NFL Playoff Results, 2018: Jaguars and Saints Advance to Divisional Round

By John B Jan 7, 2018, 8:05pm EST

Wild Card Round - Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saint

The final eight in the NFL is set. After a pair of road teams picked up wins in the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, the Jaguars and the Saints restored order on Sunday in two games that could not have been bigger opposites.

The Jaguars eliminated the Bills in Jacksonville by a 10-3 margin in a game that set offense back three decades. Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles made some sort of history by throwing for just 87 yards. This was incredible both from the standpoint that the Jaguars won a game with 87 passing yards and the fact Bortles rushed for 88 yards. You won’t see many Playoff games where the winning quarterback runs for more yards than he throws for. A dominant Jacksonville defensive effort was enough to advance.

In the second half of today’s doubleheader, the Panthers and the Saints put up an offensive show that returned us the three decades the first game set us back. Cam Newton and Drew Brees engaged in a shootout with both quarterbacks throwing for at least 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The game came down to a couple of defensive stands. A fourth down stop gave the Panthers one last shot down 31-26 late in the fourth quarter, but the Saints stood tall with the game on the line to preserve the win.

The Jaguars visit the Steelers, and the Saints visit the Vikings next Sunday.