It would not seem like the primary day of the NFL postseason will present many fireworks. Trailing by some extent at halftime, the San Francisco 49ers ran off the Seattle Seahawks after a break for a convincing win. Subsequent up for the 49ers is a visit to the divisional spherical, with the opponent but to be decided New York Giants And Minnesota Vikings Squared on Sunday.
Nevertheless, the nightcaps proved to be insane. The Chargers cruised to a 27-0 lead on Jaguar, just for Jacksonville to show up an incredible rally to safe a 31–30 win, the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason historical past. Jacksonville will study if it performs a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs On the conclusion of Sunday’s matches (the opposite two AFC matches have but to be performed).
With Saturday’s wild card video games within the rear view, this is what we discovered from each contests and the way that can carry over into the divisional spherical and subsequent season.
Lawrence was traditionally abysmal within the first 28 minutes of his playoff debut, throwing three interceptions within the first quarter and turning into the primary participant with greater than three interceptions in a playoff quarter since Carson Palmer had three interceptions within the fourth quarter in 2015. Championship Recreation NFC vs Carolina Panthers. He threw an interception in his first playoff try, the primary participant to take action since Aaron Rodgers in 2009.
Lawrence had 5 of 18 passes for 35 yards with no touchdowns and 4 interceptions whereas the Jaguars trailed, 27-0, with two minutes left within the first half (his passer ranking was 0.0). As soon as that two-minute mark was reached, Lawrence turned a nook.
Lawrence went 23 of 29 for 253 yards with 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 142.9 passer ranking because the Jaguars outgained the Chargers, 31-3, within the last 32 minutes. Jacksonville scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive possessions—all through Lawrence landing passes—earlier than Lawrence led the Jaguars to the game-winning area aim with no time left on the clock.
The Jaguars do not win this recreation with out Lawrence taking part in like a prime 5 quarterback, and he is proven he can take over the sport within the best adversity attainable.
The Chargers’ incapability to run the ball causes them to crash
The anatomy of a comeback goes two methods, particularly when a staff that had a 27-point lead noticed it evaporate right into a loss. In reality, the Chargers had a 75% operating again proportion after constructing a 27-0 lead, 70% increased than the Jaguars. Which staff with 27 factors leads once more?
Los Angeles had simply 19 yards after constructing a 27-0 lead, and rushed seven instances for 20 yards (2.5 yards per carry) within the second half—and 13 of that got here on a run by Justin Herbert. Austin Eckler had 5 yards for zero yards within the second half and 6 complete touches for 4 yards.
Brandon Staley’s throwing staff is difficult to defend as effectively, however the Chargers offense acquired nothing from the operating recreation after main 27-0. Put these two collectively, and you’ve got one of many worst recreation losses in NFL historical past.
Doug Pederson’s aggressiveness nonetheless paid off
The man who as soon as known as him the “Philly Particular” on the Tremendous Bowl was as much as his previous methods once more. Pederson went for 2 because the Jaguars had been inside placing distance of the Chargers, slicing the rating to 30-20 within the third quarter. The Jaguars did not get the conversion on Lawrence’s go, however that did not cease their coach from being aggressive.
On the Jaguars’ subsequent landing, Pederson determined to go for 2 once more quite than kick the additional level and make it 30-27. Because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Joey Bosa, Pederson snuck Lawrence from the one-yard line to chop the result in 30-28.
Jacksonville then pressured a three-out to win the ball again, and after driving into Chargers territory within the last minutes, Pederson had one other trick up his sleeve. On fourth-and-one from the 41-yard line with 1:27 left and the sport on the road, Pederson stuffed Travis Etienne right into a T-formation and gave his finest return. Etienne gained 25 yards and arrange Riley Patterson for the game-winning kick with no time left.
The Jaguars are in good arms with Pederson, as his aggressiveness in video games is the explanation he had a 5-2 postseason report within the first place.
Brock Purdy had a historic first playoff recreation regardless of a gradual begin
Purdy regarded just like the final participant taken within the NFL draft within the first half of the primary playoff recreation of his profession (and the primary recreation in opposition to a staff he truly confronted). The seventh spherical rookie was simply 9 of 19 for 147 yards within the first half with a landing and a 91.3 passer ranking, lacking throws to a number of receivers and operating away with interceptions like 49ers trailed 17-16 on the half.
Then got here the second half, as Purdy went 9 of 11 for 183 yards with two passing touchdowns and an ideal 158.3 ranking. Purdy additionally added a speeding landing because the 49ers scored 25 unanswered factors in opposition to Seahawks for victory.
Purdy completed with 332 passing yards, three speeding touchdowns, and a speeding landing. He surpassed Dan Marino because the youngest quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period with three touchdowns in a playoff recreation and was the bottom quarterback since Tom Brady to win his first profession begin. Purdy is the youngest quarterback (23) with 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and no interceptions in a playoff recreation.
The 49ers’ quarterback turned issues round within the second half – And made historical past within the course of.
Kyle Shanahan and the 49 Expertise gamers deserve recognition
Shanahan is the architect behind Birdie’s historic begin with the 49ers, which was evident all through Saturday’s victory. When Purdy struggled early, Shanahan used runs with Christian McCaffrey (15 carries, 119 yards) and Deebo Samuel (three carries, 32 yards) to arrange the play. Purdy went 8 of 13 for 172 yards, three touchdowns and no interception play, and completed with a ranking of 145.0.
All of Purdy’s landing passes had been thrown out of the pocket, and its 49 go catchers averaged 10.3 yards after the catch—fourth highest in a recreation since YAC first tracked in 2006. Purdy was additionally 9-of-10 for 179 yards and three touchdowns when a receiver is separated by 5 yards, Scheme’s width had rather a lot to do along with his spectacular efficiency.
Purdy was solely 9 of 20 for 153 yards and a passer ranking of 71.5 when his targets did not get 5 yards of separation. That is one thing to look at because the 49ers get deeper into the playoffs.
The Seahawks offensive line confirmed its youth
Seattle has had Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas begin collectively in 16 of their 17 common season video games, but the rookie tackles struggled in opposition to the 49ers on the defensive entrance once more. Lucas allowed a sack and was hit with 4.9% of his pass-blocking pictures, together with Charles Omeniho’s sack on Gino Smith that was the turning level of the sport.
Cross allowed three pressures and went up in opposition to Nick Bosa for a lot of the night time. Bosa acquired the preliminary stress on Smith which pressured him to step up into the pocket and arrange Omenihu for the pressured fumble (Bosa acquired a heal). Bossa had 5 tackles a recreation and was discovering the ball even when he wasn’t taking part in quarterback.
Kroos and Lucas needed to play a near-perfect recreation for the Seahawks to have an opportunity. It has been strong, however they each have loads of room to develop over the subsequent few years. The within of the offensive line – veterans Gabe Jackson and Austin Blythe – no registered freshman has been on supply to deal with any serve with all of the stress coming by means of the A and B gaps.