NFL wild-card round winners and losers: Sam Darnold costs himself millions with terrible two-game finish

Legacies are often defined in the playoffs. This fact was highlighted during the 2024 NFL wild-card round, as several individuals either elevated or diminished their legacies.

It may only be the first round, but there have been significant ramifications after each wild card round, both in the short and long term. It was mostly positive ramifications for the Texans, Ravens, Bills, Eagles, Commanders and Rams, who won their respective playoff games. Conversely, the Chargers, Steelers, Broncos, Packers, Buccaneers and Vikings each face questions after early playoff exits.

Let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the wild-card weekend.

Winner: Rams/Arizona

It was a chaotic week for the Rams, who, like the rest of Los Angeles, had to survive the area’s devastating wildfires. The Rams showed their resolve Monday night by getting a big help from the Arizona Cardinals, who hosted the Rams’ “home” game while helping them in a variety of other ways before kickoff.

In the days leading up to the game, the Cardinals sent two of their own planes to Los Angeles to pick up the Rams’ team, staff and families and brought them to Arizona. The Cardinals also emptied their locker room for Los Angeles; Stafford actually used the locker usually used by Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

Although it may have been the Cardinals’ stadium, State Farm Stadium looked and sounded like SoFi Stadium. A large number of Rams fans were in attendance, and their team did not disappoint, recording a 27-9 victory over the Vikings thanks to a dominant defensive performance and two touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford.

After a tough late-season performance in Detroit, Darnold had another unforgettable experience against the Rams. He was sacked nine times, tying an NFL playoff record. He also threw an interception and committed a fumble that allowed the Vikings to become the first 14-win team to lose in the wild-card round.

To his credit, Darnold didn’t give up despite the 24-3 halftime deficit. Facing an unyielding pass rush, Darnold kept throwing and momentarily gave the Vikings some hope when he hit TJ Hockenson for a score late in the third quarter. But the Rams defense was simply too strong for the Vikings and Darnold, who will now head into an offseason filled with uncertainty.

The likely NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year played like that in his first playoff start. The No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, Daniels threw two touchdowns against the Buccaneers, including a touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. Daniels then led the Commanders on a game-winning drive that included a 21-yard run to Dyami Brown on a third-and-6 play. Daniels became just the 12th rookie quarterback in NFL history to win a game elimination. He also led Washington to its first playoff victory since 2005.

Loser: Mike Tomlin

Tomlin is likely a future Hall of Fame head coach whose legacy in Pittsburgh includes a Super Bowl victory, a second Super Bowl appearance and a record 18 consecutive undefeated seasons to begin his NFL career. Unfortunately for Tomlin, his legacy now includes six straight playoff losses. His eight losses in the wild-card round are the second-highest total in NFL history.

The longtime Steelers head coach is now just 8-11 in the postseason. After winning five of his first six playoff games, Tomlin’s teams are just 3-10 in the postseason since advancing to Super Bowl XLV. Saturday’s 28-14 loss to the Ravens may have been Tomlin’s ugliest loss in the playoffs, as Pittsburgh was outscored 306-59 in the first half. The Ravens also dominated the Steelers, 299-29.

What’s next for Tomlin? He would be back for the 2025 season despite Pittsburgh’s five-game skid to end last season. There will, however, most likely be changes in Pittsburgh, to Tomlin’s coaching staff as well as to Pittsburgh’s roster. Expect the Steelers to be especially aggressive this offseason when it comes to improving their receiving corps and defensive line.

Winners: Derrick Henry/Lamar Jackson

Baltimore’s dynamic duo was as good as expected in their first playoff game together. Henry rumbled for 186 yards, the most rushing yards ever against a Steelers defense in the playoffs. Henry, who also ran for two touchdowns, tied Hall of Famer Terrell Davis’ playoff record with his fourth postseason game with at least 150 rushing yards.

A likely league MVP for the third time, Jackson threw two touchdowns and completed 72 percent of his throws. He also rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries. He executed Baltimore’s read option to perfection, especially on Baltimore’s 13-play, 85-yard drive in the second quarter, which came exclusively on the ground. Jackson and Henry accounted for 82 of the drive’s 85 yards, with Jackson making a key 20-yard run on a second-and-13 play.

The Chargers’ star quarterback threw just three interceptions during the entire 2024 regular season. He did, however, throw four picks on Saturday, as Los Angeles quietly exited the playoffs after a 20-point loss to the Texans.

Houston turned two of Herbert’s picks into 10 points, including Herbert’s pick six of Texas safety Eric Murray late in the third quarter, which extended the home team’s lead to 20-6 . Herbert responded with an incredible 86-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey on a third-and-26 play, but it was too little, too late.

Herbert is now 0-2 in the playoffs, but that drought should end soon, as it appears Herbert will finally get some much-needed stability in Los Angeles after having four offensive coordinators and three head coaches during his first five seasons in the NFL. .

Winners: Josh Allen/James Cook

Like Jackson and Henry, Allen and Cook formed a dangerous combo during wild-card weekend. Facing the Broncos’ formidable defense, Allen went 20 of 26 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. He also rushed for 46 yards on eight carries. The only player who ran for more yards than Allen was Cook, who had his first career 100-yard rushing performance in the playoffs.

Cook rushed for 123 yards on 20 carries and joined Henry, Kenneth Walker III and Jonathan Taylor as the only running backs to rush for more than 100 yards against Denver’s defense this season. One of the toughest running backs to break down, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Cook routinely moved the pile several extra yards in Sunday’s convincing win.

After a largely successful first year as Green Bay’s starting quarterback, 2024 was a rough year for Love, who suffered an injury in Week 1 and was never quite right from that moment. Despite several injuries, Love was able to help the Packers to an 11-6 record and a playoff berth. But he and the Packers’ shortcomings this year were on display Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Love and the Packers’ offense scored just 10 points, with Love throwing three picks and completing just over 60 percent of his throws.

Sunday’s loss reinforced the narrative that the Packers need to improve their receiving corps this offseason if Love and the team want to take the next step in 2025.

Winners: Saquon Barkley/Nolan Smith

Barkley’s record-breaking 2024 season continued with Sunday’s win against the Packers. Barkley, who during the regular season became the ninth 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history, ran for 119 yards for 25 yards against the Packers while recording his first career 100-yard rushing performance in playoffs.

A 2023 first-round pick, Smith, 23, became the youngest Eagles player to record two sacks in a playoff game. His performance earned him a game ball from Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

“I want my sons to play football like Nolan Smith,” Sirianni said afterward. “Before my kids play a sport, I tell them, ‘Have fun, play hard, be physical.’ This guy is the definition of these things. He’s having fun there, having fun with his teammates. »

Statistically, this was a solid game from Mayfield. He went 15 of 18 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. But his fumble deep in Buccaneers territory just after the Tampa defense recorded a fourth-down stop played a significant role in the loss. Washington scored a touchdown after the turnover.

Fair or not, the mistake reinforced the narrative that Mayfield is not capable of leading a team to a championship. Mayfield, whose 16 interceptions this season were tied with Kirk Cousins ​​for the most in the league, is now 2-3 in the playoffs and has never advanced beyond the divisional round.