Overtime

If Wild Card Weekend reminded fans why playoff football is special, the Divisional Round reinforced why it is ruthless. The margin for error shrank even further this past weekend, and with a place in the conference championships on the line, every mistake carried season-defining consequences. Snow fell, turnovers piled up, and several games swung on a single play, or, in some cases, a single injury.

Unlike the chaos of the opening playoff round, the Divisional Round is where true contenders separate themselves from hopefuls. Experience matters more. Coaching decisions are magnified. And depth, often overlooked during the regular season, becomes decisive. Once again, the weekend can be best understood through three familiar lenses: the good, the bad, and the injured.

The good:

1. The patriots defence just keep showing up when it matters.

At this point, it’s no longer surprising — but it remains remarkable. For the 15th straight season, either the Patriots or the Chiefs will appear in the AFC Championship Game, a level of sustained relevance that feels almost impossible in the modern NFL. This time, New England earned it the hard way.

In miserable Foxborough conditions, Drake Maye and the Patriots leaned fully into playoff football’s oldest truth: defense travels. Maye wasn’t flawless — turnovers and ball security again surfaced as concerns — but he made enough throws and survived long enough for a defense that overwhelmed C.J. Stroud. Four interceptions, relentless pressure, and a decisive pick-six turned what initially looked like a dangerous matchup into a controlled, physical win. It wasn’t pretty, but January football in New England rarely is.

Over the past two weeks, the Patriots’ defense has elevated to another level, delivering its second- and third-best performances of the season at the most important time. The notion that New England has had an easy path to the Super Bowl couldn’t be further from the truth. Even with Bo Nix sidelined, the Patriots must now face a Broncos defense ranked third in the NFL. Should they advance, New England would become the first team in league history to defeat three top-five defenses in a single playoff run, hardly the mark of an easy road.

2. Seattle made a statement — and it was loud

From the opening kickoff, Seattle’s intentions were unmistakable. Rashid Shaheed’s return touchdown set the tone, and the Seahawks never let San Francisco breathe in a 41–6 demolition that was over long before halftime. Kenneth Walker III ran through arm tackles, Sam Darnold played clean, efficient football, and Seattle’s defense swarmed a 49ers team missing key stars.

This wasn’t just a win — it was dominance. Against a division rival with Super Bowl aspirations, the Seahawks delivered one of the most complete performances of the postseason, announcing themselves as a genuine NFC threat with momentum firmly on their side.

3. The Rams still know how to survive January

Experience doesn’t guarantee wins, but it often keeps seasons alive. The Rams’ overtime victory in Chicago was a reminder that Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay remain one of the league’s most resilient playoff pairings. After Caleb Williams produced one of the throws of the postseason to force overtime, Los Angeles didn’t flinch. A timely interception, a calm final drive, and another clutch kick later, the Rams were moving on. It wasn’t dominant, and it wasn’t clean — but it was composed. In a round defined by pressure, that composure mattered, qualities that prove vital in January football.

The bad:

1. Houston have plenty of work to do this offseason

For all the progress Houston has made, the divisional round once again proved a bridge too far. C.J. Stroud’s four-interception performance was uncharacteristic and costly, particularly against a Patriots defense built to capitalize on hesitation. Missing key offensive weapons only narrowed Houston’s margin for error, and New England made sure every mistake was punished.

It marks a third straight divisional-round exit for the Texans, a frustrating trend for a franchise clearly on the rise, but still searching for its January breakthrough.

2. Buffalo’s window feels tighter than ever

The Bills’ loss in Denver may linger longer than most. Despite forcing overtime, Josh Allen’s four turnovers — after six straight turnover-free playoff games — proved fatal. Buffalo had chances, momentum, and experience, but once again left the postseason short of its ultimate goal. Another year ends with questions rather than answers. The roster is talented. The quarterback is elite. But the Super Bowl remains elusive.

3. San Francisco 49ers – not much needs to be said

Yeah… To be fair the injuries didn’t help, but that was a wholluping from the kick-off.

The injured:

No injury loomed larger than Bo Nix’s. Just moments after leading Denver to its biggest win in a decade, the Broncos’ franchise quarterback fractured his right ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime. His postseason is over, and Denver’s path forward now rests with Jarrett Stidham, a quarterback who has barely seen the field this season. His replacement for next week, Jarrett Stidham, has appearing in one game this season, taking 4 snaps without a pass attempt. Stidham has been in the league since 2019, with a career 59.4% completion percentage over 197 attempts with the Patriots, Raiders, and now the Broncos since 2023. Whilst Broncos fans won’t exactly be resting assured, their defence is still one of the best in the league and will still be a threat to the Patriots next week in Denver.

The Divisional Round delivered everything playoff football promises: drama, pressure, heartbreak, and momentum that can turn in seconds. The good earned another week through execution and composure. The bad was exposed when mistakes met elite opposition. And the injured reminded everyone just how thin the line is between a championship run and an abrupt ending. With Championship Weekend now set, only four teams remain, but if this weekend proved anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed, and every snap from here on carries the weight of a season.