What were the biggest lessons teams around the league learned in the first weekend of the postseason?
Los NFL playoffs They started with two exciting duels in the Wild Card Round.
First, at Bank of America Stadium, Los Angeles Rams They came back to beat the Carolina Panthers with a great performance by Matthew Stafford.
Los Rams they advanced to the Ronda Divisional for the second consecutive year and took revenge for their loss in the regular season against Carolina.
In the night game the Chicago Bears They rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Green Bay Packers.
With four games remaining in the Wild Card Roundour NFL Nation reporters react to all the action, answering the questions that arose after each team game they cover day by day.
These are the Conclusions after the Wild Card Round matches:
Packers 27-31 Bears
What to think of the quarterback's performance? Lack of rhythm? What lack of rhythm? After missing the last two and a half games of the regular season, Jordan Love couldn't have been more accurate early in the game. He threw touchdown passes on the first three offensive series, becoming the second player in NFL history. Packers with three touchdown passes in the first half of a playoff game (Lynn Dickey, in the 1983 Wild Card Round against the Ramswas the other).
Most surprising performance: Last week, the offensive coordinator of the PackersAdam Stenavich, was not very optimistic about the impact that rookie catcher Matthew Golden would have in the playoffs. His exact words were: “Right now, with the team's current situation, he's not going to have a starring role when the playoffs come around.” The player drafted in the first round of darft apparently ignored him. He scored his first touchdown as a professional with a 23-yard reception that put the Packers with a nine-point lead with 6:36 left in the game. Earlier, Golden had a 36-yard reception.
Key information: In their overtime loss against the Bears In Week 16, the Packers They did not score a single touchdown in their five offensive series that reached the red zone. This time, they managed to score on their first three trips into the red zone.
Turning point: Pick which of Jeff Hafley's defensive fourth-down stops was the most important, but it could have been Ty'Ron Hopper's interception on fourth-and-one from the 6-yard line. Packersafter Karl Brooks pressured Caleb Williams. It happened with 3:11 left in the third quarter, with Green Bay winning 21-6. A touchdown at that point could have changed the game. In total, the Packers they arrested the Bears on 4 of 5 fourth downs. — Rob Demovsky
Most surprising performance: Los Bears They led the league in steals, but had a -2 balance in turnovers this Saturday. The red zone defense Chicago had been his only strong point lately (Green Bay didn't score on five attempts in Week 16 (the Detroit Lions scored on one of four attempts in Week 18), but were outscored in the first half when Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes outside the center zone inside the 20-yard line. Bears They played too much single coverage and suffered the consequences. However, the defense reacted in the second half, forcing the Packers to punt on four consecutive possessions.
Analysis of quarterback performance: Caleb Williams improved his long passes in the second half. In the first, Williams completed just 2 of 5 passes for 40 yards and one interception on throws of 15 or more air yards. In the second, Williams took more risks with long passes, completing 7 of 13 for 166 yards and a touchdown. The 166 passing yards on long passes are the most Williams has achieved in one half in his career. He finished 24 of 48 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Williams now has seven winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, tied with Bo Nix for the most in the NFL and the most in a season by an NFL quarterback. Bears since the 1970 merger (its previous six were already the most).
Fact you should know: Chicago is the first team in this century to attempt a fourth-down conversion four times in the first half of a playoff game (1 of 4). Four failed fourth-down conversions equal the most of any team in playoff games this century. — Courtney Cronin
Rams 31-28 Panthers
What to think of the quarterback's performance? On the same day Stafford was named a first-team All-Pro, he led the Rams to a comeback victory in the fourth quarter. Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. After the Rams scored the first 14 points of the game, the team had difficulty moving the ball with consistency, but Stafford carried the team on his back when it mattered most. Stafford led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, first to take the lead with 8:47 left and then to secure the victory with 38 seconds left.
Most surprising performance: Los Rams committed nine penalties this Saturday, the most in a game this season, according to ESPN Research.
Tendency to observe: Special teams were once again a problem for the Rams when Ethan Evans' punt was blocked late in the fourth quarter. Four plays later, the Panthers they scored a touchdown to take the lead. Although this did not cost the Ramsthis unit remains a weak point for Los Angeles.
Key Stat: Wide receiver Puka Nacua scored two touchdowns (one receiving and one rushing), becoming the second player in the Rams in achieving a touchdown through the air and on the ground in a playoff game, according to ESPN Research. Nacua joins Marshall Faulk, who achieved it in the Ronda Divisional in 1999 against the Minnesota Vikings. Nacua finished with 10 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. — Sarah Barshop
What to think of the quarterback's performance? Bryce Young could have appeared as expected. He struggled a little early, but finished 21 of 40 for 264 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing touchdown. His touchdown pass to Jalen Coker late was crucial, continuing his fourth-quarter heroics this season.
Fact you should know: Los Panthers They limited Stafford to 1 of 9 passing on throws of 15 or more yards through the first three quarters. He did not complete any passes (0 of 8) to Nacua and Davante Adams in that period. Stafford completed 51 percent of those passes during the regular season, the eighth-highest percentage in the league.
Most surprising performance: Jalen Coker continues to stand out. At the start of the fourth quarter, he already had 125 receiving yards, the second most for a receiver in the Panthers in his first playoff game. Steve Smith Sr. had 135 in his 2004 postseason debut. After scoring with 2:39 remaining, he was just one yard shy of Smith's record with 134. — David Newton
