Super Wild Card Weekend highlights: Chargers lead Jags; 49ers rout Seahawks
NFL Super Wild Card Weekend is in full swing!
Currently, the AFC takes center stage as the 5-seed Los Angeles Chargers battle the 4-seed Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence’s Jags (9-8) and Justin Herbert’s Chargers (10-7) meet in the first playoff game between these teams. It also marks the NFL playoff debut of two of the league’s youngest quarterbacks. Heading into Saturday’s game, Jacksonville is 3-1 in home playoff games, while the Bolts are 3-0 all-time against AFC South teams in the postseason.
Earlier on FOX, third-string rookie quarterback Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers cruised to an impressive 41-23 victory over Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks to advance to the divisional round.
The 49ers are now 6-2 in the wild-card round in the Super Bowl era and 4-0 since 2002. They have now won 26 straight playoff games when they have a lead of 10 points or more.
Here are the best games!
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Power plays
Jacksonville got off to a rough start in this one. Lawrence threw an interception on the Jags’ opening drive, putting the Chargers in the red zone right out of the gate.
Two plays after the turnover, Austin Ekeler punched in a 13-yard touchdown for the Bolts, good for a quick 7-0 lead.
Double problems
Disaster struck the Jaguars once again on their second possession, as Lawrence threw his second pick of the first quarter. Entering Saturday, Jacksonville is 2-12 in Lawrence’s NFL career when he throws an interception.
On the move
The Chargers capitalized on the turnover, as Herbert & Co. were charged to the field with urgency. The Bolts added a field goal to take a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Hattrick
The Jags went three-and-out on their next drive. Lawrence followed that up by throwing his third pick of the first quarter. Once again, LA. took advantage, as Ekeler punched in his second score of the night. That was 17-0.
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San Francisco 49ers 41, Seattle Seahawks 23
Setting the tone
After the Seahawks went three-and-out on their opening possession, the Niners stormed down the field with ease on their first drive, which ended with a field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
Finding a rhythm
Once again, Seattle went three-and-out on its next possession.
San Francisco then extended its lead to 10-0 after going 85 yards in five plays. Christian McCaffrey started the drive with a monster 68-yard run, capping it off by hauling in a short pass from Purdy.
On the hunt
The Seahawks closed the gap early in the second quarter, 10-7, thanks to a 7-yard score by Kenneth Walker.
New leader!
Seattle took a 14-13 lead on the following drive, thanks to a 50-yard score by DK Metcalf.
Both teams traded field goals before the break to keep the game at one point, 17-16.
Star power
Purdy punched in a 1-yard score midway through the third quarter to put the Niners back on top, 23-17.
Signing the agreement
The Niners continued to pour it on as the fourth quarter began.
After a costly Seahawks fumble, Elijah Mitchell came up with a 7-yard score on the ensuing drive, followed by a smooth two-point conversion by star tight end George Kittle to put the home team up 31-17.
Falling currencies
The Niners came up with their third touchdown in three straight possessions, thanks to Deebo Samuel’s quick feet. Just like that, Purdy & Co. took a 38-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Too little, too late
Smith connected with Metcalf for a quick score late in the final frame to close the gap a bit, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback and things ended there, 41-23, after a failed two-point conversion .
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