The 2023-24 NFL season is now behind us. It ended with the Kansas City Chiefs once again on top of the football world. Now, we have a chance to look back on the games that led us to that moment. This article ranks all 13 playoff games from the least entertaining to the most entertaining. Read below to find out which games put us to sleep, and which ones left us on the edge of our seats.
13. Houston Texans 45, Cleveland Browns 14 (AFC Wild Card)
Ironically, the least compelling game was the one that kicked off the 2024 NFL postseason. This was predicted to be one of the most competitive wild card games on the slate. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Browns failed to live up to their end of the bargain.
What sealed the deal was Browns QB Joe Flacco throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. It put the game out of reach, as the Texans went on to win the game 45-14. This also happened to be the game that had the widest margin of victory this postseason.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32, Philadelphia Eagles 9 (NFC Wild Card)
Our next game on this list concluded the wild card round. This also ended up being a one-sided game, with the Buccaneers cruising to a 32-9 victory over the Eagles. Part of the reason this game ended up so low on this list is because it was one that did not have a large amount of hype entering it.
Most people believed both of these teams were drawing dead. Philadelphia entered the playoffs having lost four of their five games along with the division title. Plus, Tampa Bay had a mere 9-8 record, the worst of any division winner this postseason.
Still, the Eagles failed to get anything going. Even their infamous “Brotherly Shove” failed during this game. Tampa Bay even managed to come up with a safety in the third quarter. In the end, the Eagles just had nothing left in the tank.
11. Kansas City Chiefs 26, Miami Dolphins 7 (AFC Wild Card)
This matchup had numerous storylines going into it. For one thing, it was Tyreek Hill’s long-awaited return to Kansas City. Plus, this game had controversy surrounding it because it was chosen as Peacock’s exclusive game.
Despite getting 23 million people to watch it, the game itself was underwhelming. The weather conditions surrounding this game did not help this affair. Plus, the Miami Dolphins were backpedaling heading into this game.
A big reason for this is they lost the AFC East title to the Buffalo Bills the week prior. As a result, they went from playing a home playoff game in sunny Miami to a road playoff game in below-freezing conditions. It proved to hurt the Dolphins, as this game was all Chiefs from start to finish.
10. Baltimore Ravens 34, Houston Texans 10 (AFC Divisional Round)
Our first game past the wild card round lands at #10 on the list. This game had some interesting anticipation around it for two reasons. On the Texans’ side, they were coming off a convincing wild card win over the Browns. Some people started to believe they could put up a good fight against the Ravens.
However, the Ravens had high expectations heading into this game. They were the top seed in the AFC with the best record in the NFL. As a result, many people expected Baltimore to win the Super Bowl.
The one problem was the Ravens had not played a competitive football game in three weeks at this time. However, that proved to not matter in this game. Baltimore dominated this game and made Houston realize they still had a way to go before they could compete with the big boys.
The Ravens closed the Texans out with a 24-0 run to end the second half. This ended up being the only divisional round game to be decided by multiple possessions. As a result, it lands this low on the list.
9. Buffalo Bills 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 (AFC Wild Card)
We are now starting to get into more entertaining postseason games. This one had some wild circumstances surrounding it. That is because this game was postponed due to severe weather leading to unsafe driving conditions in the Buffalo area. As a result, this game was played on a Monday afternoon rather than a Sunday.
Despite just 14 points being the difference in this game, the game was not as close as the final score indicated. For one thing, the Bills were up 21-0 early in this game. As a result, the rest of this game felt like the Steelers were trying to tread water rather than this being truly competitive.
To Pittsburgh’s credit, they did get to within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. However, Buffalo got an insurance touchdown when they needed it most to win the game 31-17. At the end of the day, health and talent gap prevented this game from being ranked higher. It may have been a different story if T.J. Watt was able to play.
8. Detroit Lions 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 (NFC Divisional Round)
Our next game saw the Lions attempting to continue their fascinating playoff journey against the Buccaneers. The first half was competitive, with both teams tied at 10 by halftime. However, the Lions started to pull away by the fourth quarter.
A 31-yard rushing touchdown by Jahmyr Gibbs and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown allowed the Lions to take a 31-17 lead with just over six minutes remaining. The Buccaneers did fight back with a quick touchdown of their own. However, two controversial things happened after that.
First, they went for a two-point conversion and failed. Then, when the Lions were in victory formation, the Buccaneers had a chance to call a timeout and get one last chance to tie the game. However, they chose to pass on that opportunity and waved the white flag. This is another example of the losing team not being quite talented enough to rank this game higher.
7. Green Bay Packers 48, Dallas Cowboys 32 (NFC Wild Card)
This was arguably the biggest upset in the entire postseason. That is because, before this game, no 7-seed had ever won an NFL playoff game before. Well, the Packers did not just win this game, but they dominated it.
Green Bay was up 27-0 shortly before halftime in this game. This was thanks in part to an interception by Cowboys QB Dak Prescott that was returned 64 yards for a touchdown. Despite the Cowboys losing this game by just 16 points, this game was never truly close.
So, why did this game get ranked so high? Most of this was because the upset was so shocking and captivating. Throughout most of this game, many of us may have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. The curiosity as to whether the Packers could truly hang on and make a run made this game more compelling than the games I put behind this one.
6. Kansas City Chiefs 17, Baltimore Ravens 10 (AFC Championship)
Our next matchup had a lot of intrigue surrounding it because it was a battle of old vs. new. The Chiefs were the defending Super Bowl champions. However, the Ravens were one of the favorites to win this year’s Super Bowl going into this game.
So, how did this play out? Well, the Chiefs proved that they were not ready to give up the crown just yet. After scoring 34 points the previous week, the Ravens only scored 10 points in the AFC Championship game.
Arguably, the play that ended up deciding the game was Zay Flowers’ fumble. He did so at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line, and it resulted in a touchback. This took a touchdown off the board that likely would have sent the game to overtime. Instead, Baltimore ended up coming just short.
5. Detroit Lions 24, Los Angeles Rams 23 (NFC Wild Card)
This was without a doubt the best game of the wild card round. Part of this is because the Lions had their first home playoff game in 30 years. If that was not enough, both quarterbacks in this matchup were facing their former teams.
Matthew Stafford was returning to Detroit after winning a Super Bowl with Los Angeles. Plus, Goff was trying to defeat the team that essentially gave up on him. Well, this game proved to live up to the hype and then some.
It came down to the wire, with just one point making the difference in this game. Despite a late surge by the Rams, the Lions ended up coming out on top in an emotional victory.
4. San Francisco 49ers 24, Green Bay Packers 21 (NFC Divisional Round)
Next, we have one of the most chaotic games of the entire postseason. We had the top seed in the NFC going up against the biggest dark horse. For a while, it looked like the Packers were going to continue their magical run and take down another high seed.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Packers led this game 21-14. However, the 49ers had 10 unanswered points when they needed it most to survive a scare. San Francisco ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown with just over a minute to go. Unfortunately, for the Packers, QB Jordan Love threw a costly interception that ended up clinching a loss for Green Bay.
3. Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24 (AFC Divisional Round)
Another compelling divisional round game took place between the Chiefs and the Bills. In the modern era, this is arguably one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL. This year, the storyline was whether Josh Allen would finally beat Patrick Mahomes now that the Bills were hosting this third playoff meeting between these two teams.
Well, Kansas City showed Buffalo why they were the defending Super Bowl champions. Despite this being Patrick Mahomes’ first road playoff game in his NFL career, he came up clutch when it mattered most. Unfortunately, for the Bills, kicker Tyler Bass also had a crucial missed kick to essentially lose the game.
2. San Francisco 49ers 34, Detroit Lions 31 (NFC Championship)
Our next game was arguably the most heartbreaking on the list. This is especially the case if you have any kind of connection with the city of Detroit. It was a sad day to be a Lions fan, as Detroit saw their dreams of a Super Bowl appearance slip away. This would have been the first such appearance in franchise history.
The Lions led the 49ers by a score of 24-7 at halftime. With the way they were playing, it looked like they were going to cruise to an NFC Championship title. However, all of this fell apart in the second half.
San Francisco had a lucky ladybug on their side, with a miraculous 51-yard reception by WR Brandon Aiyuk that later led to a touchdown. The 49ers also got another touchdown after a Lions fumble.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell faced a lot of scrutiny for some of his decisions in this game. He went for it on 4th and short several times and failed each time. As a result, it made the Lions more and more desperate each time, eventually costing them the game. So, this NFC Championship will be remembered for a long time.
1. Kansas City Chiefs 25, San Francisco 49ers 22 (Super Bowl LVIII)
Of course, we have to end this list with the biggest game of all. Super Bowl LVIII was unique because it was just the second to ever go to overtime. There was controversy in this overtime because the 49ers chose to receive the ball first despite the new rules.
In the end, this decision arguably cost them the game. The 49ers failed to get a touchdown on their opening drive in overtime, having to settle for a field goal. Then, the Chiefs took advantage of this and got a touchdown on the very next drive.
If that was not enough, both kickers broke the old record for longest field goal in Super Bowl history. Unfortunately, 49ers kicker Jake Moody missed an extra point that proved to be costly. San Francisco likely wins the game if he makes that extra point. Instead, the Chiefs have yet another championship under their belt.
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