(7) Indianapolis Colts 24, (2) Buffalo Bills 27
The playoffs featured two teams that have won their first playoff game in over two decades, one of whom is the Bills, who have won their first since 1995.
The Colts, on the other hand, had a remarkable season that just barely missed out on a division title. The sturdy Colts’ defense was able to keep up with the Bills’ potent offense throughout most of the contest. Ultimately, however, the Bills just proved to be too much.
This might’ve been quarterback (QB) Phillip Rivers’s last game in the NFL. In this matchup, he completed 27 of 46 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for what could be his final outing.
The Colts’ backfield was solid, with running backs (RB) Jonathan Taylor (78) and Nyheim Hines (75) both combined for 153 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiever (WR) Michael Pittman led the receiving corps with 90 yards on five receptions, while tight end (TE) Jack Doyle and WR Jack Paschal both caught touchdown passes.
The Colts’ defense was led by linebacker (LB) Darius Leonard, who recorded 12 total tackles. Defensive tackle (DT) Denico Autry (1.5 sacks) and defensive end (DE) Justin Houston (0.5 sacks) both managed to get a hand on Bills QB’ Josh Allen.
Allen also had a solid game, completing an impressive 26 of 35 pass attempts (61%) 324 yards and two touchdowns. Allen was also the team’s leading rusher with 54 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions.
WR Stefon Diggs was electric, picking up 128 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Diggs averaged 21.3 yards per reception to boot. TE Dawson Knox also caught a touchdown pass.
LB Matt Milano led the defense with 11 total tackles, however, the Bills weren’t able to sack or intercept Rivers.
The Bills’ offense carried Buffalo past the Colts in all honesty. Though the Bills’ defense isn’t bad by any means, they definitely took a step back from last season. They’re going to need their defense to make some plays when they take on the Ravens next week.
The Colts’ season has now come to a close, but they gave the Bills a hell of a game. With the way things are going in the AFC South right now, if the Titans don’t improve their defense, they might have a cakewalk to a division crown in 2021.
Colts’ biggest offseason need: QB (if Rivers retires)
(5) Baltimore Ravens 20, (4) Tennessee Titans 13
It became even more obvious that the Titans have become overly reliant on RB Derrick Henry. Henry’s lack of production exposed the Titans’ offense, as Tannehill and his weapons weren’t enough to defeat a stout Ravens’ defense. QB Lamar Jackson proceeded to smoke Tennessee’s awful defense, resulting in a game that was weirdly very close to the very end.
For the Ravens, Jackson completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 179 yards and an interception. What Jackson lacked in passing he made up for in running, as he routinely blew past Titans’ defenders for 136 yards and a rushing touchdown.
WR Marquise Brown had a field day, posting 109 yards on seven receptions. LB Pernell McPhee led Baltimore’s defense with six total tackles. DE Derek Wolfe recorded a sack while cornerback (CB) Marcus Peters got the game-ending interception.
The Titans’s passing attack was led by QB Ryan Tannehill, who completed 18 of 26 passes for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Not the finest day for Tannehill.
Henry, the league-leading rusher, was limited to a mere 40 yards on 18 carries, averaging 2.2 yards per carry. WR A.J. Brown attempted to make up for offensive lapses with 83 yards on six receptions and a touchdown.
Defensively, LB Harold Landry had a great game with 10 total tackles and two sacks. Nose tackle (NT) DaQuan Jones, LB Brooks Reed and DE Matt Dickerson also took down Jackson behind the line of scrimmage. CB Malcolm Butler got the Titans’ only interception.
Jackson, despite the statistical down year, managed to get his first playoff win of his career. The Ravens’ defense still looks stout and able to shut down both passing and running attacks. While Baltimore can surely run the ball, their own passing attack leaves much to be desired. They’ll need to improve through the air if they want to move past Buffalo.
Tennessee just showed that if Henry has a down game, then they’re in for trouble. Tannehill reminds me of how Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield is used – on the bootleg as a second-option to the run game. The problem here is that the Titans’ really only have one good QB while the Browns’ have a dynamic duo of RBs in Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb. Tennessee relies too much on power running, and when that doesn’t work, then the Titans will struggle.
Titans’ biggest offseason need: defense (especially pass rush)
(6) Cleveland Browns 48, (3) Pittsburgh Steelers 37
The unthinkable happened – the Browns’ not only made the playoffs but even got the better of their bitter rival in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers’ abysmal first quarter, in conjunction with four interceptions, doomed Pittsburgh by putting them in an early 28-0 hole. It seemed at times that Cleveland would choke the game away with their offense going cold at points, but they managed to pull through and gain some respectability for Cleveland.
Mayfeild had a solid outing for the Browns, completing 21 of 34 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns while refraining from any turnovers. The backfield duo of Chubb (76 yards) and Hunt (48 yards, two rushing touchdowns) also had a strong showing.
Cleveland’s receiving corps was commanded by WR Jarvis Landry, who picked up 92 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Chubb was also integral in the passing attack with 69 yards and a receiving touchdown on four receptions.
CB M.J. Stewart recorded nine tackles to led all defenders in addition to an interception. Safety Sheldrick Redwine, LB Sione Takitaki and DE Porter Gustin also recorded interceptions.
Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger had the most interesting statistics of anybody in this matchup. Roethlisberger completed 47 of 68 passes for an absurd 501 yards. While he did throw four touchdowns, Big Ben threw an equal number of interceptions that contributed in the Browns going up early.
Pittsburgh’s ground game was flat once again, as RB James Conner led all rushers with 37 yards on 11 carries, though he did have a touchdown. Ironically, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had that infamous “the Browns is the Browns” quote prior to the game, led all receivers with 157 yards and a touchdown. TE Eric Ebron (1) and WR Chase Claypool (2) also had touchdown catches.
Pittsburgh’s defense was led by LB Robert Spillane, who recorded nine total tackles. Outside of that, Pittsburgh’s normally fantastic defense was held ineffective and burned all night long. The Steelers, in addition to almost giving up 50 points, failed to record a sack or interception. Star pass rushers like LB T.J. Watt (three tackles), DT Cameron Heyward (one tackle) and DE Stephon Tuitt (six tackles) were held in check by a battered Browns’ offensive line.
The Browns’ have a monumentally tough matchup next week against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are the obvious heavy favorite and I have no doubt that they will torch Cleveland’s defense. However, the Browns do have an offense that can potentially keep up with KC. All things considered, however, its been a great year for Cleveland after not only a winning season (first since 2007) and getting into the playoffs (first time since 2002), but also winning a playoff game (first time since 1995) is an incredible achievement. Hopefully, the Browns can keep building a winning culture over in Cleveland.
The Steelers face an interesting offseason in 2021, with many players becoming free agents and the possibility of Big Ben retiring. Pittsburgh might look very different next season, and may have to start playing for third-place in the AFC North behind Baltimore and Cleveland for the next couple of years depending on how things go. So much for 11-0, huh?
Steelers’ biggest offseason need: offensive coordinator/RB
AFC Divisional Round (bold indicates my picks):
(5) Baltimore Ravens @ (2) Buffalo Bills
(6) Cleveland Browns @ (1) Kansas City Chiefs
