Day one of the NFL playoffs saw the No. 4-seed Houston Texans face off against the No. 5-seed Cleveland Browns as well as the No. 3-seed Kansas City Chiefs fight to stay in the playoffs against the No. 6-seed Miami Dolphins. Between the Texans’ rookie quarterback narrative and the freezing weather in Kansas City, both games secured themselves as wild cards to remember.
Texans vs. Browns
The first wild card game of the night started out as a back and forth between two seemingly matched teams. The Houston Texans scored first with a field goal. The Cleveland Browns then responded with a touchdown. However, the Texans scored one of their own minutes later.
Early in the second quarter, the Browns scored their second touchdown, leading the Texans with a score of 14-10. However, the Texans were able to score two more touchdowns by halftime with the help of their rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud.
By making three touchdown passes before the half, Stroud was able to tie the NFL record for most touchdown passes by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game. He was also able to break the record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback in the first half of a playoff game, totaling 236 yards.
Just when it seemed like the Browns offense would finally be able to hold onto the ball, quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception in the red zone, which Texans Steven Nelson ran for an 82-yard pick-six. The score was now 31-14 in the Texans’ favor.
To rub salt in the wound, Flacco threw another pick-six, this time to linebacker Christian Harris, during the following drive. By now the third quarter was nearing its end and prospects were looking bleak for the Cleveland Browns.
Finishing off the game, Texans running back Devin Singletary ran into the endzone for one final touchdown, making a final score of 45-14 and confirming the Texans’ spot in the AFC divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens.
Chiefs vs. Dolphins
The Texans and the Browns had the luxury of playing in Houston, with temperatures in the low 50s during most of the game. The Chiefs and Dolphins were not so lucky. Kansas City was about -7℉ during the game with wind chills below -30℉. Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s mustache froze over while the Dolphins players dreamed of being back in Miami.
Despite the cold, the Chiefs were able to score an opening drive touchdown as quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed the football to Rashee Rice.
Unfortunately, Miami was not able to hold on to the ball for long in the first quarter. Quarterback Tua Tagovaioloa threw an interception to Chiefs defensive Mike Edwards, which the Chiefs were able to turn into a field goal.
The Miami Dolphins were finally able to make an offensive move in the second quarter, their first touchdown. Tagovaioloa threw a deep pass to Tyreek Hill, who finally got the Dolphins on the board.
The Chiefs made their way down the field, declining field goals on fourth downs due to the windy conditions. Once they were close enough to the endzone, the Chiefs finally did kick a field goal.
Just before halftime the Chiefs were able to score a second field goal, making the score 16-7 and putting significant pressure on the Dolphins to score.
The Chiefs must have decided to continue their strategy during their halftime break, because they opened the second half of the football game by scoring yet another field goal, slowly but surely pulling away from the Dolphins’ single touchdown score.
Finally ending their streak of seemingly endless field goals, the Kansas City Chiefs finally scored their second touchdown of the game during the fourth quarter. Mahomes had thrown an incomplete pass on 3rd and 20. However, he was hit late by Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, which got him a roughing the passer call and a first down. A few plays later, running back Isiah Pacheco finished the game by scoring the Chiefs’ last touchdown.
Defeating the Miami Dolphins 26-7, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to join the Texans in the AFC divisional round. It would be yet to be seen if they would play the Buffalo Bills or the Pittsburgh Steelers.
