2023-24 NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME CAPSULES

1. Wednesday January 17. 2024 CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S ONLY LOCAL NFL PUBLICATION GridironGoose@msn.com
OFFICIAL MEDIA MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
2023-24 NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND PLAYOFF GAME CAPSULES
HOUSTON TEXANS (11-7 - AFC SOUTH - NO. 4 SEED) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-4 - AFC NORTH - NO. 1 SEED)
Baltimore leads RS series, 10-2 Baltimore leads PS series, 1-0
TEXANS- TEXANS won 1st division title since 2019. Became 1st team in SB era to win division with rookie HC & rookie QB. Can
advance to 1st AFC Champ. Game in franchise history. DEMECO RYANS can become 1st rookie HC to advance to Conf. Champ.
Game since Matt LaFleur in 2019 with GB. QB C.J. STROUD completed 16 of 21 atts. (76.2 pct.) for 274 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with
157.2 rating in AFC-WC, highest rating by rookie ever in a playoff game & is 1 of 4 rookie QBs ever with 3+ TD passes in playoff game.
Can become 6th rookie QB ever to start & win Div. Round playoff game. Needs 281 pass yards to surpass Andrew Luck (4,663 in 2012)
for most pass yards ever by rookie, incl. playoffs. Has 0 INTs in 6 of 7 road starts this season. Passed for 242 yards in Week 1 meeting.
RB DEVIN SINGLETARY rushed for 66 yards & TD in AFC-WC, 6th-straight game overall with 60+ scrimmage yards. Has rush TD in 3
of his past 4 on road. WR NICO COLLINS led team with 6 catches for 96 yards & TD in AFC WC, 9th game this season & 3rd in a row
with 80+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 3 of past 4. Had 6 catches for 80 yards in Week 1 meeting. WR JOHN METCHIE had career-high
44 rec. yards in AFC-WC. WR ROBERT WOODS has 55+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 career games vs. Bal. TE DALTON SCHULTZ had TD
catch in AFC-WC, 3rd-straight playoff game with TD catch. Can become 3rd TE ever with rec. TD in 4 straight playoff games (Rob
Gronkowski & Travis Kelce). TE BREVIN JORDAN had career-long 76-yard TD catch in AFC-WC, 2nd-longest rec. TD ever by TE in a
playoff game. DE JONATHAN GREENARD led team with career-high 12.5 sacks in 2023. Had 2 TFL & sack in Week 1 meeting. DE
WILL ANDERSON (rookie) had sack in AFC-WC & has sack in 2 of past 3 overall. Had sack in Week 1 meeting. LB BLAKE CASHMAN
led team with career-high 104 tackles this season & had career-best 9 TFL. Had 10 tackles last week. LB CHRISTIAN HARRIS had 8
tackles, sack & 36-yard INT-TD in AFC-WC, 1st-career TD. Had sack in Week 1 meeting. CB STEVEN NELSON had 3 PD & 82-yard
INT-TD last week. Had INT in Week 1 meeting. Harris & Nelson are 1st pair of teammates each with INT-TD in playoff game since
2007. RAVENS- RAVENS clinched AFC North division title for 1st time since 2019 & AFC’s No. 1 overall seed for 2nd time in franchise
history (2019). Can advance to 5th AFC Champ. Game & 1st since 2012. Led NFL in rushing offense in 2023 (156.5 yards per game).
JOHN HARBAUGH led Baltimore to SB XLVII title in 2012. QB LAMAR JACKSON had career-high 3,678 pass yards in 2023 & led QBs
with 821 rush yards, becoming 2nd player ever with 3,500+ pass yards & 800+ rush yards in a season, joining Kyler Murray (2020).
Finished season with 250+ pass yards, 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in each of final 3 home games. Has 367 rush yards (91.8 per game)
in 4 career playoff games. Is 3-0 with 5 TDs vs. INT & 117.3 rating in 3 career starts vs. Hou. RB GUS EDWARDS set career highs in
rush yards (810) & rush TDs (13) in 2023, 2nd-most rush TDs in a season in franchise history. Has 7 rush TDs in his past 7 at home.
RB JUSTICE HILL had career-high 2 rush TDs in Week 1 meeting. TE MARK ANDREWS can make 1st appearance since Week 11.
Had 6 rec. TDs in 2023 & is 1 of 2 TEs (Travis Kelce) with 5+ rec. TDs in each of past 5 seasons. TE ISAIAH LIKELY finished season
with TD catch in 4 of final 5 games overall & in each of his final 3 home games. WR ZAY FLOWERS ranked 4th among rookies with 77
catches & 5th with 858 rec. yards, both most-ever by Ravens rookie. Finished season with rec. TD in 4 of his final 5 games. WR ODELL
BECKHAM JR. has 95+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. Aims for his 5th playoff game in row with 50+ rec. yards. DT JUSTIN
MADUBUIKE was selected to 1st-career Pro Bowl after leading team with 13 sacks in 2023, most by Bal. player since 2014. Has sack
in 6 of is past 7 at home. Had sack in Week 1 meeting. LB ROQUAN SMITH ranked 6th in NFL with 158 tackles in 2023, 3rd straight
season with 150+ tackles. Has 7+ tackles in each of 2 career playoff games. Has 2 TFL in each of 3 career games vs. Hou., with sack
in 2 of 3. LB PATRICK QUEEN totaled career-best 133 tackles this season. LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY tied career high with 9.5 sacks
in 2023. Was selected No. 1 overall by Hou. in 2014 NFL Draft. S GENO STONE ranked 2nd in NFL with 7 INTs in 2023, most by Bal.
player since 2010.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-8 - NFC NORTH - NO. 7 SEED) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5 - NFC WEST - NO. 1 SEED)
Green Bay leads RS series, 34-28-1 San Francisco leads PS series, 5-4
PACKERS- PACKERS advanced to NFC-Div. for 4th time in 5 seasons under HC MATT LAFLEUR. Became 1st-ever No. 7 seed to win
playoff game. Had 31 reg. season rec. TDs by players in 1st or 2nd NFL season, most by any team in a season in common-draft era.
QB JORDAN LOVE passed for 272 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 157.2 rating in NFC-WC at Dal. & became 1st QB ever with 150+
rating in road playoff game. Ranked 2nd in NFL with 32 TD passes & 4th in NFC with 4,159 pass yards in 2023 reg. season. Was 1 of 3
QBs (Dak Prescott & Brock Purdy) with 9 games of 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 2023. RB AARON JONES rushed for 118 yards & 3
TDs in NFC-WC. Has 597 scrimmage yards (99.5 per game) & 8 TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 6 career playoff games, most playoff rush TDs
in GB history. Has 507 scrimmage yards (84.5 per game) & 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in 6 career games, incl. playoffs, vs. SF. WR ROMEO
DOUBS had 6 catches for 151 yards & rec. TD in NFC-WC, 3rd-most rec. yards ever in GB playoff game & 1st-career 100-yard game.

2. Had 59 receptions for 674 yards & career-high 8 rec. TDs in 2023. WR JAYDEN REED ranked 3rd among rookies in rec. TDs (8), tied-
3rd in scrimmage TDs (10), 6th in rec. yards (793) & 8th in receptions (64). WR DONTAYVION WICKS became 2nd GB rookie ever
(Davante Adams) with playoff rec. TD in NFC-WC. Had 39 catches for 581 yards & 4 rec. TDs in 2023. Reed & Wicks became 1st pair
of rookie teammates each with 500+ rec. yards since 2014 (JAX Allen Hurns & Allen Robinson). DL KENNY CLARK had career-high
7.5 sacks & team-high 9 TFL in 2023. Aims for his 5th in row in postseason with TFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. SF, incl. playoffs, with
sack. LB RASHAN GARY led team with 9 sacks in 2023. Had 2 sacks & 3 TFL in last postseason meeting (2021 NFC-Div.). LB
PRESTON SMITH had 8 sacks this season, his 6th-career season with 8+ sacks. Had sack & PD in NFC-WC. LB QUAY WALKER led
team with 118 tackles in 2023, his 2nd-straight season with 115+ tackles. Had 11 tackles in playoff debut last week. CB JAIRE
ALEXANDER had 3rd-career playoff INT last week. Had 3 PD & INT in his last game at SF (9/26/21). S DARNELL SAVAGE had 64-
yard INT-TD in NFC-WC. 49ERS- SAN FRANCISCO won NFC West for 2nd-straight season. Ranked 3rd in scoring offense (28.9 ppg)
& scoring defense (17.5). Became 4th team ever with 4,000-yard passer & 4 players each with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in same
season. QB BROCK PURDY led NFL in rating (113.0), ranked 3rd in TD passes (31) & 5th in pass yards (4,280) in reg. season.
Became 5th player ever with 8 games of 120+ rating in a season. Has 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 109.8 rating in 3 career
playoff starts. RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY led NFL in scrimmage yards (2,023) & rush yards (1,459) & tied-1st in scrimmage TDs
(21) in reg. season. Had 100+ scrimmage yards & TD in 6 of his 7 home games this season. Has 416 scrimmage yards (104 per game)
& 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.) in 4 career playoff games & aims for his 5th in row in playoffs with TD. WR BRANDON AIYUK had 75
receptions for career-high 1,342 rec. yards (7th-most in NFL this season) & 7 rec. TDs. Had 100+ rec. yards in 5 of his 7 home games
in 2023. WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 60 catches, 1,117 scrimmage yards (892 rec., 225 rush) & 12 TDs (7 rec., 5 rush) in reg. season.
Has 765 scrimmage yards (85 per game) & 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in 9 career playoff games. TE GEORGE KITTLE had 65 catches for
1,020 rec. yards (most among TEs in 2023) & 6 rec. TDs in reg. season. 49ers became 1st team ever with RB, 2 WRs & TE each with
1,000+ scrimmage yards in same season. DL NICK BOSA had 10.5 sacks & 16 TFL in reg. season. Has 8 sacks & 9 TFL in 9 career
playoff games. Has sack in 3 of his 4 career games, incl. playoffs, vs. GB. DL JAVON HARGRAVE had 7 sacks & 8 TFL in reg. season.
Has 3 sacks & 5 TFL in 8 career playoff games. DL ARIK ARMSTEAD has 7 sacks in 9 career playoff games. Has 6 sacks in his past 5,
incl. playoffs, vs. GB. LB FRED WARNER led team with 132 tackles & had career highs in PD (11) & INTs (4) in reg. season. Has 64
tackles (7.1 per game), 6 TFL, 4 PD & 2 INTs in 9 career playoff games. LB DRE GREENLAW had 120 tackles in reg. season. CB
CHARVARIUS WARD led NFL with career-high 23 PD & had career-high 5 INTs in reg. season. Has 12 PD in 14 career playoff games.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-8 - NFC SOUTH - NO. 4 SEED) AT DETROIT LIONS (13-5 - NFC NORTH - NO. 3 SEED)
Detroit leads RS series, 32-28 Tampa Bay leads PS series, 1-0
BUCCANEERS- TAMPA BAY advanced to NFC-Div. for 3rd time in past 4 seasons. QB BAKER MAYFIELD became 1st QB in TB
franchise history with 300+ pass yards (337) & 3 TD passes in playoff game in NFC-WC. Has 7 TD passes vs. INT for 102.7 rating in 3
career playoff starts. Had career highs in completions (364), pass yards (4,044) & TD passes (28) in 2023, his 1st-career 4,000-yard
season. Was 1 of 2 QBs (Brock Purdy) with 100+ rating (100.2) on road & 1 of 3 QBs (Jordan Love & Purdy) with 15+ TD passes (18)
on road in 2023 reg. season. RB RACHAAD WHITE has 75+ scrimmage yards in each of his 1st 2 career playoff games. Ranked 4th
among RBs with career-high 1,539 scrimmage yards & career-high 64 receptions in 2023. WR MIKE EVANS has TD catch in 2 of his 3
career road playoff games. Had 10 catches for 181 yards & 2 TDs in last road meeting (12/26/20). Ranked tied-1st in NFL with 13 TD
catches & became 5th player all-time with 12+ rec. TDs in 5+ (5) career seasons. Had 79 receptions for 1,255 yards in 2023 & became
1st player ever with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 10 career seasons. WR CHRIS GODWIN had 2nd-career playoff TD catch last
week. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Det. with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. Had 83 catches for 1,024 yards in 2023 & is 1 of 5 with 80+
catches & 1,000+ rec. yards in each of past 3 seasons. WR TREY PALMER had 56-yard rec. TD in NFC-WC, 1st TB rookie ever with
playoff TD catch & longest rec. TD in TB playoff history. TE CADE OTTON led team with 8 catches for 89 yards in NFC-WC. LB
LAVONTE DAVID had 2 TFL & 1st-career playoff FF last week. Had 12 tackles & sack in Week 6 meeting. Has FF in 4 of his 6 career

3. games vs. Det. Had 134 tackles, his 10th-career 100-tackle season, & ranked 3rd in NFC with 17 TFL in 2023. LB YAYA DIABY (12 TFL
- most among rookies) & DL CALIJAH KANCEY (10 TFL) became 2nd pair of rookies since 2000 each with 10+ TFL (2017 Steelers -
Mike Hilton & T.J. Watt). S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. became 1st DB since 2000 (Rodney Harrison) with 120+ tackles (122), 10+ PD
(12) & 5+ sacks (6) in a season. Became 1st DB since 2000 with 6 sacks & 6 FFs in a season. Ranked tied-1st in FFs (6) & FRs (4) in
2023. CB CARLTON DAVIS had 2 PD in NFC-WC & has 6 PD in 8 career playoff games. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with PD.
LIONS- DETROIT won 1st playoff game since 1991 NFC-Div. Tied franchise record with 12 reg. season wins & clinched 1st division title
since 1993. Became 2nd team ever (2013 Broncos) with 4+ players (4) each with 10+ scrimmage TDs in same season. QB JARED
GOFF passed for 277 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 121.8 rating in NFC-WC vs. LAR. Aims for his 4th playoff game in row with TD pass & 0
INTs. Passed for 353 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 107.5 rating in Week 6 meeting. Has 1,246 pass yards (415.3 per game) & 7 TD
passes in 3 career games vs. TB. Ranked 2nd in pass yards (4,575) & 4th in TD passes (30) in 2023. RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had
1st-career playoff rush TD last week. Had 1,132 scrimmage yards (1,015 rush, 117 rec.) & career-high 13 rush TDs in 2023, his 5th-
straight 1,000-yard season. RB JAHMYR GIBBS had rush TD in playoff debut last week. Ranked 1st among rookies in rush TDs (10),
tied-1st in scrimmage TDs (11) & 3rd in scrimmage yards (1,261). Montgomery & Gibbs became 1st pair of teammates in NFL history
each with 1,000+ scrimmage yards & 10+ rush TDs in same season. WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN had 7 catches for 110 yards in playoff
debut & has 10 games of 100+ rec. yards in 2023 (incl. playoffs), most in NFL. Ranked tied-2nd in NFL with career-high 119 catches,
3rd with career-high 1,515 rec. yards & had career-high 10 rec. TDs in 2023. TE SAM LAPORTA had TD catch in playoff debut last
week. Set NFL rookie TE record in receptions (86), had 4th-most rec. yards (889) by rookie TE all-time & became 3rd rookie TE ever
with 10+ rec. TDs (10). Gibbs & LaPorta became 1st pair of rookie teammates each with 10+ TDs. DL AIDAN HUTCHINSON had 2
sacks in playoff debut last week, tied-most in Det. playoff game since 1982. Can become 4th player since 1982 with 2+ sacks in 4
straight games, incl. playoffs. Had career highs in sacks (11.5) & TFL (14), FFs (3) & PD (7) in 2023. Is 1st player since Bryce Paup
(1994-95) with 20+ sacks (21) & 4+ INTs (4) in 1st 2 career seasons. LB ALEX ANZALONE led team with 8 tackles & had 2 TFL in
NFC-WC. Had career-high 129 tackles in 2023, his 2nd-straight season with 125+ tackles. DB BRIAN BRANCH had 7 tackles & PD in
playoff debut last week. Ranked 2nd among rookies in INTs (3) & 3rd in PD (13).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-6 - AFC WEST - NO. 3 SEED) AT BUFFALO BILLS (12-6 - AFC EAST - NO. 2 SEED
Buffalo leads RS series, 27-21-1 Kansas City leads PS series, 3-2
CHIEFS- CHIEFS won AFC West division title for 8th-straight season, 2nd-longest streak of division titles in NFL history. Can become
2nd team ever to advance to 6 straight Champ. Games (New England - 8 straight AFC Champ. Games from 2011-18). ANDY REID has
23 career playoff wins, 2nd-most ever by HC. Seeking 11th Champ. Game appearance as HC & can surpass HOFer Tom Landry (10)
for 2nd-most ever by HC. QB PATRICK MAHOMES totaled 303 yards (262 pass, 41 rush) & had TD pass vs. 0 INTs in AFC-WC, 10th-
career home playoff win, tied with HOFers Peyton Manning & Joe Montana for 2nd-most ever by starting QB. Has 12-3 record in 15
career playoff starts, with 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in 6 of past 7 & 0 INTs in each of past 4. Has 2+ TD passes in 5 of 6 career games
vs. Buf., incl. playoffs. Had 2 TD vs. 0 INTs with 128.4 rating in only career start at Buf. (10/19/20). RB ISIAH PACHECO rushed for 89
yards & TD in AFC-WC, 5th straight game overall with TD. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in each of 4 career playoff games, with rush TD
in each of past 2. TE TRAVIS KELCE had 7 catches for 71 yards in AFC-WC, 11th-straight playoff game with 5+ catches & 10th-straight
playoff game with 50+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in 6 of his past 7 in playoffs. Ranks 2nd in postseason history in catches (140), rec. yards
(1,619) & rec. TDs (16). Has 214 rec. yards (107 per game) & 3 rec. TDs in 2 career playoff games vs. Buf. WR RASHEE RICE (rookie)
led team with 8 catches for career high 130 yards & TD in AFC-WC, 7th straight game with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Has 405 rec.
yards (101.3 per game) over his past 4 overall. DT CHRIS JONES had half sack in AFC-WC, 4th-straight game with 0.5+ sacks. Has
TFL in 2 of his past 3 vs. Buf., incl. playoffs. DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS had 6 tackles & 1.5 sacks in AFC-WC, 2nd-straight game with
5+ tackles & 1.5+ sacks. LB NICK BOLTON led team with 10 tackles & had TFL last week. CB L’JARIUS SNEED had 2 PD in AFC-WC
& has 8 PD in his past 4 overall. Had 7 tackles & 3 PD in Week 14 meeting. S MIKE EDWARDS had INT in AFC-WC, 3rd-career
postseason INT. Had 11 tackles in Week 14 meeting. BILLS- BILLS won AFC East title for 4th-straight season, tied-longest streak in
franchise history (1988-91). Buffalo is 14-2 in home playoff games since 1970 & seeking 7th Conf. Champ. game appearance in SB
era. SEAN MCDERMOTT has 5 career playoff wins, 2nd-most ever by Buf. HC (HOFer Marv Levy - 11 playoff wins). QB JOSH ALLEN
completed 21 of 30 atts. (70 pct.) for 203 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 121.9 rating in AFC-WC & rushed for 74 yards, incl. 52-yard TD,
2nd-longest TD run ever by QB in playoffs. Has 16 rush TDs in 2023, most-ever by QB in a season, incl. playoffs, & has rush TD in 6 of
past 7. Has 3+ TD passes & 90+ rating in 4 of his past 5 playoff starts. Has 17 TDs (15 pass, 2 rush) vs. 3 INTs with 100.5 rating in 6
career starts vs. KC, incl. playoffs, with 2+ TD passes in 5 of 6 games. RB JAMES COOK rushed for 79 yards in AFC-WC. Made
1st career Pro Bowl in 2023 after ranking 3rd among RBs with 1,537 scrimmage yards, becoming 1st Buf. RB with 1,500-yard season
since LeSean McCoy in 2017. Had 141 scrimmage yards (83 rec., 58 rush) & TD catch in Week 14 meeting. WR STEFON DIGGS had
7 catches for 52 yards in AFC-WC, 9th-career playoff game with 50+ rec. yards. Led team with 107 catches for 1,183 yards & 8 TDs in
2023 & is 1 of 4 players all time with 100+ catches in 4 straight seasons. WR GABE DAVIS had 7 rec. TDs in 2023 reg. season. Davis
& Diggs are 2 of 6 players with 6+ rec. TDs in each of past 4 seasons. Has 6 rec. TDs in his past 4 playoff games, incl. playoff-record 4
rec. TDs in 2021 AFC-Div. meeting at KC. TE DALTON KINCAID (rookie) had 59 rec. yards & TD catch in AFC-WC, 3rd-straight game
with 55+ rec. yards. TE DAWSON KNOX had rec. TD in AFC-WC, 6th-career playoff TD. DE LEONARD FLOYD led team with 10.5
sacks, 4th-straight season with 9+ sacks. Has TFL in 4 of past 5 at home. DE GREG ROUSSEAU had sack in AFC-WC. DT ED
OLIVER had TFL & PD in AFC-WC. Had half sack & PD in Week 14 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. KC with PD. S JORDAN
POYER had 8 tackles & FF in 2021 AFC-Div. meeting at KC. CB KAIIR ELAM had 5 tackles & INT in AFC-WC, 1st game since Week 7.
Has INT in 2 of 3 career playoff games.