The NFL previously applied the term “super” to the wild-card round of the playoffs. This year, the ratings were.
Via Sports Business Journal, the six games televised by Fox (which had two), CBS, Prime Video, NBC and ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 attracted an average of 31.9 million viewers.
That’s a 13-percent increase from last year, and the best since the NFL expanded the playoffs from six teams to seven in 2020, which grew the wild-card round from four games to six.
The total average is the best since the four-game format attracted an average of 32.6 million in 2016 for these games: Raiders-Texans, Lions-Seahawks, Dolphins-Steelers, and Packers-Giants. The smallest victory margin that year was 13 points, with an average score of 30-11.
This year, four of the games went down to the wire. Two of the games were lopsided.
Patriots left tackle Will Campbell did not have the cleanest playoff debut.
Campbell allowed several pressures during New England’s win over the Chargers, including one that Odafe Oweh turned into a strip-sack of quarterback Drake Maye. That sparked some online criticism of his play, but Campbell said he’s not interested in what anybody else has to say because he holds himself to “the highest expectation of anybody.”
Campbell also said that he’s not spending any time lamenting mistakes from last week as he prepares to face Texans edge rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter this Sunday.
“It’s my job. It’s what they pay me to do.” Campbell said, via Chris Mason of MassLive.com. “I can look at it and be like, ‘Yeah, I wish I had two plays back last week,’ but that’s wasting energy towards this week. Somebody told me that and it’s very true. I can’t be worrying about last week, because quite frankly, the second after it happened, it doesn’t mean [expletive] anymore. There’s not anything I can do about it, the people in the stands can do about it, you just have to move on and keep playing. You let can’t one play turn into 10.”
The Patriots didn’t move out to a two-score lead over the Chargers until the fourth quarter of their 16-3 win over the Chargers. The Texans had a similar experience against the Steelers before their defense broke the game open and the Patriots’ ability to protect Maye will be vital to their chances of prevailing again this time around.
After the 2024 season, Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired coach Jerod Mayo, after only one year on the job. Given the success of the team with Mike Vrabel in charge, Kraft’s decision has been vindicated.
Still, it wasn’t easy. Appearing on The Quick Snap podcast with David Andrew and Brian Hoyer, Kraft explained the dilemma he confronted.
“I’m very fond of Jerod, and I would say that was one of the one or two hardest decisions [I’ve had to make], because to fire a guy after one year -- and by the way, it was very expensive, because there [was] not only his contract, but 25 other coaches,” Kraft said. “It’s the worst financial implications since we’ve owned the team.”
Kraft realized that he had no choice but to make a change.
“I’m a fan first, and I thought, ‘I can’t -- this just isn’t the right situation,’ and that’s on me,” Kraft said. “Jerod’s a great guy, but I just didn’t want to go through a continuation of what happened. And I really believed that hiring Mike gave us a chance, quickly, to put the team where it was to go from 4-13 to now 15-3.”
Kraft was influenced by the fact that it’s about more than the balance sheet.
“The one thing that I and my family understand is that we own this team, but it’s not like a traditional business,” Kraft said. “I look at our family as custodians of a public asset.”
Not enough owners view it that way. It’s a profit center, in their estimation. And Kraft’s interpretation of his obligation surely has something to do with the success of the franchise during his time as owner.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez had limited work Wednesday as he seeks to return from a concussion that saw him exit Sunday night’s win over the Chargers.
That is a step in the right direction toward Gonzalez being cleared to play Sunday against the Texans.
Gonzalez recorded 10 passes defensed in his 14 regular-season games this season and had two more in the wild card game.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (knee) also was limited.
Linebacker Anfernee (knee), running back Terrell Jennings (concussion), linebacker Harold Landry (knee) and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot) also were limited.
The team practiced without offensive tackle Morgan Moses (knee) and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee).
Cornerback Alex Austin (wrist) was a full participant.
Austin and Jennings are in their 21-day return-to-practice windows.
The Texans, who are on a short week after playing Monday night, likely won’t have wide receiver Nico Collins against the Patriots.
Collins was diagnosed with a concussion during the win over the Steelers and needed a cart to get to the training room from the sideline.
Wide receiver Justin Watson was also out of Wednesday’s practice with a concussion.
Defensive end Denico Autry (knee) and offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle) were the other two Texans who didn’t practice.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (ankle/knee), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (elbow), offensive lineman Tytus Howard (ankle), offensive guard Ed Ingram (shoulder) and running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) were limited participants.
Jordan was inactive on Monday with his injury.
Cornerback Derek Stingley is no longer on the injury report.
