An expanded wildcard weekend in the NFL saw 12 teams do battle accros six games for the first time, with eight teams now left standing in the pursuit of Super Bowl LV after the events of Super Wildcard weekend.
Here's how Wildcard weekend played out and what it means for the Divisional round next weekend.
Sundays games
Buffalo 27-24 Indianapolis
Buffalo secured its first playoff victory in 25 years in a close-fought game that went right down to a Colts hail mary on the final play.
Third-year quarterback Josh Allen was terrific for the Bills, throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns, while the loss for Indianapolis means the Colts will now face some big decisions at quarterback this offseason with 39-year old Phillip Rivers out of contract.
Los Angeles Rams 30-20 Seattle
One of two big upset wins on wildcard weekend, the Rams went into Seattle and beat their divisional foes who had their number only two weeks ago.
The Rams defense was incredible, suffocating Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson from the outset, although a rib injury to star defensive tackle Aaron Donald will be worth monitoring during the week, as will the status of quarterback Jarrod Goff, who had to enter the game despite having surgery to repair a broken thumb only a week ago.
An offseason of contemplation begins for Seattle after another disappointing end to their season.
Tampa Bay 31-23 Washington
New city, new colours, same playoff results for the great Tom Brady.
The Bucs were tested by the Football Team more so than people thought with the exceptional play of debutante Taylor Heinicke.
The Bucs will have to play much better with a division showdown against rivals New Orleans on the horizon.
Mondays games
Baltimore 20-13 Tennessee
Baltimore exacted some revenge on the Titans who ended Baltimore’s dream season in the divisional round last year.
The Ravens defense completely shut down Titans running back Derrick Henry, keeping him to just 40 rushing yards on 18 attempts, while reigning MVP Lamar Jackson put his playoff troubles to bed, dominating on the ground with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown.
New Orleans 21-9 Chicago
The Saints took a long time to distance themselves from Chicago in a game that saw two quality defences going at it.
The Saints defense in particular squashed Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky and Chicago’s offense, with Chicago’s only touchdown coming on the final play of the game.
Drew Brees’ career rolls on for at least another week.
Cleveland 48-37 Pittsburgh
A stunning win from the Browns who returned to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years breathing fire.
Cleveland piled on 28 points in an opening quarter that propelled the long downtrodden franchise to its most memorable win in a generation and left Pittsburgh and neutral NFL fans around the world shell shocked.
A date with the all-conquering Kansas City Chiefs awaits in the divisional round.
Divisional Round
Sunday January 17
Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay
The Rams will take their number one ranked defense – and hopefully Aaron Donald – to Lambeau Field to take on a Green Bay team that will be looking to advance to the first home NFC championship game of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career.
Baltimore @ Buffalo
A mouth watering matchup between two first-round quarterbacks from the 2018 NFL draft in Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson.
A battle between two of the hottest teams in football right now, but only one will advance to championship Sunday.
Monday January 18
Cleveland @ Kansas City
The feel-good story Browns will travel to Arrowhead stadium to try knock off the reigning champion Chiefs, who haven’t won a game by more than one score since a 35-9 victory over the New York Jets in week eight.
This is the biggest Cleveland Browns game of the twenty-first century so far.
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
The Bucs and Saints meet for the third time this year in what will in all likelihood be the final matchup between future hall of famers Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
New Orleans won both bouts between the two this season: 34-23 in week one and 38-3 in week 9.