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The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is wrapping up (one last game tonight!). Here’s a recap of the events that unfolded over five games:

➤ Houston Texans 32, Los Angeles Chargers 12 — C.J. Stroud has taken the Texans to the divisional playoff round for the second consecutive year. Their next challenge? A Saturday afternoon matchup against the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers had a rough outing, with quarterback Justin Herbert – who had thrown just three interceptions all season – throwing four against Houston.

• What lies ahead for the Chargers?

➤ Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14 — The Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, ran right over the Steelers for a total of 299 rushing yards (compared to only 29 yards for the Steelers). This was a powerful display by a true Super Bowl contender against a team that has seen better days, losing five straight after a promising 10-3 start.

• What’s next for the Steelers?

➤ Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7 — After an early touchdown from the Broncos, the Bills took charge and sailed to an easy win. This sets the stage for a crucial divisional playoff game against the Ravens, featuring a showdown between MVP frontrunners Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

• What’s next for the Broncos?

➤ Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10 — The struggling and mistake-prone Packers couldn’t keep up with the Eagles, who secured a victory in a rather unremarkable playoff game that likely won’t be replayed much. Jalen Hurts made a comeback for the Eagles after missing time due to a concussion on December 22, managing just enough to keep the lead against the Packers throughout the match.

• What’s on the horizon for the Packers?

➤ Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 — Quarterback Jayden Daniels continued his impressive rookie season after a thrilling late-game win in Tampa. The final winning drive culminated with a kick from Zane Gonzalez that hit the goalpost. For Washington, this marked their first playoff victory in nearly two decades.

• What’s next for the Buccaneers?

But there’s still more wild-card playoff action ahead:

➤ Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams (in Arizona), Monday 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN) — Due to devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, this playoff game will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, instead of SoFi Stadium. The Vikings, led by the seasoned QB Sam Darnold, are seeking their first playoff win since 2019, while the Rams are returning to the playoffs three years after their Super Bowl victory.

Key Highlights from Wild Card Weekend

➤ Winners and Losers: Josh Allen was impressive in the Bills’ win over the Broncos, while Jordan Love and the Packers’ aerial attack struggled against the Eagles.

➤ Eagles’ Uneventful Win Exposes Issues: Although the Eagles advance to the NFC divisional round, this isn’t a cause for celebration for a team that has a lot to improve.

➤ A.J. Brown’s Reading Moment Goes Viral: Brown might not have a Goodreads profile or belong to a book club, but FOX cameras caught the Eagles’ standout receiver enjoying some reading on the sidelines.

➤ Steel Curtain’s Downward Spiral? The Steelers, who once aimed for their seventh Super Bowl title, are now 16 years away from their last championship and appear to be falling behind teams like the Bills, Chiefs, and their division rivals, the Ravens.

➤ Packers’ Offensive Troubles are Evident: The Packers appeared to have a wealth of young offensive talent back in August, but their performance declined down the stretch, ending a season with higher aspirations than an early playoff exit.

➤ Patriots Name New Head Coach: In one of the weekend’s less shocking news items, the Patriots have appointed Mike Vrabel as their new head coach. His success may hinge on one critical factor, as pointed out by Jarrett Bell.

NFL Playoff Schedule

WILD CARD WEEKEND

Saturday

• Houston Texans 32, Los Angeles Chargers 12
• Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14

Sunday

• Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7
• Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10
• Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

Monday

• Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams (in Arizona), 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Saturday, Jan. 18

• Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)

Sunday, Jan. 19

• Los Angeles Rams or Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)
• Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday, Jan. 26

• AFC Championship Game, Time TBD (CBS)
• NFC Championship Game, Time TBD (FOX)

SUPER BOWL 59

Sunday, Feb. 9

• AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion (in New Orleans), 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

Connect with the author of this newsletter on social media @jimreineking.