NFL Super Wild Card Weekend is in full swing!
Currently, the focus is on the AFC as the 5-man Los Angeles Chargers take on the 4-man Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence’s Jags (9-8) and Justin Herbert’s Chargers (10-7) face off in the first playoff game between these teams. It also marks the NFL playoff debuts of two of the league’s youngest quarterbacks. Before Saturday’s game, Jacksonville is 3-1 in home playoff games while the Bolts are always 3-0 against AFC South teams in the postseason.
Earlier, third-row rookie quarterback Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers held an impressive 41-23 win over Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks at FOX to advance to the Divisional Round.
The 49ers are now 6-2 in the wildcard round in the Super Bowl era and 4-0 since 2002. They have now won 26 straight playoff games by a margin of 10 points or more.
Here are the top games!
Los Angeles Chargers at the Jacksonville Jaguars
power games
Jacksonville got off to a rocky start here. Lawrence threw an interception on the Jags’ opening drive and put the Chargers in the red zone just outside of goal.
Two plays after the turnover, Austin Ekeler grabbed a 13-yard touchdown for the Bolts, good for a quick 7-0 lead.
double trouble
Misfortune struck the Jaguars again on their second possession as Lawrence threw his second pick of the first quarter. Heading into Saturday, Jacksonville is 2-12 in Lawrence’s NFL career when he throws an interception.
On road
The Chargers capitalized on the turnover as Herbert & Co. attacked downfield with urgency. The Bolts added a field goal to take a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.
hat trick
The Jags went three-and-out on their next ride. Lawrence followed by throwing his third pick of the first quarter. Once again, the Chargers took advantage as Ekeler scored his second goal of the night. So it was 17:0.
move away
Herbert hit tight end Gerald Everett for a 9-yard score to give the Chargers a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
shutdown avoided
Lawrence connected with tight end Evan Engram — who had set franchise records for catches and yards getting by a tight end in a season this season — for a mind-blowing 9-yard score just before the break to make it one 20-point game to make 27-7 .
Stay tuned for updates!
San Francisco 49ers 41, Seattle Seahawks 23
Set the tone
After the Seahawks went three and out on their first possession, the Niners effortlessly charged down the field on their first drive, ending with a field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
find a rhythm
Once again, Seattle went three-and-out on his subsequent possession.
Then San Francisco extended their lead to 10-0 after going for 85 yards in five games. Christian McCaffrey started the drive with a monstrous 68-yard rush and crowned it with a short touchdown pass from Purdy.
On the hunt
The Seahawks closed the gap 10-7 early in the second quarter thanks to a 7-yard score from Kenneth Walker.
New leader!
Seattle took a 14-13 lead on the following drive thanks to a stunning 50-yard DK Metcalf result.
Both teams traded field goals before the break to keep it a one-point game, 17-16.
star power
Purdy hit a 1-yard score midway through the third quarter to put the Niners back ahead 23-17.
Seal the deal
The Niners kept pouring it out as the fourth quarter began.
After a costly Seahawks fumble, Elijah Mitchell hit a 7-yard score on the ensuing drive, followed by a smooth two-point conversion from star tight end George Kittle to put the home team 31-17 ahead.
drop pennies
The Niners got their third touchdown after three straight possessions thanks to Deebo Samuel’s quick feet. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Purdy & Co. took a 38:17 lead.
Too little too late
Smith connected with Metcalf for a quick result late in the final frame to close the gap easily, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback and things ended there, 41-23, after a failed two-point conversion .
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