NFL Recap

Graphic+by+Brennan+Arcement

Graphic by Brennan Arcement

The Divisional Round of the National Football League playoffs ended with the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccanneers moving on to the National Football Conference and American Football Conference Championship games. 

The Divisional Round began Saturday with the Packers playing against the Los Angeles Rams in a NFC matchup. The game began with the Rams starting with the ball, but having to punt it at the end of the drive. The Packers scored a field goal in their first drive, which was followed after with a field goal by the Rams. 

In the Packers’ next drive, they scored the first touchdown of the game, making the score 10-3. The Rams got the ball back but had to punt at the end of their drive. The Packers scored another touchdown in the following drive, and attempted a two-point conversion, but failed. 

The Rams got their first touchdown of the game in the next drive, followed by a field goal by the Packers to close out the half. The halftime score was 19-10, with the Packers winning. 

The second half began with the Packers scoring a touchdown, attempting a two-point conversion and failing again. In the next two drives, both the Rams and the Packers ended with punting the ball. The Rams got a touchdown in their next drive and succeeded in their two-point conversion attempt, making the score 25-18 with the Packers still winning. 

Both teams ended their next drives in punts, and when the Packers had the ball again, they scored another touchdown. The Rams got the ball back, but turned it over with downs. The game ended with the Packers taking a knee. The final score was 32-18, and the Packers won. 

The second game on Saturday was an AFC matchup between the Bills and the Baltimore Ravens. The first half began with a missed field goal by the Ravens and then a punt each by both teams. The first score of the game came in the Bills’ second drive when they made a field goal. 

Following that drive was a punt by the Ravens and a missed field goal by the Bills. The Ravens missed their field goal attempted in the drive following too. After that was a punt by the Bills, a punt by the Ravens and another punt again by the Bills. The Ravens made a field goal in the drive after to get some points for them on the board. The first half ended with both teams tied at three points. 

The second half began with a touchdown by the Bills. The Ravens’ first drive of the second half ended with Bills’ cornerback Taron Johnson intercepting the ball in the endzone and making a 101-yard interception touchdown. After that drive, both teams punted and then the Ravens’ turned over the game on downs. The Bills missed their next drive’s field goal attempt. The Ravens then turned over the ball again because of downs, and the game ended with the Bills taking a knee. The game ended with a score of 17-3 and the Bills moving on to the AFC Championship game. 

Sunday’s games began with a matchup between the Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns. The game started with the Chiefs scoring a touchdown on their first drive, with a missed extra point. Following that, the Browns made a field goal, making the score 3-6. The Chiefs scored another touchdown on their next drive making the score 13-3. The Browns punted the ball on their next drive, and in the Chiefs’ following drive, the Chiefs scored a field goal. 

In the Browns’ next drive, they fumbled the ball which resulted in the Chiefs getting the ball to score a field goal. The first half score was 19-3. 

The Browns got the ball first in the second half, and their drive ended with an interception by the Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs’ drive following that ended with a missed field goal. The Browns got the ball back and scored their first touchdown of the game, making the score 19-10. The Chiefs made a field goal in their next drive, followed by another touchdown by the Browns. The Chiefs’ next drive ended with an interception by Cleveland’s Karl Joseph. The Browns drive ended with a punt and the Chiefs took a knee to end the game with a final score of 22-17. 

The final divisional game was a matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Buccaneers. The game began with the Buccaneers having the ball and then punting it to the Saints. In the Saints’ first drive, they were able to complete a field goal. The Buccaneers had to punt the ball again at the end of their next drive, with a following Saints drive that ended in another field goal. The Buccaneers were able to score a field goal in their next drive. 

The Saints’ next drive ended with an interception by the Buccaneers’ Sean Murphy-Bunting. The Buccaneers were able to score a touchdown in their next drive. The Saints scored a touchdown in their next drive as well. Both teams had to punt the ball on their next drives, and the half ended with a field goal by the Buccaneers and both teams tied at 13.

The second half began with a touchdown by the Saints, then a punt by the Buccaneers. The Saints’ next drive ended in a fumble which was recovered by the Buccaneers, who were then able to score a touchdown tying the game at 20. The Saints’ had to punt the ball at the end of their next drive. The Buccaneers scored a field goal in their next drive. The Saints’ next drive ended with an interception by the Buccaneers’ Devin White. 

The Buccaneers scored another touchdown and the Saint’s next drive ended with an interception by Buccaneers’ Mike Edwards. The Buccaneers took a knee to end the game. The game ended with a final score of 30-20 and the Buccaneers advancing to the NFC Championship.

The Buccaneers will play against the Packers in the NFC Championship and the Chiefs will play against the Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday.