Harrison York | Editor-in-Chief
January 28, 2022
The 2022 Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs shocked fans with a series of exhilarating games in the buildup to Super Bowl LVI. On Saturday and Sunday, the four games drew record numbers of viewers, capping at 52 million during the battle between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. This marked an increase of over 20% compared to the equivalent playoff game last year. Here are the events that defined the memorable weekend.
Bengals at Titans
The intense matchup of the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans kicked off the weekend. Quarterback Joe Burrow led the Bengals with his resilience—recovering from nine sacks delivered by the Titans defense to secure a 19-16 win. Another key player in the victory was rookie Evan McPherson, who has kicked eight field goals out of eight attempts in the Bengals’ two playoff games so far. McPherson starred on Saturday, making a 52-yard field goal as the clock ran out. This would start a pattern of clutch plays over the weekend. The Bengals will go on to face the Chiefs in the January 30 conference championship game.
“It’s going to be great to see the Bengals play the Chiefs,” senior Chase Geyer said. “I want the Bengals in the Super Bowl, so hopefully, they can gear up to win next weekend.”
49ers at Packers
On Saturday night, the San Francisco 49ers traveled to a snowy Green Bay to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Despite an undefeated 8-0 record at home during the regular season, the Packers were beaten out near the end of the fourth quarter with mistakes made by their special teams. Like the Bengals win, the 49ers pulled ahead with a field goal while time ran out. Kicker Robbie Gould clutched with a 45-yard attempt to set the final score of 13-10, continuing his perfect streak of 20 successful playoff field goals. The Packers entered the playoffs seeded number one in the NFC, but the upset brought their run to an unexpected end. For Rodgers, the loss was his fourth against the 49ers in the postseason and has left his future with the Packers uncertain. It is no secret that the relationship between Rodgers and Green Bay management has been tense, and this loss only worsens the situation.
Rams at Buccaneers
In Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams faced off for a spot at the NFC Championship game. What appeared to be a blowout in the third quarter — the Rams led 27-3 — gradually turned into a competitive game as the Bucs scored 24 points in classic Tom Brady fashion. The scene reminded fans of the infamous 28-3 event of Super Bowl LI, in which the Falcons let a ring slip through their fingers against Brady and the New England Patriots.
Tied with 27 points each and less than a minute on the clock, however, LA quarterback Matthew Stafford was able to lead a drive into field goal range. For the third time over the weekend, the game was decided with a field goal, this one sending Stafford to his first conference championship. Both teams will be returning home—but the Rams will be welcomed back to LA as hosts of the conference championship against the 49ers this weekend.
“I predict that the Rams and Chiefs make it to the Super Bowl,” senior Cooper Allen stated after the upset, “and that the Rams take it all. Their offense looked strong, and Stafford was doing a great job of moving the ball down the field. (stylerecap.com) Go Rams!”
Bills at Chiefs
Even after the heart-thumping conclusions to the three prior games, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs managed to put on a thriller to conclude the round. Both offenses were firing throughout the game, answering each other’s touchdowns as quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen demonstrated their abilities. Both QBs threw for over 300 yards and managed to avoid any interceptions. Wide receiver Gabriel Davis stunned viewers with four touchdown receptions after going through the season with limited play time. In the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the teams scored a combined 25 points and sent the game into overtime.
After winning the coin toss, the Chiefs managed to score another touchdown and ended the game, but not without reopening the debate about the NFL’s overtime rules. To have such a close matchup, where both teams are actively finding the end zone, be decided by a coin toss is ridiculous for many fans, players, and coaches.
“I thought the ending to the Bills-Chiefs game was unfair,” Geyer commented in the aftermath. “Both offenses should be given the chance to score in overtime. If the Bills had the opportunity, the game would have had an ending more fitting of the effort of both teams throughout the game.”
Still, the game was an impressive climax to an eventful round in the playoffs, and the Chiefs hope to earn a shot at the Super Bowl during the AFC Championship.
The divisional round saw upsets, the ends of the veteran seasons of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, and the kinds of games that fans crave. “I would say it was one of the best playoff weekends ever,” Allen concluded. “They showed the work that each team has been putting in during the season. I just hope that the conference championships and the Super Bowl can bring the same excitement.”
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