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Backup quarterbacks exceeded just hold clipboards inside the NFL’s divisional playoff round.
Jameis Winston place 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 taste in the playoffs Sunday because he was pressed into duty after former MVP Patrick Mahomes suffered a concussion midway using the third quarter against Cleveland.
Within the 72nd Nfl game, Henne atoned with an finish zone interception with two huge plays allowing the Leaders to leave getting a 22-17 win over the Browns.
Every day earlier, another ex-MVP, Lamar Jackson, was bumped from Baltimore’s 17-3 loss at Zoysia also it was substituted with Tyler Huntley, an undrafted rookie from Utah who ascended to QB2 status lately when Robert Griffin III (hamstring) and Trace McSorely (knee) finished up on IR.
Really the only game that both quarterbacks needed all the snaps was the Packers’ 32-18 win over the Rams, when MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers put for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Jared Goff would be a competent 21 of 27 each week after he was pressed into duty just 12 days publish-surgery on his broken right thumb.
Rodgers and Tom Brady, making his 14th conference championship appearance in 21 seasons, square off inside a couple of days at Lambeau Field. Mahomes will have to apparent concussion protocol to handle the financial obligations and Josh Allen, which has completed 68.1% of his playoff passes after finishing 69.2% of his throws within the breakout 2020 regular season.
WINSTON WINGING IT
Winston’s extended touchdown throw was his only pass, departing him getting an ideal passer rating of 158.3. His TD gave they a 13-10 lead inside the Bucs inside the second quarter. But he didn’t get another snap in New Orleans’ 30-20 loss that numerous believe was Came Brees’ final game after 20 Nfl seasons through which he put for 85,724 yards, like the playoffs.
That’s more than 16 miles cost of completions.
When the would it happen to be, Brees went getting a whimper: 134 yards passing and three interceptions inside the worst playoff bet on his career.
Brees broke 11 ribs in 2020 and missed four games, so it is easy to condition he or she must have outdated this past year.
“No complaints. No regrets,” mentioned Brees, who tossed the football around along with his kids and Brady extended following a game ended. “I’ve always tried to experience farmville with great respect plus a great reverence with this, and i also appreciate everything farmville provides in my opinion.
“There are clearly lots of incredible remembrances, lots of incredible relationships that have come due to playing in this particular game, and you also discovered a great deal about you, and you also fight via a lot if you play farmville,” Brees mentioned.
“And I’d say this season I probably required to fight through more than I’ve ever suffered to in any other season inside my career, from injuries to all or any the COVID stuff to merely crazy conditions, plus it was worth every moment from this. Absolutely.”
PRACTICE SQUAD JUMP
Jackson was forced in the game two plays after Taron Manley tied an Nfl record getting a 101-yard interception return for just about any touchdown that gave the financial 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 inside the 5, switched and quickly place it away as Tremaine Edmunds had him with the legs and Trent Murphy fell on top of him.
Jackson’s concussion left Huntley, who had previously been promoted within the practice squad, to accomplish the game and the man completed 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards, not nearly enough for just about any comeback.
“We’ll hold our mind high walking came from here and to the offseason,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned.
HENNE’S HEROICS
Henne performed a substantial role in Might squeaking past Cleveland to earn another consecutive AFC championship game in your house.
The 35-year-old veteran of 11 Nfl seasons in Miami, Jacksonville and K.C. completed the Chiefs’ field goal drive after Mahomes was thrown lower hard by Browns linebacker Mack Wilson. Though Might clinging with a five-point lead transporting out a TD run by former Leaders running back Kareem Search, Henne was intercepted inside the finish zone by Karl Ernest with eight minutes remaining.
The Leaders forced a punt and Henne got the ball back using more than four minutes left. Cleveland couldn’t stop Henne from scrambling for 13 yards on third-and-14 or from finishing a short spread fourth-and-inches to Tyreek Hill with 74 seconds left to shut the Chiefs’ tenth win this season by six points or less.
The Browns’ finest regret was wide receiver Rashard Higgins’ fumble near to the goal line inside the closing minutes in the first half.
Higgins hauled in the 25-yard pass from Baker Mayfield while stumbling near to the Chiefs’ 5-yard line and launched themselves toward the corner pylon.
Much like Higgins extended his arms, he was blasted by Leaders linebacker Daniels Sorenson, who dislodged the ball, which bounced in the finish zone for just about any touchback.
Lost inside the commotion was Sorenson’s helmet-to-helmet hit that ought to have negated the turnover.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t blaming the officials or perhaps the rule book like lots of announcers and fans did.
“I will not ever ever doubt Rashard Higgins’ effort or our guys’ effort,” Stefanski mentioned. “Our rule there’s not to attain the ball out when it is first-and-goal, and the man sees that. Again, appreciate his effort. He battled like he always does, but we have to fight that urge as it is this kind of big loss whether or not this does finish off like a touchback.”
