NFL playoff outcomes: Mike Tomlin and Justin Herbert struggle on wild-card Saturday
The Saturday games on the NFL wild-card roster often feel like the league’s less exciting playoff matchups, and this year’s slate did little to change that perception.
The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers combined for seven turnovers in a game filled with errors, while the Baltimore Ravens maintained a comfortable lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both higher-seeded teams advanced after a rather dull day on the field.
However, there were important implications for the playoffs and the upcoming offseason. Here’s who came out ahead and who fell short on Saturday:
Winners
Derrick Henry
Nearly five years ago, Henry bulldozed the top-seeded Ravens with 195 rushing yards in the Titans’ impressive 28-12 victory. This time, while he didn’t break his playoff personal best, he certainly pleased Baltimore fans. He rushed for 186 yards on 26 carries, with a crucial 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter helping to solidify the team’s lead. Meanwhile, Tennessee is gearing up for a rebuild with the top pick in the NFL draft.
Nico Collins
It took some time for him to be included in the game plan, but Collins became a key player for C.J. Stroud in turning around the Texans’ offense. He finished with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, which ignited a stretch of 23 unanswered points for Houston. Despite injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell impacting the Texans’ passing game, Collins established himself as a reliable WR1, as no other receiver on the team recorded more than 34 receiving yards.
Todd Monken
The Ravens’ offensive coordinator doesn’t have to worry anymore about whether he downplayed the running game early in the season following last year’s AFC championship defeat, despite a confusing three-and-out where the team opted to pass in the third quarter. The Ravens managed a franchise playoff record with 299 rushing yards on 50 carries, including 11 carries by Lamar Jackson in the first half. While they missed some chances after halftime, Monken still positioned the offense for success, showcasing his skills just as he draws interest from the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders for head coaching roles.
Steve Spagnuolo
Although playoff matchups remain to be decided, Saturday’s outcomes set up the possibility of a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans, unless the Denver Broncos pull off an upset against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Just a few weeks ago, Chris Jones had a field day against the Texans’ struggling offensive line, recording four quarterback hits. In response, Texans’ offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik kept calling ineffective wide receiver screens. It was a nice wrap-up to the week for Spagnuolo, who received interview requests from the Jaguars, Raiders, and New York Jets during the bye week for the top-seeded AFC team.
Will Anderson Jr.
Even after securing the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year title, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft still doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves. Anderson’s performance on Saturday, which included 1½ sacks, two pass deflections, and three quarterback hits, may help change that. With the current top contenders overshadowing him for some time, Anderson could emerge as a dark horse candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season.
Derek Stingley Jr.
The recognition keeps rolling in for the Texans’ stars. Just two days after making the All-Pro team for the first time, Stingley made a splash with two interceptions, a forced fumble, and five passes defended against Justin Herbert. After being in the shadows of 2022 draft mate Sauce Gardner early in his career, Stingley has emerged as one of the elite cornerbacks in the league and a crucial piece of what could be the best young secondary.
Losers
Mike Tomlin
As the longest-serving head coach in the league, Tomlin has typically embodied stability for a franchise that consistently avoids turmoil. Although much of the blame can be placed on GM Omar Khan for the flawed roster, the aftermath of a four-game losing streak to conclude the regular season and this latest poor performance raises significant questions. The Steelers were subjected to a humiliating defeat that contradicted Tomlin’s vision of a dominant run game supported by a strong, opportunistic defense. With the team having lost its last six playoff games and failing to make the divisional round since 2017, Pittsburgh heads into the offseason filled with uncertainty regarding the quarterback position and overall defensive strategy. While Tomlin often declares that “the standard is the standard,” managing nine or more wins in the regular season followed by an early postseason exit will likely lead to conversations about potential drastic changes.
Justin Herbert
Whether it was Anderson’s unblocked sack, the frequent mistakes from the receiving corps, or the questionable calls from offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Los Angeles team struggled.
Chargers’ Receiving Corps
Ladd McConkey set a record for rookies by achieving 197 receiving yards in a playoff game with nine catches. However, the receiving corps, which faced skepticism before the season, played a crucial role in the team’s disappointing end. Will Dissly’s dropped pass in the fourth quarter fell into Stingley’s hands, and Quentin Johnston failed to catch a fourth-and-1 pass, running his route short. With Joshua Palmer, who was inactive due to a foot injury, about to enter free agency, many questions loom over this group (aside from McConkey) as the next season approaches.
Steelers Defense
While Russell Wilson and George Pickens received significant criticism, the Steelers defense also failed to live up to expectations. Just three weeks earlier, Pittsburgh allowed Henry to rack up 162 yards on 24 carries as Baltimore gained a whopping 220 rushing yards. It should have been the low point, but the team then allowed a franchise postseason record of 299 rushing yards, marking an even lower moment. The Steelers’ defenders appeared to struggle through the end of the season, failing on basic tasks. Considering Pittsburgh invested more cap space in its defense than any other team for 2024, the results are even more disappointing.
Jim Harbaugh
For a brief moment on Saturday, Jim Harbaugh seemed to be in a favorable position, as things initially went well for the Chargers, who faced a Texans team that struggled to gain momentum or seemed to be giving away the ball. However, in a performance that felt atypical for Harbaugh, Los Angeles managed only 50 rushing yards on 18 attempts and scored just three points from three turnovers by Houston. Although his first season with the Chargers is still a success based on the solid foundation he established for the future, this disappointing finish will be tough for a franchise still seeking its first playoff victory since 2018.
Amazon Prime Video
Taking over from Peacock for one of the league’s exclusive streaming games, Amazon managed to avoid any major disasters like the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fiasco. However, the actual game was uninspiring and ultimately disappointing. While it may still be beneficial for Amazon’s overall profits, it’s unlikely that many viewers rushed to subscribe after the first quarter.
Buffalo Bills
Hosting a divisional matchup against Jackson and the resurgent Ravens could have been a great opportunity for a team that would also likely need to confront the two-time defending champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the AFC championship game—assuming Josh Allen and his team can overcome the Denver Broncos on Sunday. This scenario was what Sean McDermott’s squad anticipated, but the Steelers’ unexpected upset, which opened up a matchup with the Texans, would have been a much more appealing scenario.
