The Sportsletter - Playoffuary in Fansville 🏈

BY JEFF YODER

JAN. 13, 2025 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 🙌

There’s a Dr. Pepper commercial I keep seeing that references the season as “Playoffuary” — Playoffs + January. It’s one of the worst word-smashes I’ve ever seen, but an appropriate way to describe five consecutive days of playoff football. The people of Fansville live rent free in my head (for better or worse).

From Ohio State’s strip-sack-special to the Commanders’ walk-off field goal doink, we’ve got it all (and we’re not done). Tonight: Vikings at Rams (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Letter Rip!

NFL PLAYOFFS

A Super Wild NFL Weekend

Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Texans, Ravens, Bills, Eagles & Commanders Victorious in Super Wild Card Weekend -- Advance to Divisional Round

Five down, one to go. The first four games of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend were all decided by double digits, but the last? Oh my. The Commanders walked-off the Bucs with a game-winning doink field goal. That snapped a 20-year playoff drought for Washington. The Texans, Ravens, Bills and Eagles were all double-digit winners before that wild moment. There’s one final Wild Card tonight when the Vikings face the Rams in Arizona. Nine remain in the Super Bowl hunt (soon to be eight). Let’s rewind the wildness.

Texans Take Down Chargers (32-12)

Surprise, surprise! The Chargers were a sneaky favorite on the road in the AFC’s 4-5 game, but QB Justin Herbert threw 4 INTs while Texans RB Joe Mixon (106 yards, 1 TD) and WR Nico Collins (122 yards, 1 TD) popped off. This game had seven total turnovers, but Houston won in a runaway. Next Matchup: Texans @ Chiefs (Sat. 4:30 pm ET, ESPN)

Ravens Rough Up Steelers (28-14)

Little drama in Charm City. Derrick Henry (186 yards, 2 TDs) and Lamar Jackson (256 yards, 2 TDs) carved up the Steelers for a 21-0 lead in the first half. Pittsburgh fought back, but their season ended with five straight losses. Baltimore hasn’t lost since Dec. 1, but their next test is a doozy. Next Matchup: Ravens @ Bills (Sun. 6:30 pm ET, CBS)

Bills Blow Out Broncos (31-7)

The Broncos were the last team to swipe a playoff spot, but they were no match for Buffalo. Denver scored a touchdown on the opening possession and never sniffed the endzone again. Bills QB Josh Allen was nearly perfect (20/26, 316 yards, 2 TDs). Buffalo dominated the time of possession (42m-18m), and it’s all eyes on the Ravens. Next Matchup: Ravens @ Bills (Sun. 6:30 pm ET, CBS)

Eagles Eat Up Packers (22-10)

Injury, thy name is Green Bay. The Packers entered Philly Sunday afternoon already banged up, and more injuries quickly shuttered any shot at an upset. The Eagles offense was slow, but that No. 1 defense forced four turnovers, including 3 INTs by QB Jordan Love. RB Saquon Barkley went over 100 yards again, and the Birds will stay in the nest to host the winner of tonight’s game. Next Matchup: Vikings/Rams @ Eagles (Sun. 3:00 pm ET, NBC)

Commanders Stun Bucs (23-20)

The Commanders and Bucs went back and forth before a thrilling finish to cap the weekend. All tied in the final minute, QB Jayden Daniels (304 yards, 2 TDs) led the Commanders on a drive to set up kicker Zane Gonzalez for a 37-yard walk-off field goal that doinked in off the upright. It was Washington’s first playoff win since 2005. Next Matchup: Commanders @ Lions (Sat. 8:00 pm ET, FOX)

Tonight (NFL Wild Card)

Vikings at Rams (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Updated NFL Playoff Bracket

NFL: Bills Dominate to Set Up Anticipated Rematch With Ravens

SI: Eagles WR A.J. Brown Caught on Camera Reading Book During Wild Card Game

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 🏆

Buckeyes Scorn the Horns

Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images

Ohio State Ices Texas on 82-Yard Sack-Fumble TD (28-14) — OSU to Meet Notre Dame in CFP Championship

Another wild CFP semifinal clash swept the sports world on Friday night. Ohio State scored 14 in the 4th quarter to beat Texas (28-14) for the right to face Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship. The Buckeyes and Longhorns traded touchdowns until entering the final quarter tied, 14-14. OSU went on a massive 88-yard touchdown drive that ate up seven-plus minutes. On the next Texas possession, OSU linebacker Jack Sawyer strip-sacked QB Quinn Ewers and went 82 yards to the house. Sawyer and Ewers were roommates in 2022 when Ewers was the backup QB at Ohio State. Talk about an ironic and iconic moment.

Play of the Game: Jack Sawyer Strip-Sacks Ewers for 82-Yard TD

QB Comparison

W. Howard (OSU): 24/33, 289 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Q. Ewers (TEX): 23/39, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Watch: Ohio State Upends Texas (28-14) to Reach CFP Championship

🏆 CFP Championship (Monday, Jan. 20)

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (7:30 pm ET, ESPN)

AP: Ohio State Favored by 9.5 Points Over Notre Dame in 2nd-Largest CFP Title Game Spread

TENNIS 🎾

Rain & Thunda' Down Unda' ⛈️

Photo: Andy Cheung / Getty Images

Storms Wreak Havoc on 1st Round of 2025 Australian Open

Umbrellas were at a premium Saturday in Melbourne. The opening round of the Australian Open was disrupted by storms less than an hour into the first day of matches. Rain and lightning continued into the evening of Day 1, and this two-week grand slam is already a swirling mess of scheduling — not to mention our least favorite time-zone crunch in the sports calendar. Matches are played mostly overnight for North American viewers (7pm—7am).

The rain-delay also means we really don’t know specifics about who is playing when in these first few days. Almost every upcoming match is listed TBD. The action picked up on Sunday, but we’ll have a 24-hour delay in our morning highlights over the next two weeks. We did see a few marquee matches and one upset yesterday.

🎾 Early AUS Open Action

M: A. Michelsen Upsets #11 S. Tsitsipas (4 Sets)

M: #6 C. Ruud Holds Off J. Munar (5 Sets)

W: #3 C. Gauff Sweeps S. Kenin (Straight Sets)

W: #1 A. Sabalenka Defeats S. Stephens (Straight Sets)

Today’s AUS Open Schedule & Results

NCAA

Capture the Flagg 🏳️

Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Duke’s Cooper Flagg (42 Points) Sets ACC Freshman Scoring Record

Today’s fourth section could’ve gone to a few different athletes, but Duke freshman Cooper Flagg continues to shine. Flagg dropped 42 points in No. 4 Duke’s win over Notre Dame at Cameron Indoor (86-78) this weekend. He shot 78 percent from the floor (four 3s) and 94 percent from the free-throw line (16-for-17) en route to the ACC freshman scoring record. The Blue Devils are poised to be a top-3 team when today’s AP Poll comes out, and Flagg’s hold on the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft is strong. Which NBA team will “capture the Flagg” this June?

Watch: Flagg Drops 42 in Breakout Freshman Performance

🏀 Men's NCAA Highlights (Top-10)

#1 Tennessee def. Texas (74-70)

#2 Auburn def. South Carolina (66-63)

#3 Iowa State def. Texas Tech (85-84, OT)

#5 Alabama def. #10 Texas A&M (94-88)

#8 Florida def. Arkansas (71-63)

#9 UConn def. Georgetown (68-60)

🏀 Women's NCAA Highlights (Top-10)

#2 South Carolina def. #5 Texas (67-50)

#3 Notre Dame def. Clemson (67-58)

#4 USC def. Penn State (95-73)