NFL playoffs: Bills rout Broncos, Eagles and Commanders also advance

Josh Allen (28) threw two touchdown passes as the Buffalo Bills decisively defeated the Denver Broncos 31-7, advancing to the next round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

As the second-seeded team, the Bills demonstrated their position as a formidable contender to Kansas City's aspirations of reaching a fifth Super Bowl in six years with a commanding performance at Highmark Stadium in upstate New York.

Buffalo's victory in the wild card game sets the stage for a highly anticipated AFC divisional round matchup next weekend against the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens, featuring Allen in a showdown with the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, Lamar Jackson.

"He's an exceptional quarterback, clearly capable of remarkable feats," Allen remarked regarding his upcoming competition with Jackson. "He is among the most dynamic quarterbacks, if not the most dynamic, in the league. Watching him play is quite enjoyable.

"However, my focus this week will be on their defense."

Allen concluded the game with 272 passing yards, completing 20 of 26 attempts, along with two touchdowns and no interceptions, in addition to 46 rushing yards.

The seventh-seeded Broncos stunned the Bills by scoring a touchdown on their opening drive, with quarterback Bo Nix connecting with receiver Troy Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown pass, silencing the home crowd.

In response to this early challenge, the Bills scored 10 consecutive points, with Tyler Bass converting a 26-yard field goal and James Cook rushing for a five-yard touchdown.

Denver had an opportunity to equalize just before halftime, but Wil Lutz's 50-yard field goal attempt hit the uprights, leaving Buffalo with a 10-7 lead at the break.

The Bills then seized control of the game in the third quarter.

Bass added a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13-7, and after the Bills defense forced another punt from Denver, Ty Johnson made an impressive catch just above the ground in the back of the end zone from Allen's pass, increasing the score to 19-7. A successful two-point conversion brought the Bills' lead to 21-7.

Allen secured his second touchdown pass at the beginning of the fourth quarter, connecting with Curtis Samuel for a 55-yard touchdown, which elevated the score to 28-7.

Denver's offense continued to struggle against Buffalo's defense, epitomized by their inability to convert a 4th-and-2 situation on their subsequent possession.

Seizing the opportunity, Allen and the Bills increased their lead to 31-7 with Bass's third field goal of the match.

This outcome also indicates that the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, will face the Houston Texans in the divisional round.

Hurts Returns
The Philadelphia Eagles progressed in the NFC with a 22-10 victory over a lackluster Green Bay Packers in a defensive battle.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made his return after missing the previous two games due to a concussion, demonstrating no signs of inactivity with an early 11-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love encountered difficulties, throwing an early interception that was intercepted by Darius Slay.

Even when Love managed to bring Green Bay into field goal range with a 13-play drive in the second quarter, Brandon McManus failed to convert the attempt from 38 yards.

Love threw another interception at the end of the first half, and although McManus narrowed the gap with a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter, Green Bay never appeared to be in contention.

Dallas Goedert extended Philadelphia's lead to 16-3 when he caught a pass from Hurts and powered his way toward the end zone, using two stiff arms to fend off Carrington Valentine.

Josh Jacobs provided the Packers with a glimmer of hope with a one-yard rush after showcasing impressive power and strength on the previous play to break multiple tackles and gain 31 yards.

However, that marked the last significant moment for the Packers, as two field goals from Jake Elliott sealed the victory for the Eagles.

Hurts finished the game with 131 passing yards and two touchdowns, while running back Saquon Barkley recorded 119 yards on 19 carries.

Hurts completed 131 passing yards and threw two touchdown passes, while running back Saquon Barkley amassed 119 yards on 19 carries.

"Regardless of how it appears, and despite areas for improvement, the defense performed exceptionally well, and we secured the victory," Barkley stated.

In a dramatic finish, the Washington Commanders triumphed in their first NFL playoff game since 2005, thanks to a 37-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez that ricocheted off the upright, resulting in a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round on Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Commanders to become the first road team to win in this year's playoffs, setting up a divisional round matchup against the NFC's top seed, the Detroit Lions.

The game intensified at the end of the second quarter when, with Washington leading 10-3, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield executed an 18-yard run up the middle, overcoming a tough tackle to sustain the drive.

Mayfield capped the drive with a perfectly placed pass to Mike Evans in the end zone, bringing the teams to halftime tied at 10-10.

Following a 22-yard field goal by Gonzalez, Mayfield connected with Bucky Irving on a 4-yard touchdown pass, giving the Buccaneers a 17-13 lead.

However, Washington regained the lead early in the fourth quarter after a fumble by Mayfield resulted in a turnover, allowing Daniels to find Terry McLaurin for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

After Tampa Bay equalized with a field goal from Chase McLaughlin, Daniels orchestrated a 10-play, 51-yard drive, setting the stage for Gonzalez to deliver the decisive kick, aided by the upright.

"We have waited a long time for this moment, and I am incredibly happy for the fans," Daniels expressed.

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