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Doink! We’re covering a busy wild-card weekend, plus your second-round schedule and coaching-carousel updates. Also, ahead of tonight’s game: the Los Angeles Rams’ difficult timeline.
Wild-card review: Eye-catching stats
Before we look ahead to the second round, a handful of firsts put some wild in the mostly lopsided wild-card weekend. Here are a few of the most surprising:
1. First self-help reader on the sidelines? Eagles WR A.J. Brown, spotted by FOX cameras reading a book called “Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life.” Brown — who finished with one reception for 10 yards — later shared some highlighted paragraphs. NFL fans flocked to order the previously obscure book, posting reviews as the 2020 publication became the overnight No. 1 seller on Amazon’s main chart.
My personal favorite:
Credit Philly’s 22-10 win over the Packers is largely due to Vic Fangio’s suffocating defense.
2. First rookie duo to combine for a touchdown in the playoffs: Broncos QB Bo Nix and WR Troy Franklin, on the below bomb. Despite that promising start, Buffalo’s defense stifled Nix — he completed just 59.1 percent of his passes for 144 yards in the 31-7 loss.
- Technically, one rookie duo had already completed this playoff feat. In 2011, Bengals QB Andy Dalton threw a pick-six to Texans DE JJ Watt. 😉
“THE BRONCOS STRIKE EARLY” – Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/3GUBueC3aD
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 12, 2025
3. Washington’s first playoff win since 2005, an upset which most Scoop City readers predicted last week. Reader Chris called it perfectly: “Expect Jayden Daniels to do it again in the fourth quarter.” Late in the Commanders’ 23-20 thriller against the Buccaneers, the rookie did exactly that.
4. First QB to throw more INTs in one playoff game than he’d just thrown in a full regular season: Justin Herbert, whom the Texans picked off four times (one more than his 17-game total) as home underdogs in Saturday’s 32-12 upset. Daniel Popper has more on the worst game of Herbert’s career.
5. Baltimore dominated the first half (hey, that includes the word “first,” so it counts) during Saturday’s 28-14 win over the Steelers, with Pittsburgh recording just two first downs and 59 yards before halftime. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson scored a touchdown on his first drive, a first in his playoff career. The Ravens look like they can beat anybody, while Pittsburgh is questioning Mike Tomlin’s future.
The wildest first, non-book edition: Bills WR Mack Hollins became likely the first player to arrive dressed as a Flinstone, bare-footed despite Buffalo temperatures right around freezing. He later had one of the weekend’s biggest hits in punt coverage.
“Yabba-Dabba-Doo. Have a great day”
-Mack Hollins #BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/y6fp0ewCPV
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) January 12, 2025
Divisional-round matchups
Since the winner of tonight’s game — either the No. 4 Rams or No. 5 Vikings — will be a higher seed than the Commanders (No. 6), your schedule for next weekend is almost entirely set (all times in ET):
Texans at Chiefs (-8), Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing in Kansas City, where the indoors-based Texans return for the second time in a month, having lost 27-19 in Week 16.
Commanders at Lions (-8.5), Saturday at 8 p.m. While reviewing the latest NFL playoff odds, Hannah Vanbiber noted that the post-bye Lions had opened as massive, 10-point favorites, but it’d only taken a few minutes for the line to move to 8.5. That’s the Jayden Daniels-Bobby Wagner effect.
Vikings/Rams at Eagles, Sunday at 3 p.m. Regardless of the Eagles’ opponent, they need more from their offense after Jalen Hurts struggled to produce against the Packers’ impressive secondary. DeVonta Smith led Philly receivers with just 55 yards.
Ravens at Bills (-1), Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Weather will be a factor in the headlining battle of MVP candidates — temperatures could be in single digits, possibly including 15 mph winds and snow. The spread is down from an opening line of 2, meaning most of the early money came in for Baltimore, which earlier this season gave the Bills their largest loss in three years, 35-10. Buffalo is out for revenge.
We have a fuller weekend preview coming later this week. Let’s quickly shift gears to the coaching world. Over to Dianna:
What Dianna’s Hearing: Vrabel lands, cycle heats up
The Patriots will officially introduce Mike Vrabel as their head coach today, while the Bears continue their search, interviewing interim head coach Thomas Brown. There were some rumors that Brown, who finished with a 1-4 record against a tough schedule, wouldn’t get a real interview, but he’ll get a legitimate shot after all.
The Jets will continue their GM and head coach searches — after tonight’s Vikings-Rams game, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores can begin his virtual interviews. I expect the Jets, Bears and Raiders to meet with him this week.
Back to you, Jacob.
MNF Preview: How Rams navigated a tragic week
Football has been an afterthought for most Rams fans as wildfires have ravaged the Los Angeles County area. By Friday, over 153,000 residents were under evacuation orders. The New York Times has live updates here.
Throughout, Rams coaches, players and staffers had no choice but to prepare for their wild-card matchup against Minnesota in Arizona (tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN) while juggling the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 7: The Los Angeles Fire Department issues an evacuation order for the Pacific Palisades, an area 13 miles south of the Rams’ headquarters in Woodland Hills (though separated by the Santa Monica Mountains). California Governor Gavin Newson declares a state of emergency.
Wednesday: The NFL releases a statement, saying it will continue to closely monitor developments, but is preparing for the game to be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Thursday: The Athletic’s beat reporter, Jourdan Rodrigue, attended Rams practice, where she spotted an enormous cloud of new smoke.
As it grew, several players and staff ran for the parking lot. Thirty players and coaches evacuated their homes that afternoon.
Shortly after, the NFL moved tonight’s game to Arizona. Doug Haller’s story on how the Cardinals assisted is informative.
Friday: Players and coaches finished Friday’s practice in L.A. before boarding an evening flight to Arizona, aboard one of two team planes the Cardinals had sent to pick up a group of about 350 people, including staffers and family members, plus six dogs and two cats.
By Saturday afternoon, the Rams returned to practice. Only this time, it was at the Cardinals’ training facility. RB Kyren Williams told the Associated Press: “I felt like I was at peace. We didn’t really have to worry about anything except for playing ball.”
As Jourdan explains this morning, the Rams have already overcome so much this season, assisted by extra work, friendly wagers and a secret handshake. Their latest test comes as “host” to the Vikings, the first 14-win team to finish as a No. 5 seed.
For a full preview of tonight’s game, click here. Enjoy!
Last week’s most-clicked: NFL 2025 mock draft, picks 1-18: What should non-playoff teams do in Round 1?
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(Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
