There were several great quarterback plays throughout the wild-card weekend: Lamar Jackson And Josh Allen effectively overcoming defenses to Bo Nix And Jayden Daniels proving that they wouldElong with excellent performances from the newcomers. However, these individual plays stood out the most, demonstrating either impressive arm talent, processing ability and anticipation, or playmaking ability.
Sickening anticipation from C.J. Stroud. pic.twitter.com/cYUwQ8xoSl
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
It took a while C.J. Stroud And Houston Texans‘ to get going, but when they did, it required a heavy dose of Nico Collins. In this game, the Texans played a two-tight end set with a quick fake and a dagger concept between the two wide receivers. In the dagger concept, one receiver runs a deep route to help clear safety spots and the other receiver runs a breakout route underneath him. Stroud knows that the backside defender will run a deep route because of the way his body is rotated, and the jumping linebacker won’t be able to rotate his hips to play in the path of Collins. He releases the ball right as Collins breaks into his route, giving the linebacker zero chance to play it. This results in a huge first down.
It’s not good to give Lamar such pure pocket money. pic.twitter.com/jyO4puplnQ
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 13, 2025
Lamar Jackson and Baltimore RavensThe offense was energized from the start of the game and they scored a touchdown on their first drive. On third and 13 Pittsburgh Steelers Jackson and his offensive line have a chance to force the Ravens into a field goal, but Jackson and his offensive line have other ideas. The Ravens decide to run deep crossing routes against a Steelers defense that has one of the deepest coverages in the NFL. Pittsburgh again uses man coverage on this play, but with two safeties limiting the first two crossing routes. This should give the Steelers enough time to put pressure on Jackson, but the Ravens offensive line does an incredible job of holding up, allowing Jackson to get to a deep crossing route with Rashad Bateman. He knows that with the help of a cornerback, he can get Bateman open and be able to squeeze the ball into a tight window for the first touchdown of the game.
A little late, but Russell Wilson made some great throws. pic.twitter.com/rX4lsds8a6
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
The Steelers offense started off slow but got going in the second half. On this play, the Ravens apply zone pressure and get into quarter coverage. This route shouldn’t really be an option since both the safety and the safety are essentially limiting it, but a slight head turn moves the safety. Kyle Hamilton just enough to give Wilson a window. Great route from From Jefferson beats the cornerback and Wilson throws one of his patented moon balls for the Steelers’ first touchdown of the game.
The NFL doesn’t want you to see this Bo Nix throw (they literally don’t because they cut off the All-22 NFL pro’s actual game completion). pic.twitter.com/N4acGfZhDC
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
Bo Nix and Denver Broncos turned out to be strong outsiders against Buffalo Billsbut this did not stop them from attacking. On second and four, Nix decides to hit deep. The Bills play Quarters, where the deep safeties are sometimes responsible for running intermediate routes, as you can see from the safety belt at the top of the screen. Because of this, the quarterback can take advantage of defenders who don’t run deep routes. Nix sees the safety initially standing still on the backstroke, and it’s too late to turn his hips and run. Troy Franklin. He knows Franklin’s speed will be too much for the defender. Nix just needs to get enough air on the ball to allow Franklin to run underneath him, and he does just that—even though he’s hit hard—for the big first touchdown of the game.
Bad fall, but another great throw from Bo Nix. pic.twitter.com/q7P1chur2T
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
The advantage of attacking the security of these neighborhoods early in the game is that it forces them to sit deeper and opens up some intermediate routes for hacking. Nix decided to take advantage of this. You can see how much deeper both safeties are in this play, giving Nix two options. He has two break routes to his right and neither defender can follow them, leaving the linebacker in a bind. Nix sees the linebacker turning his hips and starting to take the first break route, so he rolls over to the one behind him. The linebacker is actually playing as well as he can, but Nix’s arm strength is superior. However, the recipient ultimately abandoned it.
This should be illegal pic.twitter.com/36pkoGDVXK
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 13, 2025
Josh Allen is known for extending plays and turning nothing into something incredible. On fourth-and-1 late in the third quarter, he does just that. Ideally, the Bills would like to use one of the whip routes from Khalil Shakir below or Curtis Samuel at the top, but Allen refuses it and looks like he wants to try his best to get down first. The Broncos do a good job of containing him, but they never manage to put pressure on him. Not many quarterbacks are going to attempt this throw or even think it’s smart, but Allen has one of the strongest arms in the NFL and he believes in it unequivocally. Ty Johnson ends up going all the way from the bottom left corner of the field to make the play, and Allen leads it perfectly into the back of the end zone, where Johnson makes an incredible catch for a touchdown.
Good pre-communication from the line and Jayden Daniels to pick up the blitz, great throw, incredible catch from Terry. pic.twitter.com/P9D1r8gwzq
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 13, 2025
Jaden Daniels had a historic rookie year and he came out in his first career playoff game. Todd Bowles’ Tampa Bay defense is known for its exotic blitz packages, and CommandersThe offense knows that to be successful it must identify and catch these blitzes. pirates do it here by moving the offensive line to the right to intercept the blitz from David Lavonte. David ends up blitzing and the line picks him up, but the running back is now in a one-on-one situation with the blitz. Antoine Winfield Jr. The back does just enough to give Daniels time to make a deep transition to Terry McLaurin. It’s a perfect catch, but an even more controversial catch because of the huge conversion on third down early in the game.
*chef’s kiss* pic.twitter.com/yz71TGVNPd
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 13, 2025
It’s another great game from Jayden Daniels, this time he took the lead in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead. Daniels begins by reading the concept on the right. If the defense is playing in coverage, he will look to hit from the other side. Dami Brown working until the turn from Zach Ertz. The Buccaneers end up playing in zone coverage, which means neither of those routes are available, so Daniels quickly moves away from it and finds himself on the back end of his progression. He sees that with two backs, Terry McLaurin will need to win on the breakout route against a cornerback playing outside the lever. He believes he will win and knows the downside defenders will step up their attack on the running back. Daniels throws the ball wide for the go-ahead touchdown.
Patented Stafford point on the side of the hand at impact pic.twitter.com/63xEa2iXy5
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
Rams dominated from the start with some impressive defensive play, but Matthew Stafford still had his fair share of great games. Stafford is known for attacking tight windows and being able to throw the ball accurately from any angle of his arm. After faking the game action, he quickly realizes that Vikings send a zero blitz – meaning everyone in the coverage zone plays one-on-one while the rest of the defense blitzes. Because of this, he knows that security will have to go too far to find a route to cross with Hunter Long. After receiving a free kick to the face, Stafford lowers the angle of his arm slightly to prevent him from hitting the ball and throws a perfect ball, instantly hitting the receiver.
Overall, Darnold made a rough play, but this throw, even though it’s made, is incredible. pic.twitter.com/H9ZGxnKp06
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 14, 2025
Overall it was a tough game for Sam Darnold and the Viking attack. But this throw highlights Darnold’s talent. The Rams move to Cover 3, and when the center field defender turns his hips away from the deep post, Darnold knows he has a chance to make that throw home. Jordan Addison. You need special arm talent to attempt this throw from such a tight pocket. He ends up throwing it over 50 yards in the air right on the money for Addison, who can’t get him.
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