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2019 NFL Wild Card weekend: Top 5 takeaways from Round 1 of playoffs

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys comes down with the touchdown reception against Shaquill Griffin #26 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys comes down with the touchdown reception against Shaquill Griffin #26 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts avoids the tackle attempt by D.J. Reader #98 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts avoids the tackle attempt by D.J. Reader #98 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The 2019 playoffs kicked off with a wild NFL Wild Card weekend, seeing the Indianapolis Colts continuing a hot streak, the Seattle Seahawks going home, while the Chicago Bears could shut down everybody en route to a Super Bowl.

Those who believe NFL Wild Card weekend is the best of all weekend matchups on the football calendar likely reinforced that belief after the opening slate of 2019 playoff games.

The Indianapolis Colts took on the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium and pulled off the upset, knocking off the 2018 AFC South champions in a 21-7 one-sided affair. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, held off the Seattle Seahawks’ top-ranked rushing attack en route to a 24-22 narrow win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

And then the Los Angeles Chargers survived a late fourth-quarter comeback by the Baltimore Ravens, winning their NFL Wild Card matchup 23-17.

The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on a tip-missed last-second field-goal try by kicker Cody Parkey to close out the weekend’s slate of games ahead of divisional matchups in Week 2 of the playoffs.

It was weird for San Francisco 49ers fans to be forced to root for either the Seahawks or Cowboys during that bout. Although most probably feel a tad bit good about watching their NFC West division rivals head home after a one-and-done postseason appearance. But at least those other teams can brag about being in the playoffs, while the Niners are a bit of a ways away.

Regardless, this is about takeaways from the first week of playoff action. So let’s dive into it and look at the five biggest points from a wild, Wild Card weekend.