Hey Team 👋

Between the CFP semifinals and Wild Card Weekend, we knew drama was inevitable. But this? This was something else. Outside of one lone outlier in the Peach Bowl, every game went down to the final moments with coin-flip finishes that refused to reveal a winner until the clock hit zero. The CFP National Championship is still a week away, but if this weekend is any indication, the NFL chaos is far from over.

Letter Rip!

< CFB >

CFP Semifinals

#10 Miami vs. #6 Ole Miss — Miami W (31-27)

A chaotic weekend of football kicked off on Thursday with the Fiesta Bowl — and it delivered one of the best games of the entire slate. 

Going into this game, Miami was favored, but I liked the Rebels’ chances. Miami beat Ohio State in the quarterfinals, but that didn’t move the needle for me. Despite their defending champion status, the Buckeyes coasted through a soft regular-season schedule and faltered the first time they faced a legitimate opponent in Indiana. Ole Miss, on the other hand, survived the SEC gauntlet, dominated Tulane in the first round and made a statement win against Georgia in the quarterfinals. 

But the Hurricanes proved their win over the Buckeyes was no fluke. In a game that came down to the final minutes, the Hurricanes seized control late in the fourth quarter, sealing the deal as Carson Beck cruised into the endzone. From the last at-large bid to the CFP National Championship, Miami’s run has been nothing short of remarkable — a true comeback story.

#5 Oregon vs. #1 Indiana — Indiana W (56-22)

While the Fiesta Bowl delivered on all fronts, the Peach Bowl lacked classic CFP semifinal drama. But honestly, it was just as compelling. Instead of the close back-and-forth game we saw from Miami and Ole Miss, the Hoosiers proved themselves as top contenders. Favored by just a touchdown entering the game, Indiana shattered expectations, blowing past Oregon and the spread with a dominant 34-point win.

Indiana has never won a national title in football, and a Hoosier–Hurricane championship matchup wasn’t on anyone’s preseason bingo card. But after a statement win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, followed by back-to-back CFP blowouts of Alabama and Oregon, Indiana now sits closer to its first title than ever before. College football thrives on unpredictability during the regular season, yet the playoff stage usually belongs to the same familiar faces. Indiana has never been part of that group, and seeing them crash the party is exactly what makes this run so fun.

< NFL >

Wild Card Weekend

#5 Los Angeles Rams at #4 Carolina Panthers — Rams W (34-31)

What was predicted to be the weekend’s least competitive Wild Card game actually turned out to be one of the most entertaining. The Rams entered the game as 10.5-point favorites, but the Panthers kept things interesting until the very end and made L.A. work for its win. 

L.A. ultimately escaped with a three-point victory and now turns its attention to the Bears in the NFC Divisional Round. The timing isn’t ideal, though. The Rams have struggled over their last three games, playing arguably their worst football of the season. The playoffs are the last place you want to hit a skid, but the Divisional Round also presents a chance to bounce back. But standing in their way is Caleb Williams and a Bears team that has consistently proven its resilience when it matters most.

#7 Green Bay Packers at #2 Chicago Bears — Bears W (31-27)

I didn’t think it could get better after the Fiesta Bowl, but this age-old rivalry proved me wrong. For three quarters, this game seemed like Green Bay’s to take. But Caleb Williams and the Bears are known for their unpredictable comeback wins, and they managed to find some late-game magic in Chicago. 

By halftime, Chicago trailed 21–3. A third-quarter field goal made it 21–6, just enough to tempt me into turning the TV off. On Wild Card Weekend, that’s a dangerous move. Thankfully, I stayed put. In a stunning fourth-quarter surge, the Bears erased a 15-point deficit, outscoring the Packers 25–6 in the final frame to steal the win and secure their first playoff victory in 15 years.

#6 Buffalo Bills at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars — Bills W (27-24)

This was the game I was most excited for this weekend, and it too delivered on all fronts. The Bills entered as 3.5-point favorites, but the Jags carried all the momentum. The Bills struck first, but the Jaguars matched them blow for blow, keeping the outcome in doubt until the final  minutes. In the end, Buffalo’s opening field goal proved to be the difference. Well, that and Josh Allen.

After an up-and-down regular season, Allen looked every bit like the reigning MVP on Sunday. He willed Buffalo across the finish line, putting the team (and Sean McDermott) on his back to secure the Bills’ first road playoff win in 33 years. Now, Allen and the Bills turn their attention to the top-seeded Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round.

#6 San Francisco 49ers at #3 Philadelphia Eagles — 49ers W (23-19)

Early on, everything appeared to be breaking Philadelphia’s way. The defending champs were favored at home and carried a narrow halftime edge, while San Francisco seemed to be treading water. San Francisco’s outlook became even more bleak when George Kittle was carted off with an Achilles injury, leaving the 49ers to chase a three-point deficit without one of their most important weapons.

The 49ers had been marred by injuries all year, losing Brock Purdy for several weeks to turf toe and Kittle to a hamstring tear. While key playoff injuries hurt, it’s nothing the Niners haven’t seen before. They know how to win even without a fully healthy squad, and more importantly, how to get creative. Kyle Shanahan’s ingenuity was on full display late, dialing up Christian McCaffrey’s second touchdown reception of the night, this time on a clever design involving Jauan Jennings, to seal the win. 

Philadelphia struggled to find offensive rhythm, and its usually reliable defense couldn’t contain San Francisco’s firepower, even with Purdy throwing two interceptions. The 49ers will go on to face the No. 1 Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.

#7 Los Angeles Chargers at #2 New England Patriots — Patriots W (16-3)

Many (including myself) thought this might be the game where the Patriots finally met their match. Others questioned whether the Chargers could rise to the occasion in a high-stakes setting. In the end, the skeptics were right. Justin Herbert failed to lead a single touchdown drive, as New England’s defense completely smothered Los Angeles.

The Patriots held the Chargers to just 207 total yards and sacked Herbert six times, forcing a fumble in a dominant defensive performance. On the other side, Drake Maye did just enough in his playoff debut, delivering a late touchdown pass to put the game away. It wasn’t the overwhelming Patriots performance we’ve grown accustomed to, but in January, style points don’t matter. New England escaped with the win and lived to fight another week in the AFC Divisional Round.

#5 Houston Texans at #4 Pittsburgh Steelers — Texans W (30-6)

After a low-scoring first half, I thought this game would play out just as expected: an airtight defensive battle. But only one team delivered. The Texans defense held the Steelers scoreless while scoring two touchdowns of their own. 

In the second half, the Texans’ offense stayed steady, and the defense capitalized on Aaron Rodgers’ struggles. A fourth-quarter forced fumble turned into a touchdown, and Rodgers later threw a pick-six, sealing a dominant win. No C.J. Stroud heroics were needed, though he’ll likely need to elevate his game before the AFC Divisional Round. One thing is clear: in the playoffs, defense still wins championships — and Houston is proving it.

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