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The Divisional Round was bookended by two down-to-the-wire games, and the matchups are now set for Championship Sunday with Patriots-Broncos (3:00 PM ET on CBS) and Rams-Seahawks (6:30 PM ET on FOX).
â€ïžâđ©č Divisional Round Triumph & Heartbreak
To begin what many consider the best weekend in sports, the Divisional Round matchup between the Bills and Broncos was a 33-30 overtime battle won by Denver on a field goal by K Wil Lutz. It was a back-and-forth game, and the Broncos took the lead with QB Bo Nix (279 passing yards, three TD, one INT) hitting WR Marvin Mims Jr. on a 26-yard touchdown dime to go up 30-27 with under a minute remaining in regulation. Buffalo was able to tie the game and send it to overtime, but five turnovers and controversial officiating resulting in an interception by QB Josh Allen gave Denver the ball backâwith Nix sealing the game on a broken ankle (which weâll expand upon later) as Mims drew pass interference on another deep ball to set up the Lutz winner. With the Bills coming up short in the postseason once again, a very emotional Allen put the loss on himself.
On Saturday night, the Seahawks dominated the 49ers, 41-6, to convincingly punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game. The game got started on a 95-yard kick return touchdown by WR Rashid Shaheed, and it felt like San Francisco was too overmatched in terms of talent with all the injuries theyâve endured this season to dig out of the early hole. 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan called RB Christian McCaffrey âa warriorâ after the game with the superstar weapon returning from a stinger in the second half despite the lopsided score, but it was Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III who was the star of the nightâalong with HC Mike Macdonaldâs defenseâby rushing for 116 yards and three TD. Entering the weekend, the status of QB Sam Darnold was a question for Seattle after an oblique injury suffered in practice, but he delivered dots when called upon for a team that is looking like a juggernaut.
The Divisional Round picked up on Sunday with the Patriots overwhelming the Texans in a game that didnât feel as close as the final score of 28-16 indicated. Houstonâs defense made things challenging for New Englandâs offense, but QB Drake Maye hit WRs DeMario Douglas (concentrating to make a catch on a tipped pass), Stefon Diggs (showing strong hands in traffic), and Kayshon Boutte (with a one-handed highlight) for three TD, and CB Marcus Jones had the other score on a pick-six. Overall, the story of the game was Texans QB C.J. Stroud having four interceptions in the first half in a performance that had many wondering if he would be benched for QB Davis Mills; Stroud was without WR Nico Collins (concussion) and TE Dalton Schultz (calf, left early), but he did not see the field well or sense pressure, and wasnât sharp in terms of his accuracyâwhich gives the franchise something to think about this offseason.
An overtime thriller between the Rams and Bears closed out the weekend at frigid Solider Field, and a 42-yard FG by K Harrison Mevis allowed Los Angles to escape with a 20-17 win and set up Round 3 versus Seattle in the NFC Championship Game. The cold and snow impacted the offenses with LA going five-of-16 on third down and Chicago failing to convert in some key short-yardage and fourth-down situations, but more late-game heroics by Bears QB Caleb Williams pushed the game to OT with one of the best plays/throws you will ever see (especially considering the magnitude of the moment) on fourth down with 29 seconds remaining. When the OT period turned into sudden death, a Chicago fourth-down conversion to get across midfield was followed up by an INT by Rams S Kam Curl with Bears WR DJ Moore cutting his route shortâand Los Angeles got the ball into FG range on their drive with a third-down catch-and-run by WR Puka Nacua.
đ„ Bo Nix done for the postseason
In a surreal moment following the win over Buffalo, HC Sean Payton spoke to reporters for a second time following his post-game press conferenceâreturning to share the stunning news that Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle and will undergo season-ending surgery.
As stated, the injury came before the game-sealing throw to Marvin Mims Jr. that resulted in pass interferenceâshowing the toughness of the second-year QB to win the game on a fractured ankle.
No. 2 QB Jarrett Stidham will now start for Denver this weekend in the AFC Championship Game as the Broncos host the Patriots, but former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles reminded everyone about New Englandâs history versus backup QBs.
For Nix, heâll have played a massive role in a Super Bowl championship if his team does the improbable to win it without him, and his wife shared an inside look at him and the support received following the news on Saturday night.
đ«Ą Steelers HC Mike Tomlin steps down
After 19 seasons leading the Steelers, Super Bowl-winning HC Mike Tomlin told the team he is stepping down. The legendary stint in Pittsburgh included a Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Cardinals, 13 playoff appearances, eight AFC North titles, and zero losing seasons. Along with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, Tomlin was one of three head coaches for the Steelers since 1969, which is a franchise stretch that may never be replicated.
Emotions ran high from players in the meeting room when Tomlin announced his decisionâparticularly stars like QB Aaron Rodgers, LB T.J. Watt, and CB Joey Porter Jr.âwhich speaks to how great of a coach Tomlin is.
Indications are that Tomlin will take a job in the media for 2026, and itâs long been rumored that every major network may try to bring him in for a pre-game or broadcasting deal. Weâll see if Tomlin eventually comes back to the sideline similar to what Sean Payton did after one season working at FOX.
đ Bills move on from HC Sean McDermott
Following the playoff loss to the Broncos, Buffalo fired HC Sean McDermottâdrawing near universal outrage from players and fans alike, including current Bills players. In nine years with the team, McDermott went 98-50 in the regular season, and his career winning percentage (.662) ranks in the top 10 all-time among those with at least 100 games coached.
The lack of playoff success was obviously why the franchise moved on (8-8 record), but the Bills opting to not only keep but to also promote GM Brandon Beane is tough to fathom with this seasonâs failures clearly being more about the lack of talent than the coaching. Nonetheless, Buffalo is now a premium opening due to the presence of Josh Allen, and former OC Brian Daboll and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak were quickly rumored as candidates.
As McDermott becomes available, the coaching carousal has officially seen four openings filled. First was the Giants finally finalizing a deal with Super Bowl-winning HC John Harbaugh on Saturday evening after contract detailsâincluding reporting directly to ownershipâwere ironed out. The Falcons followed that up by hiring two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, the Dolphins agreed to terms with Packers DC Jeff Hafley, and the Titans locked up Robert Saleh last night.
The remaining openings at HC: BUF, BAL, PIT, CLE, LV, and ARI, with ATL open at GM.
On the coordinator front, former Cardinals OC Drew Petzing is being hired to the same position by the Lionsâwhich was arguably the best opening of the cycle. Also, the Chiefs brought back Eric Bieniemy as OC with Matt Nagy receiving HC interest, while the Eagles are moving on from Kevin Patullo as OC, and the Chargers parted ways with OC Greg Roman and OL coach Mike Devlin.
đ° More NFL news and notes
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet was discovered to have suffered a torn ACL in the Divisional Round win; this came after Charbonnet went down with what looked like a bad injury but remained in uniform trying to work his way back into the game on Saturday night.
The Broncos are opening the practice window for RB J.K. Dobbins (foot) ahead of the AFC Championship Game.
As he revealed would be the case during the season, former Pro Bowl WR Adam Thielen announced his retirement after 13 seasons.
The Panthers plan to pick up the fifth-year option on QB Bryce Young.
Bills WR Tyrell Shavers played through a torn ACL in the Wild Card Round win over the Jaguars, showing tremendous grit and toughness.
Vikings WR Jordan Addison was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
Commanders reveal first look at their new stadium, which is set to open in 2030.
Other Sports Updates
đ College Football Playoff National Champions: Indiana completed their stunning season at 16-0 by holding on to defeat Miami, 27-24.
âŸïž MLB offseason signings: The Dodgers get richer by signing star OF Kyle Tucker, while SP Ranger Suarez signed with the Red Sox and the Mets landed INF Bo Bichette.
đ The Diamondbacks acquired All-Star 3B Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals.
đš 20 people have been charged with rigging college basketball and Chinese basketball games.