Divisional Round of the 2020 NFL Season Review as Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Buffalo Bills go through

We have officially wrapped up the Divisional Round of the 2020 NFL season with a ton of fascinating storylines coming out of the four games this past weekend. We recap all of those exciting games below as we look ahead towards the Championship games next week! Let’s start off with the reigning Super Bowl Champions.

Kansas City Chiefs 22 Vs. Cleveland Browns 17

The Chiefs were lucky to make it out of this game with a win as the momentum in this game was heavily favoring the Browns throughout the entire second half of the ball game. Throughout the match, the Chiefs demonstrated sheer resilience and adaptability in their offensive play, even without the assurance of Mahomes on the field. They leaned on their versatile receivers and running backs to push through the Browns’ defensive lines. Notably, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce stepped up to take on significant roles, leading key plays and helping maintain momentum. The offensive line also showed tremendous effort in protecting Chad Henne, allowing him to make strategic passes that kept drives alive and ultimately secured the win for Kansas City. Cleveland was beginning to piece together a comeback against the reigning Super Bowl Champions and were doing so after the injury to the Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes had taken off on a designed quarterback run and while he was stretching for the first down marker he was tackled awkwardly and was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion. Then stepped in veteran quarterback Chad Henne, who was able to step in and deliver a few excellent passes that helped extend their final drive while the Browns were desperately attempting to get the football back. Henne even threw a dart to Tyreek Hill on fourth down to pick up a new set of downs and ice the game as there was under two minutes left in the ball game at that time. Cleveland has a lot to look forward too next season though as their franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield had thrown for 204 yards and a touchdown along with one interception while their backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt handled 22 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown. The Browns have finally found their franchise quarterback and the perfect head coach to go along with this team in Kevin Stefanski. Meanwhile, the Chiefs pick up the huge win and head into the AFC Championship game for the third straight year. [box_text]The entire Chiefs kingdom is looking ahead to see if Mahomes is going to be healthy enough to play though, be sure to keep an eye on that throughout the week.[/box_text]

Green Bay Packers 32 Vs. Los Angeles Rams 18

The Packers didn’t appear to have any rust on them after coming off a first-round bye as they cruised past a very tough and physical Rams squad. Los Angeles was hurting in this matchup as their superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald was limited throughout the entire game after suffering a rib injury in their Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks. [box_text]Without Donald, their defense was no match for Aaron Rodgers and the well-oiled machine that is the Packers offense. Rodgers picked apart Jalen Ramsey and this fast secondary by throwing for 296 yards and two touchdowns, star receiver Davante Adams had 66 yards and a touchdown himself.[/box_text] On the defensive side, the Packers rose to the occasion by applying continuous pressure on Jared Goff and the Rams’ offensive line. The defense focused on limiting Goff’s options, forcing quick throws, and ensuring the Rams couldn’t find a rhythm. Key tackles and interceptions disrupted Los Angeles’ momentum, emphasizing the effectiveness of the Packers’ defensive game plan. But it was their rushing attack that was able to dominate without Donald on the field, taking 36 carries and totaling 188 rushing yards and two touchdowns en route to their big victory. For the Rams, it was a disappointing end to a season that was filled with adversity all the way through. Jared Goff played this game with an injured thumb but was still able to put up 174 passing yards and a touchdown without any interceptions. Green Bay now moves onto the NFC Championship game for the second straight year with the hopes of entering the Super Bowl while the Rams have a lot of questions to answer in the offseason as they look to improve and take another shot at it next year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30 Vs. New Orleans Saints 20

This matchup was arguably the most entertaining of the bunch this weekend as the two teams exchanged blows throughout the entire game, with neither team picking up a solid lead at any point in the contest. It was just an unfortunate second half for the Saints despite starting the half out with a touchdown. New Orleans found themselves up by seven points and in possession of the football early on in the third quarter and it was feeling like they were about to take a two-possession lead on their division rivals, driving across midfield and into Buccaneers territory. Until tight end Jared Cook fumbled the football after a big gain and the Buccaneers recovered and returned it into Saints territory where Tom Brady scored a touchdown that drive. It just continued to spiral out of control for the Saints as Brees threw two more interceptions in the following drives while the Buccaneers put the finishing touches on a tough game throughout. The Buccaneers’ defense played a significant part in turning over momentum by capitalizing on mistakes made by the Saints. Their defensive line effectively pressured Drew Brees, resulting in three interceptions that were decisive in the outcome. This relentless pressure led to turnovers that were converted into scoring drives, showcasing the Buccaneers’ ability to seize opportunities and shift the game’s trajectory. [box_text]Sadly, that could very well be the last game that we ever get to see Drew Brees play after following him through his record-breaking career which saw him bring home a Super Bowl to the city of New Orleans.[/box_text] This would mark the end of a truly fantastic career for the future Hall of Famer. Now the Saints may have to find their next franchise quarterback and go into yet another offseason wondering where they went wrong in the postseason. For the Buccaneers, they march towards the NFC Championship game for the first time since 2002 when they won the Super Bowl. However, it is a steep road ahead facing off against Aaron Rodgers in Lambeau Field in possible freezing temperatures. If this weekend taught us anything though, it is that you should never doubt Tom Brady.

Buffalo Bills 17 Vs. Baltimore Ravens 3

The Bills were able to piece together an excellent performance against a surging Baltimore Ravens team that was on a huge winning streak to end the year. Buffalo was led by MVP candidate Josh Allen as he basically controlled their entire offense this game, passing for 206 yards and a touchdown while adding on a few rushes. He had to do everything for an offense that was only able to muster 32 rushing yards on 16 carries throughout the entire game, a stat that will need to change if they want to win next weekend. Stefon Diggs was also his usual self, picking up 106 receiving yards and a touchdown against this elite Ravens secondary. In response to the Ravens’ formidable defense, the Bills adjusted their tactics, leaning on Josh Allen’s versatility to maneuver through tight situations. By shifting their focus to short passes and utilizing Stefon Diggs’ route running, they managed to stretch the field and work around the Ravens’ defensive setup. These adjustments helped work through Baltimore’s pressure and were integral in sustaining scoring drives. [box_text]However, the largest storyline from this matchup came during the end of the game when Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson went down with a concussion and was forced to leave the game, leaving Taylor Huntley to battle it out for their playoff lives already down by double digits.[/box_text] It has essentially ended the ball game as they were already struggling on both sides of the ball at that point. The Bills now reach the AFC Championship game for the first time in over 25 years while Ravens fans around the world are keeping their thoughts on Jackson’s health.

Conference Championship Implications

As these teams prepare for the Conference Championships, key matchups are set to shape the road to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs, pending Mahomes’ availability, will rely heavily on their offensive prowess. The Packers face a test of consistency against a formidable Buccaneers defense. Similarly, the Bills must innovate against the Chiefs while the Buccaneers aim to contain Rodgers. This next stage promises thrilling encounters with each team poised to capitalize on their Divisional Round successes.

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