Wild-card weekend is in the books, and it wasn’t without its wild moments. The first game on the slate—one many had pegged as a dud—ended up being a thriller as Marcus Mariota led the Tennessee Titans to a come-from-behind road victory over the Chiefs, sparking murmurs that this could be the finale for the Reid-Smith era in Kansas City. Saturday also saw the end of the resurgent Rams’ season as a pair of special teams fumbles doomed Los Angeles against the Falcons, who get the Nick Foles–led Eagles next week and suddenly seem primed for another deep postseason run. Sunday’s schedule kicked off with the Bills needing another miracle to beat the Jaguars and their stellar defense. Alas, Buffalo’s prayers were instead met with a game-sealing Nathan Peterman interception—which, if you’ve been following the plot, feels like the way this Bills season was always destined to end. And despite a late Carolina rally, the Saints dispatched the Panthers for a third time this season, setting up a showdown with the Vikings next week.
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Everything You Need to Know About Wild-Card Weekend 2017
Marcus Mariota leads a miracle comeback, while Nathan Peterman does not
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January 9, 2018
Wild-Card Weekend Was, in Fact, Wild
Robert Mays and Kevin Clark recap the twists and turns of wild-card weekend
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January 8, 2018
NFL Wild-Card Round Recap: It’s Time to Take Atlanta’s Super Bowl Dreams Seriously Again
So what if Atlanta has been maddeningly inconsistent all season? After eliminating the Rams, Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Co. suddenly find themselves in enviable playoff position.
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January 7, 2018
Vintage Drew Brees Beat the Panthers, but the Saints’ Run Game Was Noticeably Absent
New Orleans still has a prolific passing attack, but they’ll need Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram to beat the Vikings
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January 7, 2018
The Winners and Losers From NFL Wild-Card Weekend
Marcus Mariota both won and lost, Blake Bortles saved a game with his legs, and New Orleans looked like the Saints teams of old
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January 7, 2018
A Huge Hit on Cam Newton Put the NFL’s Concussion Protocol Under Scrutiny Again
The Panthers lost to the Saints on wild-card weekend, but Newton’s health and the league’s ability to assess it dominated discussion after the game
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January 7, 2018
The Jacksonville Defense Won Against the Bills, and Blake Bortles Didn’t Lose
But the Jaguars will need more from their quarterback to have a chance of advancing again
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January 7, 2018
What Do We Do With Andy Reid’s Legacy?
The offensive mastermind is one of the most successful regular-season coaches in NFL history, but his Chiefs’ 22-21 collapse against the Titans is another entry in his long list of playoff failures. Is Reid running out of time to shake his label as a postseason choker?
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January 7, 2018
The Falcons Burned the Game Clock and Exhausted the Rams
By keeping Los Angeles off the field, Atlanta was able to neutralize the Rams offense and walk away with an upset
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January 6, 2018
The Titans Did Just Enough to Put Away the Chiefs
After a sloppy first half, Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry saved Tennessee in the second
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January 6, 2018
Marcus Mariota Just Threw a Touchdown Pass to … Marcus Mariota
The quarterback completed a pass to himself in one of the weirdest—and coolest—plays in recent playoff memory
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January 5, 2018
Wild-Card Weekend May Not Be That Wild
Robert Mays and Kevin Clark get you set for the opening round of the NFL playoffs
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January 5, 2018
Bills Fans Finally Got Their Own Miracle
After nearly two decades of disappointment, Buffalo is back in the playoffs. For the faithful, that’s all that matters.
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January 5, 2018
The Playoff Gambling Manifesto 5.0
It’s been more than a decade since the most trustworthy gambler’s guide has been updated. But this weekend’s slate of playoff games demands a new batch of rules to gamble by. Plus: picks for all four games.
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January 5, 2018
NFL Wild-Card Best Bets With Cousin Sal
Find out who Sal will be loading up on this weekend
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January 5, 2018
The Eight Stats That Matter in the Wild-Card Round
The one number you need to know for each team playing this weekend
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January 5, 2018
This Is the ______ Playoffs: Predicting the Players, Ideas, and Themes That Will Define This NFL Postseason
These six individuals and concepts could play a big role over the next month
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January 4, 2018
The Cam Newton Conundrum
Is the Panthers’ star QB a one-man show limited by a mediocre supporting cast? Or is he holding Carolina back entering its wild-card-round matchup with the Saints?
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January 4, 2018
To Stop Todd Gurley and the Rams, the Falcons’ Defense Needs New Stars to Emerge
Edge rushers will be critical in Atlanta’s containment of L.A.’s rushing attack, but it’s the unheralded defenders who can make a real impact
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January 4, 2018
The Most Unstoppable Player in Football Is About to Make His Playoff Debut
Aaron Donald has long been a matchup nightmare for opponents. Scarier yet? He’s never been better than he has for a Rams team that’s peaking at the perfect time.
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January 4, 2018
Introducing Cousin Sal’s Special NFL Playoff Gambling Game
Plus: Previewing wild-card weekend and the college national championship game
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January 3, 2018
‘Slow NFL News Day’: Wild-Card Weekend With Special Guest Micah Peters
Kevin contemplates recent, terrible NFL coaching decisions and Saints fan Micah Peters joins to discuss Alvin Kamara’s gold fronts and Master P
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January 3, 2018
Blake Bortles Doesn’t Care About Your Blake Bortles Jokes
In fact, he might be the only person in Jacksonville who doesn’t
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January 3, 2018
Don’t Sleep on Michael Thomas and the Saints’ Passing Offense
The New Orleans wideout is one of the best Drew Brees has ever worked with—even if the team doesn’t throw the ball all over the yard anymore
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January 2, 2018
Welcome to the Two Most Fun Weeks on the NFL Calendar
The postseason is upon us. Kevin and Robert give their playoff predictions and decide who the Super Bowl champion would be if every team’s quarterback was Blake Bortles.