NFL

32 things we learned from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs: The legend of four QBs

ballervisions 2026年1月19日

32 things we learned from the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs:

0. The amount of takings the Chicago Bears have had in these playoffs, which is probably the biggest reason they’re not in it anymore. Chicago led the league with 33 points during the regular season en route to capturing the NFC North title.

1. The number of times the San Francisco 49ers have lost in the divisional round under Kyle Shanahan, which happened Saturday night in a 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In the previous four playoff trips for the Niners and their coach, they had always advanced to at least the NFC championship game.

2. Number of quarterbacks to make their first season in conference championship round – if Denver Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham joins Hall of Famer Roger Staubach who did so in 1972 season. TBD if Stidham, who is filling in for the injured Bo Nix (broken ankle) and will make his fifth NFL start next Sunday, has better luck than Staubach, whose Dallas Cowboys lost 26-3 at Washington.

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Best photos of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

Week 1: New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.

Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball when he is brought down by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a tough Giants game for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.

Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.

3. Number of times the Seahawks have been the NFC’s No. 1 seed before this playoff. In every previous instance, Seattle has reached the Super Bowl.

4. As among the teams still fighting to play on Super Sunday, the Seahawks topped the Broncos and were joined on Sunday by the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. Since the 2013 season, all four franchises have played in multiple Super Bowls, each winning at least one — though none have accomplished that feat since the Rams won the Super Bowl four years ago.

5. Number of fumbles (two lost) and interceptions committed by Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud over the past two games. No other player has done that in a single season in NFL history.

6. Number of finals this year – out of ten played – decided by four points or less. Well done, NFL.

7. The number of times the Texans have appeared in the divisional round in their 24-season history. Houston is winless there and remains the only NFL franchise to have never advanced to the conference championship game.

8. Number of playoff wins by Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen – the most in league history by a quarterback who has never played in a Super Bowl.

9. The number of consecutive divisional-round games won by the Patriots, a league record and the 2011 season.

10. San Francisco saw its streak of seven straight divisional victories end.

11. It won’t detract from what is expected to be an MVP season, but Rams QB Matthew Stafford didn’t throw in the towel Sunday night, snapping a streak of eight consecutive playoff games in which Stafford threw multiple TDs — one shy of matching the league record.

12. It won’t detract from what could be the season of the offensive player of the year, but Niners RB Christian McCaffrey didn’t score Saturday night, snapping a streak of eight consecutive playoff games in which CMC earned the final spot – one shy of matching the league record.

13. Chicago QB Caleb Williams’ game-tying TD pass to TE Cole Kmet late in regulation Sunday night averaged 51.2 air yards per the league’s Next Gen Stats.

14. Number of yards − legal − Williams’ throw went.

15. That’s the number of different franchises Rams coach Sean McVay has faced in his 15 postseason games. Seattle will be its first repeat opponent in the NFC championship game next Sunday. McVay is 10-5 in the playoffs.

16. The Patriots are headed to their 16th championship game. Only 49 (19) played more.

17. Talk about restoring order – since the New York Jets last made the playoffs, reaching the 2010 AFC Championship game, the Patriots and/or Kansas City Chiefs have appeared in every conference title game.

18. With New England, Chicago, Seattle and Denver hosting games over the weekend, this is the first time since 2010 that all four home teams in the divisional round are different from the previous four.

19. And prayers to the Arizona Cardinals, who are still searching for their next coach, as they try to move on to the division that saw their other three teams play this weekend.

20. Also, ICYMI, the Atlanta Falcons hired two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski on Saturday. There’s no better way to avoid national exposure for a big — and laudable — organizational move than to announce it during a playoff doubleheader.

21. The number of playoffs they now have at Gillette Stadium is the most by a team at one point in league history.

22. New England better remember to cover Frank Crum next weekend. Wait, who?

23. Shout out to All-Pro Bears Joe Thuney, who came out to left tackle against the Rams and anchored a unit that didn’t allow a sack of Williams − and a pass rushing unit. Thuney, who took over for the injured Ozzy Trapilo, has made the move in the past — despite his low rating at the position — and earned Offensive Player of the Year votes for doing so with the Chiefs in 2024.

24. Shout out to Chicago’s Colston Loveland, who’s 193 receiving yards is the record for a single postseason rookie.

25. Stidham, who was drafted nearly seven years ago by the Tom Brady-era Patriots, at least has some big shoes to fill. He replaced Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr for his first two NFL starts in 2022, then replaced Broncos QB Russell Wilson for his next two games in 2023.

26. Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles isn’t worried about Stidham.

27. What about the 2024 draft class of quarterbacks? Next Sunday, New England’s Drake Maye will join Nix, Williams, and Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders in multiple playoff starts — all within their first two seasons.

Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown against the Houston Texans in an AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 18, 2026.

28. What about the 2018 quarterback draft class? Surprisingly, Seattle’s Sam Darnold – who was drafted third by the Jets almost eight years ago – could be the first to reach the Super Bowl, although Allen, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield have enjoyed more personal success so far than Darnold, who is currently in his fifth team.

29. Darnold is the only quarterback to win at least 14 regular season games in consecutive years but with different teams, and is the first since Brady to start postseason games for different franchises in consecutive years.

30. Here’s wishing Allen and his charges a Lombardi Trophy, if only to preserve for him a legacy of being included among the “best to never win a championship.”

31. Speaking of legacy opportunities, only Stafford — who remembers when his Detroit Lions lost to the Jets 48-17 in Darnold’s start to open the 2018 campaign — has won a Super Bowl among the four quarterbacks who will start next weekend.

32. So let’s enjoy the introduction of new blood, Stafford notwithstanding, next championship weekend will be the first in 15 years without Brady and/or Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, who missed his first AFC title game since becoming the Chiefs’ QB1 in 2018.

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This article first appeared in USA TODAY: NFL playoff takeaways: 4 QBs give championship games a new look