MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) @ 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4): Buf 27-24

Quarterback Josh Allen shrugged off his 0-4 record on the road in the playoffs, amassing three total touchdowns, including a game-winning 1-yard run with 1:04 remaining. Allen (273 yards passing-td/ 33 yards rushing-2 td’s) accounted for 64 of the 65 yards on the final drive, going 5-for-5 through the air and rushing for 12 yards. Allen made multiple trips to the medical tent during the game, but passed a concussion protocol, and played through an injury to his knee and throwing hand.

The lead changed hands four times in the 4th-quarter alone, yielding two touchdowns for each team. Led by WR Khalil Shakir’s 12 receptions for 82 yards, Allen hit nine different receivers.

The Bills defense managed two interceptions (S. Thompson, C. Bishop), including the game-deciding pick.

Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence (207 yards passing-3 td’s/ 31 yards rushing) came from behind twice with touchdowns passes in the 4th-quarter, and connected with scoring passes to three different receivers in the game. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. had just 15 touches but managed 116 total yards and a score.

Buffalo travels to Empower Field at Mile High, to take on the top-seeded Broncos in the Divisional Round on Saturday.

7 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) @ 2 New England Patriots (14-3): NE 16-3

New England QB Drake Maye had 268 passing yards, ran for an additional sixty-six, and connected with TE Hunter Henry in the 4th-quarter for the game’s lone touchdown. 

The game’s defensive battle allowed for few red zone opportunities and forced New England K Andy Borregales and the Patriots into three field goals (23, 35, 39). 

The defensive unit accumulated six sacks, two each by Milton Williams and K’Lavon Chaisson and thoroughly destroyed Chargers QB Justin Herbert. 

Herbert (159 yards passing/ 57 yards rushing) was hit a game-high eleven times and had to be helped up much of the 4th-quarter. The shell-shocked quarterback had little help offensively either, with the Chargers gaining just 30 additional yards on the ground and no receiver had more than 32 yards.

The Chargers defense kept things close with five sacks of Drake Maye, three by LB Odafe Oweh and fellow linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu got his 13th sack to conclude his season. Oweh also forced two fumbles, and had three tackles for a loss, to go with four solo tackles.

The Patriots move on to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, where they will host CJ Stroud and the Texans.

5 Houston Texans (12-5) @ 4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Hou 30-6

Texans QB CJ Stroud did everything he could to lose this game, fumbling five times and losing two, and throwing an interception. Stroud (250 yards passing-td) started the Houston scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass to WR Christian Kirk, who had a monster game. 

Kirk torched the Steelers secondary with long receptions all game, and totalled eight catches for 144 yards.

Running back Woody Mark (12 receptions-112 yards-td) was unstoppable for the Texans, averaging nearly six yards per carry, but the game entered the 4th-quarter still 7-6.

The Texans began the quarter driving for a 51-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal and this was when the game went sideways. The Steelers next drive was just four plays in when QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked and he fumbled. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins scooped up the ball and returned it 33 yards for a score.

Rodgers (146 yards-int) was falling over his own line all game, due to the amazing four-man rush of the Texans, who had four sacks on the day. The d-line was pushing the Steelers into Rodgers, and disrupting his ability to see downfield for most of the day.

Houston took their next possession 87 yards ending in a Marks 13-yard touchdown run, and sealed the game with a 50-yard pick-six by S Calen Bullock on the Steelers next possession.

Next up, the Texans travel to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots in the Divisional Round.

AFC Divisional Playoffs:

6 Buffalo Bills (13-5) @ 1 Denver Broncos (14-3) Saturday 1:30pm

5 Houston Texans (13-5) @ 2 New England Patriots (15-3) Sunday 12:00pm