NFL Playoffs: What We Learned From the Wild Card Weekend

It was a supersize wild-card weekend, with the N.F.L.’s expanded playoff format requiring six video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video games, significantly than 4, in the first two days of the postseason. There had been no surprises in the outcomes of the first 5 video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video games, nonetheless most had been shut ample to supply diversified leisure.

Here’s what we realized:

• It is time for a mannequin new Lamar Jackson narrative. It was exhausting to inform if the Baltimore Ravens had been a extreme contender or a beneficiary of 1 amongst the N.F.L.’s weakest schedules over the remaining 5 weeks of the frequent season. And with consecutive seasons that every led to a disappointing playoff loss, there have been individuals who questioned whether or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not or not Jackson’s run-heavy completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely utterly completely absolutely absolutely utterly totally different may translate to postseason success. After watching Baltimore race for 236 yards on the flooring in a 20-13 win on the avenue in opposition to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, these narratives is further further liable to be retired. Baltimore gained’t shock anybody, nonetheless understanding what’s coming is barely heaps completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely completely utterly completely absolutely absolutely utterly totally different from understanding be taught the methodology to cease it.

  With his first playoff win and his employees’s security collaborating in effectively, Jackson must lastly have the potential to loosen up out. That must terrify opponents, on account of Jackson, who rushed for 136 yards on Sunday and 143 in remaining yr’s playoff loss to Tennessee, already owns two of the extreme three playoff dashing performances by a quarterback in N.F.L. historic earlier.

The Dearly Departed

This weekend, we talked about goodbye to the following groups. Each employees has elements it must attend for and elements it must work on heading into subsequent season.

The Seattle Seahawks

12-Four | N.F.C. West champions

In the first half of the season, the Seahawks appeared to have a Super Bowl-quality offense and a high-school-level security. While Seattle ironed out a substantial amount of its defensive woes, it was Russell Wilson and the employees’s offense that regarded overwhelmed on Saturday — that occurs barely heaps in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams’ underrated security. Where does that go away the Seahawks? They must pay money for upgrades on the offensive line to guard Wilson and may presumably return and check out the tape of the early-season video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video video games by which they appeared comparatively further aggressive with their passing sport.

The Tennessee Titans

11-5 | A.F.C. South champions

Derrick Henry had an incredible season, rushing for 2,027 yards and becoming the first player to repeat as the N.F.L.’s rushing champion in more than a decade. A blend of his running and Ryan Tannehill’s passing led the Titans to the fourth-most points in the N.F.L. While many will focus on Henry’s disappointing effort in Sunday’s loss, Tennessee’s biggest issue this season was its defense. The easiest way to support Henry and Tannehill is to not make it imperative that they score on every drive.

What a weird season. Chicago got off to a superficially strong start, was badly exposed by a midseason losing streak, rallied to make the playoffs and then was overwhelmed by the New Orleans Saints. A No. 7 seed being crushed by a No. 2 seed isn’t exactly an endorsement of the expanded playoff structure, but the Bears could probably be a relevant team fairly quickly provided that they admit Mitchell Trubisky is not their long-term answer at quarterback.

Laugh all you want about the team’s record — Washington matched the 2010 Seattle Seahawks for the worst record of a playoff team in the 16-game era — but the Footballers are walking away with their heads held high and their future looking bright. The rookie defensive end Chase Young is a top-shelf disrupter and poised to lead his unit into relevance for years. On offense, the team has found its answers at running back (Antonio Gibson) and wide receiver (Terry McLaurin). And after a gutsy performance against Tampa Bay, where he impressed with his arm and his legs, Taylor Heinicke should get some serious consideration as the team’s quarterback of the future.