NFL Playoffs are Set After a Wild Week 18
Ok, you can take a breath now (especially if you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan).
Steelers fans watching the Raiders kick the field goal pic.twitter.com/7ARzSCq8Ib
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 10, 2022
The NFL struck gold on Sunday with a Week 18 that will be remembered as one of the wildest weekends of football in history.Ā It all started with the Indianapolis Colts no-show against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts just needed to win to get into the playoffs, however their 26-11 loss to the Jags opened the door to total playoff chaos.
In Baltimore, Ben Roethlisberger carried the Steelers on his 39-year old shoulders to a thrilling 16-13 overtime win. The game also featured defensive end T.J. Watt tying Giants legend Michael Strahan’s single season sack record of 22.5 sacks.
Over in the NFC, things got really interesting out west. For the longest time the LA Rams were out in front of the San Francisco 49ers 17-3 at the half, while the Arizona Cardinals were in a tug of war with the Seattle Seahawks. All the Rams needed was a win to clinch the West. The Cardinals needed a win and a Rams loss to take the West title.
At the same time, the 49ers were scoreboard watching. They needed either a win against Rams, or a Saints loss to Atlanta to get into the playoffs. Well, the Saints were blowing out the Falcons, so San Francisco had to do it the hard way. Behind a spirited effort by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers stormed back to force overtime and beat the Rams 27-24. The 49ers clinched a playoff berth.
At the same time, the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks 38-30, meaning the Rams won the Western Division title anyway. The Cardinals and 49ers are both wild cards.
The creme de la creme, of course, was the Sunday night thriller between the Las Vegas Raiders LA Chargers. The Raiders held a 29-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter before the Chargers stormed back to tie the game as regulation expired.
This was huge. Had the Chargers and Raiders finished in a 29-all tie, then both teams would have made the playoffs, and the Steelers, despite their best efforts earlier in the day, would be out. So Steelers fans were certainly on the edge of their seats.
#Steelers fans watching the #LACvsLV game right nowšš¤¦āāļø pic.twitter.com/iAjXwwjp5z
— Michelle_in_KC (@MahomesMichelle) January 10, 2022
Of course the drama only ratcheted up in OT as both the Chargers and Raiders exchanged field goals.Ā With the score tied at 32, many wondered if the Raiders would kneel on the ball and take the tie. Then Chargers head coach Brandon Staley called a time out with 0:38 left.
https://twitter.com/NFL_Memes/status/1480409706095120385?s=20
Instead of kneeling and letting both teams into the postseason, the Raiders did the old school way, and won their way in.
RAIDERS ARE PLAYOFF BOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 5 YEARSā¼ļø
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2022
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/2qKdkkqYFb
Perhaps Kenny Albert’s Tweet best sums it up. Had the Raiders accepted the tie, they would have had to travel to Kansas City next week. By winning, they draw a slightly more favorable match-up with the Cincinnati Bengals.
What an unbelievable finish to the NFL season! Key question - did potential playoff opponents play a part in Rich Bisacciaās decision to kick FG? Raiders wouldāve gone to KC next week if game finished in a tie. Now Raiders head to Cincy. Sports remains the best reality TV!
— Kenny Albert (@KennyAlbert) January 10, 2022
The NFL Playoff picture is as follows:
Let the madness begin pic.twitter.com/5OX7qUmgsy
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 10, 2022
And the zaniness will only continue with Super Wild Card Weekend. The Raiders will visit the Bengals on Saturday at 4:30 on NBC. That will be followed by the Patriots and BillsĀ at 8:30 on CBS. Sunday will feature three games: Eagles at Buccaneers at 1 p.m. on FOX; 49ers at Cowboys at 4:30 on CBS, and Steelers at Chiefs at 8:25 on NBC. For the first time ever there will be a Monday Night Football playoff game featuring the Cardinals and Rams.