NFL Playoffs Round 1Recap

Kayson Welch, Reporter

The NFL Playoffs started January 14, 2023 with 14 teams in it. These teams are the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle seahawks, LA Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, NY Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs. 

All teams have games from Jan 14 to Jan 16 except the two number 1 seeds in Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City chiefs; they get a bye week and automatically advance to second round. 

This first game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks is suppose to go in favor of the 49ers due to the 49ers beating them twice this year. But this game is a divisional game and can go anyway. The 49ers come into this game 13-4 with the best defense in the league. Their defense is ranked number one in the league. Their offense is down to their third sting quarterback but still playing great. The Seahawks are a very average football team but looking to get revenge. 

The game started out great at halftime, 17-16 Seahawks winning. Then the 49ers took care of business in the second half and won 41-23 ending the Seahawks season. 

The second game was LA Charges @ Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags came into the game as a favorite due to star wide receivers Mike Williams getting hurt in Week 18. The Jags came into this week rolling after catching some good wins toward the end of the season. This game was a test for Justin Herbert, a very winnable game and a prove it game. 

The Chargers came out hot 27-7 at halftime. This irradiated Trevor Lawrence and made him go off, making history top three best comebacks in postseason history and winning 31 to 30 to end the Charges season. Jacksonville now moves on and to play the Chiefs.

Miami Dolphins will face the Buffalo Bills in round one as well. The Dolphins come in this game with no chance both quarterbacks being injured on to the third string quarterback. This quarterback played very bad. The Bills come in this game mostly healthy and hungry this year. 

At half the Dolphins were in it but down 17-20 with a chance to win. Then the Bills came out scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter. The Dolphins answer with one touchdown in the third quarter and one in the fourth to end the game in a Bills win 34-31, eliminating the Dolphins. 

The New York Giants travel to Minnesota to play the Vikings. The Vikings are 13-4 but most analysts say they have an easy schedule. The Giants are 9-7-1 with a couple hard wins. This is the most interesting game and very even game. There really was no favor with a 50/50 chance in winning. 

At half Giants were winning 17-14 looking like a nail biter. Then they both scored a touchdown in the third quarter. In the fourth the Vikings got a field goal and the Giants ended it with a touchdown to win 31- 24.

The Ravens traveled to Cincinnati to play the Bengals without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens also had no chance in winning this game but they just got their running back returned to the game. To start to game there was a very boring low scoring then at half 10-9 Ravens. Then in the third both teams scored making it a nail biter. Then the Ravens were on the second yard line and fumbled an loss 24-17. 

Then the final game of the first round was Cowboys in Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers. There was no favor in this game; it was 50/50. The Cowboys come into the game with a better record but they play Tom Brady. 

First quarter was very slow with  Cowboys up 6-0; no one could get anything going. Then second quarter was slow as well but the score was 18-0 going into half.  Then both teams scored a touchdown in the third and fourth quarter to end the game 31-14; somewhat of a blow out.

The third round of games coming up on January 29 include Eagles and the 49ers and the Chiefs and Bangles.