Backup quarterbacks exceeded just hold clipboards within the NFL’s divisional playoff round.
Jameis Winston convey a 56-yard trick-play touchdown pass to Tre’Quan Cruz on his first playoff action after 76 regular-season games over six seasons.
Chad Henne, the Chiefs’ 35-year-old backup, also got his first style of the playoffs Sunday while he was pressed into duty after former MVP Patrick Mahomes endured a concussion halfway while using third quarter against Cleveland.
Inside the 72nd National football league game, Henne atoned by having an finish zone interception with two huge plays allowing the Leaders to depart obtaining a 22-17 make an impression on the Browns.
Every single day earlier, another ex-MVP, Lamar Jackson, was bumped from Baltimore’s 17-3 loss at Zoysia plus it was substituted with Tyler Huntley, an undrafted rookie from Utah who ascended to QB2 status recently when Robert Griffin III (hamstring) and Trace McSorely (knee) appeared on IR.
The only real game that both quarterbacks needed all of the snaps was the Packers’ 32-18 make an impression on the Rams, when MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers put for 296 yards and two touchdowns and Jared Goff will be a competent 21 of 27 every week after he was pressed into duty just 12 days publish-surgery on his damaged right thumb.
Rodgers and Tom Brady, making his 14th conference championship appearance in 21 seasons, square off inside a few days at Lambeau Field. Mahomes will need to apparent concussion protocol to handle obligations and Josh Allen, that has completed 68.1% of his playoff passes after finishing 69.2% of his throws inside the breakout 2020 regular season.
WINSTON WINGING IT
Winston’s extended touchdown throw was his only pass, departing him through an ideal passer rating of 158.3. His TD gave they a 13-10 lead within the Bucs within the second quarter. But he didn’t get another snap in New Orleans’ 30-20 loss that lots of believe was Came Brees’ final game after 20 National football league seasons by which he put for 85,724 yards, such as the playoffs.
That’s greater than 16 miles price of completions.
Once the wouldn’t it are actually, Brees went obtaining a whimper: 134 yards passing and three interceptions within the worst playoff bet on his career.
Brees broke 11 ribs in 2020 and missed four games, so you can easily condition she must have outdated a year ago.
“No complaints. No regrets,” pointed out Brees, who thrown the football around together with his kids and Brady extended carrying out a game ended. “I’ve always attempted to see farmville with great respect along with a great reverence with this particular, i appreciate everything farmville provides for me.
“There are clearly plenty of incredible remembrances, plenty of incredible relationships which have come because of playing during this game, so you discovered a good deal in regards to you, so you fight using a lot should you play farmville,” Brees pointed out.
“And I’d say this year I most likely needed to battle through greater than I’ve ever endured to in almost any other season within my career, from injuries to everyone the COVID stuff to just crazy conditions, and it also was worth every moment out of this. Absolutely.”
PRACTICE SQUAD JUMP
Jackson was forced hanging around two plays after Taron Manley tied an National football league record obtaining a 101-yard interception return for almost any touchdown that gave the obligations a 17-3 lead.
Facing second-and-10 at Baltimore’s 25, center Patrick Mekari clicked the ball over Jackson’s mind. The quarterback switched and chased the bouncing ball lower within the 5, switched and rapidly put it away as Tremaine Edmunds had him using the legs and Trent Murphy fell on the top of him.
Jackson’s concussion left Huntley, who’d formerly been promoted inside the practice squad, to complete the sport anf the husband completed 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards, not nearly enough for almost any comeback.
“We’ll hold our mind high walking from this level and also to the offseason,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh pointed out.
HENNE’S HEROICS
Henne performed a considerable role in Might squeaking past Cleveland to earn another consecutive AFC championship game within your house.
The 35-year-old veteran of 11 National football league seasons in Miami, Jacksonville and K.C. completed the Chiefs’ field goal drive after Mahomes was tossed lower hard by Browns linebacker Mack Wilson. Though Might clinging having a five-point lead transporting out a TD operated by former Leaders running back Kareem Search, Henne was intercepted within the finish zone by Karl Ernest with eight minutes remaining.
The Leaders forced a punt and Henne got the ball back exceeding four minutes left. Cleveland couldn’t stop Henne from scrambling for 13 yards on third-and-14 or from finishing a brief spread 4th-and-inches to Tyreek Hill with 74 seconds left to seal the Chiefs’ tenth win this year by six points or fewer.
The Browns’ finest regret was wide receiver Rashard Higgins’ fumble near the goal line within the closing minutes within the first half.
Higgins hauled within the 25-yard pass from Baker Mayfield while stumbling near the Chiefs’ 5-yard line and launched themselves toward the corner pylon.
Similar to Higgins extended his arms, he was blasted by Leaders linebacker Daniels Sorenson, who dislodged the ball, which bounced within the finish zone for almost any touchback.
Lost within the commotion was Sorenson’s helmet-to-helmet hit which will have negated the turnover.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t blaming the officials or possibly the rule book like plenty of announcers and fans did.
“I won’t ever ever doubt Rashard Higgins’ effort or our guys’ effort,” Stefanski pointed out. “Our rule there isn’t to achieve the ball out when it’s first-and-goal, anf the husband understands that. Again, appreciate his effort. He battled like he always does, but we must fight that urge because it is this sort of big loss whether it does complete just like a touchback.”