was blitzed on 47.2% of his dropbacks, however he accomplished 12 of 15 move makes an attempt for 200 yards and a landing, averaging 13.3 yards per try and incomes a 92.5 grade. He additionally had a big-time throw in opposition to the blitz and was sacked zero instances. He was on hearth.
The protection makes simply sufficient performs: The Commanders protection gave up 31 factors within the recreation, nevertheless it did sufficient to make just a few performs within the recreation, which was sufficient to choose up the victory. The protection pressured 5 turnovers, selecting off Jared Goff 3 times whereas forcing one other fumble and selecting off Jameson Williams. Rookie Mike Sainristil picked off Goff twice and earned a 72.3 grade, whereas Quan Martin took an interception again for six factors, incomes a 75.0 grade.
Environment friendly operating helps carry the load: Daniels, Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson proved to be efficient on the bottom for the Commanders, carrying the ball a mixed 42 instances for 182 yards and two speeding touchdowns whereas Jeremy McNichols added a 3rd. Robinson led the best way with 77 yards and two touchdowns, incomes a 75.6 speeding grade, however the Commanders averaged 4.3 yards per carry as a group and churned out environment friendly yards.
Why the Lions misplaced
The Lions’ protection struggles to complete: The Lions move rush bought after Daniels, pressuring him on 36.1% of his dropbacks and registering 17 pressures in complete, however their incapability to sack Daniels and minimize drives quick harm all through the sport. Daniels has proven a penchant for avoiding sacks in his rookie season, and the Lions move rush simply couldn’t get palms on him. Pressures are good, however defenses should be capable of flip them into sacks.
Goff and the offense can’t handle the ball: Simply as turnovers benefitted the Commanders, they have been the Lions’ undoing. Goff turned the ball over 3 times within the first half, and the Lions’ incapability to guard the soccer noticed them down by 10 and chasing the sport by the half. Goff turned the ball over once more within the second half, and Williams threw an errant interception on a trick play. Not defending the ball within the largest moments value the Lions.
Yards after the catch struggles: The Lions’ protection misplaced Amik Robertson early within the recreation, and with the protection already depleted, any additional harm would harm. However even past that, the protection struggled to take down open ball-carriers and allowed 193 yards after the catch to the Commanders receivers. Kindle Vildor, who stepped in for Robertson, allowed 115 yards after the catch.
Philadelphia Eagles 28, Los Angeles Rams 22
Why the Eagles gained
Barkley runs riot once more: Saquon Barkley has been the ever-constant for the Eagles offense, even when it has struggled. The offensive line had a combined day, permitting Hurts to be sacked seven instances, nevertheless it opened holes for Barkley within the operating recreation, and he duly obliged. Barkley carried the ball 26 instances for 205 yards and two touchdowns, breaking off two huge landing runs and forcing 5 missed tackles. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry and 6.54 yards after contact per try, incomes a 68.0 grade. Barkley, as soon as once more, was the distinction maker.
The move rush will get after Stafford: The Eagles’ move rush was productive once more, notching 5 sacks of Matthew Stafford whereas registering 22 complete pressures. The majority of the strain got here from Jalen Carter, who earned an 84.6 pass-rushing grade after registering seven pressures and two sacks, and Nolan Smith, who recorded six pressures and a sack. The offense wasn’t at its finest for many of the recreation, however the Eagles have been in a position to depend on their younger offensive stars.
Jake Elliott makes the kicks that matter: The snow rained down in Lincoln Monetary Area, which made the circumstances terrible for particular groups. Jake Elliott missed two of three further factors within the win, however he got here up with three huge discipline targets when it mattered probably the most. Elliott hit three discipline targets within the second half, together with two within the fourth quarter, to assist the Eagles put 9 factors on the board, arising clutch within the snow.
Why the Rams misplaced
Turnovers: The margin for error in a playoff recreation of this magnitude, particularly within the snow, was skinny. Nevertheless, the Rams have been the pioneers of their downfall, coughing up two fumbles within the loss. Stafford and Kyren Williams each misplaced fumbles within the fourth quarter in back-to-back sequence, and each turnovers led to Eagles’ discipline targets.
Missed tackles in opposition to the run: Going up in opposition to somebody of Saquon Barkley’s high quality was at all times going to be a problem, and the Rams protection must be at its finest, nevertheless it struggled in opposition to Barkley and the Eagles’ constant speeding assault, as missed tackles proved to be a standard theme. The protection missed seven tackles in opposition to the run, as Barkley’s potential to create and run after contact was greater than the Rams may deal with. Six defenders all had tackling grades under 45.0 within the loss.
Cross-blocking struggles for the Rams: The offensive line has been a combined bag for the Rams all season, and although it wasn’t at its worst in opposition to the Eagles, it undoubtedly struggled. Stafford was pressured on 36.0% of his dropbacks and was sacked 5 instances. The strain got here largely from the inside, as Kevin Dotson and Beaux Limmer allowed a mixed 10 pressures and two sacks.
Buffalo Payments 27, Baltimore Ravens 25
Why the Payments gained
Placing within the work on the bottom: The Payments offense has been meaner and nastier on the bottom all through the season. Buffalo runs the ball as a energy quite than out of necessity, and its efforts proved very important in opposition to the Ravens. As a group, the Payments clocked up an efficient 147 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries. James Prepare dinner, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis all had one explosive run every, whereas Josh Allen scored two short-yardage touchdowns to focus on that imply edge the Payments have adopted.
Cross rush will get after Lamar Jackson: There aren’t many tougher quarterbacks to play in opposition to than Jackson, however the Payments move rush did a superb job of profitable up entrance and slowing him down. The Payments pressured Jackson on 45.2% of his dropbacks, sacking him twice, as Jackson coughed up a expensive fumble that led to the Payments scoring a landing. The protection registered 19 complete pressures, and Matt Milano and Ed Oliver mixed for 10 in complete.
A ok job containing Derrick Henry: The Ravens’ numbers on the bottom look good on the floor, however the Payments protection did sufficient of a job slowing down Derrick Henry for over a half of soccer. Henry was held to beneath 100 yards for the primary time in 5 video games, carrying the ball simply 16 instances for 84 yards and a landing. The Ravens’ speeding assault did a greater job within the second half, however the Payments’ protection had 9 stops within the run recreation and did nicely to comprise Henry.
Why the Ravens misplaced
Uncharacteristic errors: The Ravens had the third-fewest giveaways within the common season, as Jackson solely threw 4 interceptions, however premature and uncharacteristic turnovers have been expensive in opposition to the Payments. Jackson threw an early interception on a wayward move and misplaced a fumble that was later transformed right into a landing within the first half. Mark Andrews misplaced a fumble halfway by the fourth quarter earlier than the massive second of the sport the place he dropped a catch on a two-point conversion that might have tied the sport within the last moments.
Struggles in opposition to the blitz: Jackson has been much-improved in opposition to the blitz in 2024, however struggled when the Payments blitzed him on Sunday night time. The Payments blitzed Jackson on 41.9% of his dropbacks, as Jackson accomplished simply six of 12 move makes an attempt for 99 yards and a decide. Jackson was additionally sacked on a blitzed dropback, as Damar Hamlin pressured the fumble that later led to the Payments landing — Jackson earned a 43.6 grade in opposition to the blitz.
Not sufficient constant strain: The Ravens’ protection struggled in opposition to a Payments offensive line that has been rolling in 2024. The offensive line allowed simply six pressures, and Allen was pressured on simply seven complete dropbacks with one sack within the recreation. The protection had simply 11 complete pressures within the recreation, and its incapability to win constantly upfront meant that the Payments have been in a position to run the ball successfully and maintain Allen protected.
