The NFL playoffs have opened for business. While 18 other organizations are at home already planning for the 2025 campaign, some of the NFL's best began postseason play.

A season ago, the home teams dominated during Wild Card Weekend, with only one visitor claiming victory, when the Green Bay Packers knocked off the Dallas Cowboys. The same happened this year, though the Washington Commanders became the lone visiting survivor.

During Saturday's action, the AFC South-winning Houston Texans took care of the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Derrick Henry-led Baltimore Ravens manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills crushed the Denver Broncos to set up another meeting with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Philadelphia Eagles defense put together a strong performance, forcing four turnovers in a 22-10 victory over the Packers.

In the final game of the wild-card Sunday tripleheader, the Commanders pulled off the first upset.

Finally, despite the extenuating circumstances, the Los Angeles Rams felt at home in Arizona and played that way.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions are watching and waiting.

As with every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski banded together to break down all of the opening round's most impactful results and biggest takeaways from every game.

Los Angeles Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 9

Los Angeles Rams Defensive Front Makes Squad Dangerous In NFC Bracket

Aaron Donald's retirement drastically affected the Los Angeles Rams approach to team-building, but the organization appears to be doing quite well for itself based on how the squad's defensive front dominated the Minnesota Vikings during the team's 27-9 victory in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

No one person could fill Donald's shoes. He's a future Hall of Famer. But the Rams decided to make a couple of significant investments in order to make it work.

General manager Les Snead played the long game with first- and second-round investments in defensive end Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske. Verse became the only defensive rookie to earn a Pro Bowl nod this season, while Fiske led all first-year defenders with 8.5 sacks. Both played well against the Vikings.

Meanwhile, the trio of Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Neville Gallimore combined for five sacks. As a unit, the Rams finished with nine sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits.

Ironically, the biggest play came on a cornerback blitz when Ahkello Witherspoon hit Sam Darnold and forced a fumble that Verse returned for a touchdown.

Los Angeles has all of the pieces on offense, with a Super Bowl winning quarterback in Matthew Stafford, an awesome wide receiver duo in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, a strong runner in Kyren Williams and good investments along the offensive line.

The defense remained a concern after finishing among the bottom seven during the regular season. The secondary is still thin. However, a dominant front can put the remaining NFC teams on notice, especially with an offense that can play complementary football.

J.J. McCarthy Era Set to Begin After Another Disappointing Sam Darnold Performance

The Cinderella jokes arrived hot and heavy during Darnold's latest performance. However, the turning-into-a-pumpkin analogy doesn't fit nearly as well as the "Christmas Carol" does. Now, a different future lies ahead.

Five years ago, Darnold was caught on tape saying he "saw ghosts" during a contest.

"When I talk to the coaches, I just got to be straight up and, for me, I just got to see the field a lot better; that's kind of what that means," Darnold told reporters when asked about the comment "It was a rough night out there and obviously I got to be better and learn from the mistakes but we will get better."

Those visits didn't end well, with Darnold now on his third team since the New York Jets gave up on the 2018 third overall pick. In the present, the 27-year-old experienced a reemergence with the Vikings, only to falter when the games mattered the most.

With an NFC North division title on the line in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions and Monday against the Rams, Darnold played at his worst. He completed only 43.9 percent of his passes against Detroit, while he committed two turnovers an missed numerous throughout the playoff's opening round.

The Vikings got to see exactly who Darnold really is when the team needed him the most. The future is clear, and the entire organization should feel really good about investing last year's 11th overall draft pick in J.J. McCarthy.

Instead of talks exploring a contract extension or using the franchise team, the Vikings can let Darnold walk as the top free agent among available quarterbacks. He'll get paid by another organization in desperate need of an upgrade behind center. Minnesota, meanwhile, can move forward with McCarthy leading the way after sitting and learning the entire season while recovering from a knee injury.

The storybook ending in this case is that everyone learned a lesson and they can go about their merry way.

Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

Battle-Tested Commanders Are Dangerous Road Underdogs

Regardless of what happens between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Commanders will be the lowest seed in the divisional round of the playoffs, which means they must take a road pathway to Super Bowl LIX.

While the Commanders are the unlikeliest of the remaining teams to reach the title game, they're a dangerous squad that's pulled out victories in the final seconds of games this year.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels has thrown game-winning touchdown passes against the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. He also put together an impressive playoff debut Sunday, throwing for 268 yards and two touchdowns, setting up Washington for a game-winning field goal.

Head coach Dan Quinn isn't afraid to go for it on fourth downs. On Sunday, the Commanders converted on three out of five fourth-down situations. The last attempt resulted in a touchdown.

Lastly, Daniels has the clutch gene. He's far more poised than any rookie in recent memory and gives the Commanders a chance to win if they're within striking distance of a lead.

The Detroit Lions will be heavy favorites over Washington, but playing with house money, the Commanders could pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history next week.

Buccaneers Must Keep OC Liam Coen Out of the Head-Coaching Hiring Circuit

Despite a disappointing finish to their season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can build on a strong offensive showing in 2025.

Tampa Bay racked up the third-most yards and the fourth-most points during the regular season. Between Weeks 8 and 10, the Buccaneers didn't have wideouts Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, but they still averaged 23.3 points in that three-game stretch.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen isn't the hottest name in the head-coaching hiring cycle, but the Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with him, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Buccaneers should make it clear to Coen that they want to retain him. The 39-year-old play-caller helped Baker Mayfield post career highs in multiple passing categories and almost seamlessly incorporated rookies Jalen McMillan and Bucky Irving in his offense.

If the Buccaneers lose Coen, Mayfield would have his third offensive play-caller in three years.

While Coen only has one interview request, he could make his rounds for more jobs as the Buccaneers prepare for the offseason. It's in Tampa Bay's best interest to keep him around to further develop one of the league's most productive offenses.

Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10

Packers Must Acquire a Go-To Wide Receiver in the Offseason

Last offseason, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn't want to talk about the designation of a No. 1 wide receiver.

"I want to vomit every time I hear 'No. 1 receiver,' to be honest with you," LaFleur said via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "It drives me crazy. That's something that you guys talk about. I feel like we've got a bunch of 'em."

LaFleur may want to walk back those comments and consider an upgrade at the position.

For the 2024 regular season, the Packers had the league's highest drop rate (7.4 percent), per ESPN Research (h/t Demovsky). In the regular season, wideouts Jayden Reed, Dontavyvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs combined for 25 drops.

Furthermore, quarterback Jordan Love saw a spike in his interception rate between 2023 and 2024. The Packers have depth at wide receiver, but they need to add a reliable No. 1 option to help Love and lower their drop rate.

On Sunday, Love threw three interceptions and didn't have a passing touchdown.

Eagles' Stout Defense Can Carry Them to Super Bowl LIX

The Eagles' eighth-ranked offense has experienced its ups and downs, specifically in the passing game.

For the regular season, Philadelphia finished with the fourth-fewest passing yards. Returning from a three-game absence, quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 13 out of 21 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers.

Aside from Saquon Barkley's power runs on the ground, Philadelphia's offense has stalled when wideout A.J. Brown doesn't make big plays over the top.

Fortunately for the Eagles, they can slow down or shut down opposing offenses. In 2024, Philadelphia allowed the fewest yards and second-fewest points, and the club allowed 22 or more points in just five games.

In the NFC, a team's route to the Super Bowl may go through the No. 1-seeded Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

Philadelphia has the defensive unit to limit Detroit's No. 1-scoring offense. If the two teams meet in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles may pump life into the old football adage that "defense wins championships."

Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7

Broncos Can Strengthen Bo Nix's Supporting Cast as They Pay Off Russell Wilson Debt

The Denver Broncos started the 2024 campaign with significant money owed to quarterback Russell Wilson, whom they released last offseason. They had a $53 million cap charge for Wilson's contract and paid him $37.8 million in cash, per Over the Cap.

Yet the Broncos still fielded a balanced roster, finishing within the top 10 in offensive and defensive scoring and winning 10 games.

Bo Nix had an impressive rookie campaign. He threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, with a 66.3 percent completion rate. He also ran for 430 yards and four touchdowns.

Nix built a rapport with wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. Later in the campaign, Marvin Mims Jr. emerged as a deep threat in the passing game.

This offseason, the Broncos have $32 million in dead money tied to Wilson's contract, though they don't owe him any more cash. With a projected $48.3 million in cap space, Denver can use more resources to build around Nix.

The Broncos can add a veteran running back to replace Javonte Williams, who will be a free agent in March, a pass-catching tight end capable of moving the chains on short-to-intermediate completions and another experienced wide receiver to bolster their offense.

Nix's early progress is a promising sign for the Broncos. He's had the second-best rookie year among quarterbacks behind only the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels. While Nix is on a rookie deal, the Broncos should invest their financial and draft capital in improving the offense.

Bills' Pass-Catching Depth Sets Them Up for Competitive Battle with Ravens

The Buffalo Bills' offensive balance helped them cruise to a 31-7 victory over the Broncos. They ran for 210 yards, and Josh Allen threw for 272 yards.

The Bills face a tough challenge on the ground against the Baltimore Ravens' No. 1-ranked run defense in the divisional round. In a Week 4 35-10 loss to the Ravens, they only racked up 81 rushing yards, averaging 3.5 yards per carry.

However, next week, Buffalo's pass-catching group will be tough to cover because Allen has a bevy of targets. He completed a pass to eight different players on Sunday.

Though the Ravens' pass defense has improved over the past several weeks, Allen's growth with his new receiving unit gives Buffalo a chance to avenge its regular-season loss to Baltimore.

Rookie Keon Coleman's growth, the addition of Amari Cooper—though he's been underwhelming—and the recent emergence of Curtis Samuel in the passing attack will be key factors in the Bills' ability to move the ball against the Ravens' stingy defense.

Houston Texans 32, Los Angeles Chargers 12

Houston Texans Defense Looks Ready for AFC's Elite

The Houston Texans' pass defense led the squad to a 32-12 victory Saturday over the Los Chargers.

Aside from an 86-yard touchdown reception from Ladd McConkey, where one defensive back fell down and the other went for the ball, Houston held Justin Herbert and Co. to 125 passing yards.

As a group, the Texans secondary intercepted Herbert on four different occasions. The game was much closer than the final score indicated, especially without those turnovers.

The contest remained a one-score affair deep into the third quarter. That was when an overthrow by Herbert was tipped into Eric Murray's awaiting arms, and he raced 38 yards for the game-defining play.

Overall, the pressure up front coupled with the smothering coverage of Houston's defensive back end showed the Texans are more than just the winner of the woeful AFC South.

Derek Stingley has officially entered superstar status after making his first All-Pro squad. As the Chargers attempted one last shot at coming back, Stingley shut the door with an awesome over-the-shoulder catch. It was his second of the afternoon.

Rookie Kamari Lassiter is a hard-nosed nickel who has thrived after being asked to play in the slot. Safety Calen Bullock has excelled in his first year as well. The unit even lacks its most versatile defender in Jalen Pitre, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.

While the Texans offense needed time to find its footing against Los Angeles, the defense kept the team in the game. The league's sixth overall unit can slow the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. They just did it with Herbert, which shows how competitive the squad really is.

Los Angeles Chargers Must Immediately Invest in Wide Receiver Help

Everyone knew the Chargers needed wide receiver help last offseason after moving on from Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. They still need a lot of help.

Los Angeles received plenty of flak for selecting offensive tackle Joe Alt in the first round over wide receiver Malik Nabers. Both first-rounders pieced together excellent rookie campaigns. The Chargers did find something special in McConkey with the 34th overall pick.

McConkey quickly emerged as Herbert's favorite target, leading the team 1,149 receiving yards. His 86-yard touchdown grab provided the Chargers with some juice when the team desperately needed it. He finished the contest with nine receptions for 197 yards.

From there, the Chargers wide receivers managed two catches for 10 yards. Quentin Johnston, whom Los Angeles drafted in the first round of the 2023 class, didn't make a single catch despite being targeted five times.

If the play of those receivers isn't an advertisement for why the Chargers should invest heavily around Herbert and McConkey, nothing is.

The rest of the group couldn't create any separation whatsoever. Houston's defensive backs easily blanketed them. It's simply too much to ask McConkey to do everything as the primary downfield option.

The Chargers can continue to make the postseason, but they're not going anywhere without some variety in their passing attack.

Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14

Derrick Henry Provides Baltimore Ravens With Closer for Long Playoff Run

The narrative of Lamar Jackson not delivering in the postseason will disappear now that Derrick Henry is in the same backfield.

The Ravens knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Henry to a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract this past offseason. More importantly, the team prepared for moments like Saturday, when Baltimore emerged victorious 28-14 over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Henry carried the ball 26 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yard scoring scamper.

Henry finished second during the regular season with 1,921 rushing yards. His 325 carries were the second-most among all backs. However, his 5.9 yards per carry were a career-high.

While Henry's workload once again reached 300 carries for the fourth time in six seasons, the punishment may not have been as grueling, with opponents more concerned about Lamar Jackson's presence.

As the postseason ramps up, the Ravens can jump on Henry's back instead of hoping their quarterback is Superman in every single contest. The 31-year-old ball-carrier is not wearing down. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry reached a top speed of 20.60 mph during his touchdown run. It was his sixth play to reach said speed, which ranks fourth in the NFL.

"He looked like a movie clip," Jackson told reporters after the game. "You watch the movie 'Cars.' You know when Lightning McQueen is just flying as he passes? That's how Derrick looks. ... It looked like a movie. I'd rather be watching it than on the other side of the ball."

Henry had more carries than Jackson attempted passes, with the Ravens finishing the contest with 50 rushing attempts compared to 21 throws.

With Jackson and Henry in the backfield, the Ravens offense is nearly impossible to defend. The difference now is that Henry is more than capable of taking over the game, as he did Saturday.

Pittsburgh Steelers Enter Another Offseason With QB Issues After Playoff Disappointment

The Steelers are right back where they started.

A year ago, Pittsburgh lost by 14 points in the opening round of the postseason and entered the offseason with major questions at quarterback.

Well, Saturday's outcome turned out to be another 14-point loss in the opening round of the postseason with major questions at quarterback yet to be answered.

Russell Wilson didn't prove to be the calming veteran presence the Steelers hoped he'd be. In fact, Pittsburgh lost its final five games, including the postseason.

Ultimately, Wilson threw for 270 yards against the Ravens. But he did nothing to help the Steelers move the ball in the first half. Most of his yards came with Pittsburgh trailing and the Ravens controlling the game.

Now, the Steelers have to face the fact that neither Wilson nor Justin Fields really provided the team with what they needed. Both are free agents. General manager Omar Khan and head coach(?) Mike Tomlin should look in different directions.

Maybe the team takes a similar path as this year and tries to sign a veteran castoff like Kirk Cousins once the Atlanta Falcons decide to cut ties. Or, the team can reinvest in the game's most important position after failing to do so properly with the draft selection of Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 class.

Whatever the case, the Steelers aren't settled. They're a mediocre football team. They've been a mediocre squad. Things aren't going to change without some type of improvement behind center.