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Super Wild Card Weekend Recap: Blowouts Galore

2021's Super Wild Card Weekend saw a lot of firsts, and a lot of blowouts

By Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
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Germaine Pratt's interception sealed the Bengals' first playoff win in 31 years

I love the NFL Playoffs with a passion. Ever since my childhood, I always loved that opening playoff Saturday, and seeing the kickoff and realizing, "It's here. The playoffs are really here." I had that same exact feeling when the opening game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Las Vegas Raiders, and I was expecting a good game between these two teams. Sure enough, I got just that. The first game of the 2021 NFL Playoffs was close and nail-biting, but also had what usually comes with playoff games: officiating controversy. In this case, it was a badly timed whistle that ended up leading to a Bengals touchdown in the first half.

Even so, the Raiders had their chance late to tie it up, and they were driving down the field in the final seconds of regulation. However, with just 12 seconds left, Derek Carr's attempted TD pass was intercepted by Germaine Pratt, and that led to the biggest celebration in Cincinnati in 31 years. The Bengals won 26-19, their first playoff win since the 1990 AFC Wild Card Playoff against the Houston Oilers. Think how long ago that was. The Simpsons were in their second season, the Raiders were in Los Angeles, and the NHL's current Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, hadn't existed yet. The Bengals' 31-year playoff victory drought was the longest in pro sports until this Super Wild Card Weekend.

The Bills scored seven touchdowns in their first seven drives

1990 was also the year that the Buffalo Bills reached the Super Bowl for the first of four straight times, but regarding this year, they played host to the New England Patriots, and this game was not pretty. It was an absolute drubbing. Literally every Bills drive ended with a touchdown. Seven of them, to be exact. The Patriots had absolutely no answer and no chance in this game. For the Bills, they are looking to improve from last year, which saw them as the runners-up in the American Football Conference, and they got off to an amazing start. It can also be said that the Bills were letting out two decades worth of frustration at the Patriots, who had a stranglehold over the AFC East for so long when Tom Brady was their quarterback. The Bills won, 47-17, but it would not be the last blowout of the weekend.

Speaking of Tom Brady, he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made quick work of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first NFC game of the weekend; the score was only close due to late scores from Philly. Jalen Hurts was making his first playoff start of his career, and it showed; it was not a good day at the office for Hurts and company. As I watched this game, I felt that the Eagles had a "happy to be here" attitude. They weren't expected to be a playoff team--being in the NFC East reduces expectations, but they made it. Now the offseason will tell what moves get made to make sure they return to the playoffs and possibly improve from this season. As for the Buccaneers, because they were the NFC's #2 seed, they will host a Divisional Playoff game as a result of their victory.

Mike McCarthy's terrible play calling costs the Cowboys once again

It's 2022, and the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys faced each other in a playoff game. If you're looking for Steve Young and Troy Aikman, you won't find them in this game. Despite the prestige of this game, this was the game that received the Nickelodeon coverage, and if I had to guess why, it's because of Mike McCarthy, who makes Patrick Star look as smart as Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. He did it again, folks. After a review on a potential game clinching first down for the 49ers resulted in a 4th and inches call, a penalty moved the ball back and forced the Niners to punt. Down six, and with no timeouts, it looked like the Cowboys had a chance to win it. Then with under 20 seconds left, McCarthy decided to have Dak Prescott run down the middle and slide, and because the ball couldn't get set in time, the clock ran out and the game was over. The 49ers won, 23-17.

To any and all Cowboys fans reading this, we Packers fans warned you about McCarthy. We watched this guy nearly ruin Aaron Rodgers for years. He is the most inept coach in the NFL; he's Matt Nagy with a free Super Bowl ring. I'd say he looks like a deer in the headlights, but a deer in the headlights could call better plays than Mike McCarthy. Even worse, McCarthy doubled down on the decision that ended Dallas' season, saying it was the "right call." And worse than that for Dallas, he'll most likely be back for 2022. Oh dear. As for the 49ers, they are off to Lambeau, as they will face the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Playoff.

Ben Roethlisberger made his 24th career playoff start

The last remaining AFC game saw the Kansas City Chiefs blast the Pittsburgh Steelers, 42-21, and with that, the career of Ben Roethlisberger has come to an end. With the weekend being full of firsts, this game saw premature finality, and quite frankly, it hurts. The only reason why it's not as immensely heartbreaking is due to the fact that Big Ben and the Steelers actually made the playoffs. He got that chance to add some playoff numbers to what was already a Hall of Fame career. This was Big Ben's 24th career playoff start, which tied him with the legendary Joe Montana for fourth all time in that category. 64,088 career yards and 418 career touchdown passes; he reached 400 this season against the Packers. Without question, the next stop for Big Ben is Canton, and I feel blessed as a football fan to have watched the Magnificent Seven's entire career.

This year's Super Wild Card Weekend ended with two firsts. For one, it was the first Monday playoff game, which featured the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, and secondly, the Rams won 34-11, giving Matthew Stafford his first playoff win. It was an easy one for Stafford and the Rams; the Cardinals were a complete mess from beginning to end. Kyler Murray made his first playoff start and it was a nightmare: couldn't run the ball, only threw for 139 yards, and threw two interceptions--one of them a Pick 6 in a desperate attempt to avoid giving up a safety. At one point, even Odell Beckham Jr had more passing yards in the game than Murray, it was that bad for the Cards. Arizona's season ends on a terrible whimper after starting 7-0. They were the last team to lose a game, and counting the playoffs, they lost seven of their last 11 games.

The Divisional Playoff is all set! On Saturday, January 22, the Tennessee Titans will host the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by the clash between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Los Angeles Rams, and the weekend will close with the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs facing off in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship. Speaking of rematches, three of the matchups are repeats of games that took place this season, with only the Bengals and Titans facing each other for the first time this year.

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About the Creator

Clyde E. Dawkins

I am an avid fan of sports and wrestling, and I've been a fan of female villains since the age of eight. Also into film and TV, especially Simpsons and Family Guy.

Feel free to follow my social media:

Twitter - Facebook - Tiktok - Instagram

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