You remember that feeling. The air gets crisp, the lights at Arrowhead or Highmark Stadium seem a little blinding, and suddenly, every single snap feels like it could end a season. Honestly, the 2022 playoff bracket nfl was one of those rare postseason runs where the "scriptwriters" actually outdid themselves. It wasn't just about who won; it was about how the entire landscape of the league shifted over those few weeks in early 2023.
We saw the "Purdy-monium" start in San Francisco. We watched Trevor Lawrence dig himself out of a four-interception hole. And yeah, we saw Patrick Mahomes limp his way to another Lombardi Trophy. If you’re looking back to settle a debate or just to relive the chaos, you’ve come to the right place.
The Wild Card Weekend That Refused to Be Normal
Super Wild Card Weekend usually has one or two duds. Not this time. This was the weekend where the 2022 playoff bracket nfl really earned its "Super" prefix.
Take the Jacksonville Jaguars. They were down 27-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Most people—including, probably, some folks in the stadium—had written them off. Trevor Lawrence looked like a rookie again, throwing pick after pick. But then? The comeback. A 31-30 victory that essentially ended the Brandon Staley era in slow motion. It was the third-largest comeback in postseason history. Basically, if you turned that game off at halftime, you missed one of the gutsiest performances in modern football.
Then there was the NFC. The New York Giants, led by Brian Daboll in his first year, went into Minnesota and simply out-dueled the Vikings. Daniel Jones played the game of his life, throwing for 301 yards and rushing for another 78. It felt like the Giants were "back," even if that feeling didn't last through the next round.
- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers: 23-41
- LA Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars: 30-31
- Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: 31-34
- NY Giants at Minnesota Vikings: 31-24
- Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals: 17-24
- Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 31-14
The Bengals game featured "The Fumble." You know the one. Tyler Huntley tried to dive over the top, the ball was swiped, and Sam Hubbard took it 98 yards the other way. It’s still the longest fumble return for a touchdown in playoff history. Cincinnati fans call it the "Rumble in the Jungle," and it saved their season.
The Divisional Round and the "Snow Bowl" in Buffalo
By the time we hit the Divisional Round, the 2022 playoff bracket nfl had narrowed down to the heavy hitters. But the real story was the weather in Buffalo.
The Cincinnati Bengals went into Highmark Stadium as underdogs. They didn't care. Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon played like they were on dry turf, while the Bills' high-octane offense looked stuck in the mud. The 27-10 scoreline didn't even reflect how much Cincinnati dominated that game. It was a statement. The Bengals proved they weren't just a "one-year wonder" from the previous season.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Eagles were busy dismantling the Giants. It was 38-7. It wasn't a game; it was a track meet. The Eagles’ offensive line was a brick wall, and Jalen Hurts looked completely unbothered by the shoulder injury that had nagged him late in the season.
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Over in the AFC, the Chiefs survived a massive scare. Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain against the Jaguars. For a second, the entire NFL world held its breath. Chad Henne—yes, the veteran backup—had to lead a 98-yard touchdown drive. Mahomes eventually came back, hobbling, but his mobility was shot. They won 27-20, setting up another collision course with Cincinnati.
Championship Sunday: Tears and Turf
The Conference Championships provided two completely different vibes.
The NFC Championship was over before it really started. Brock Purdy, the "Mr. Irrelevant" who had taken the league by storm, suffered a torn UCL early in the game. Then his backup, Josh Johnson, got a concussion. The 49ers literally ran out of players who could throw a football. The Eagles coasted to a 31-7 win. It was a somber end to a great San Francisco story, but the Eagles looked like an absolute juggernaut.
The AFC side? Absolute fireworks.
The Bengals and Chiefs met for the fourth time in two years. "Burrowhead" was the nickname the Bengals players were using for Kansas City's stadium. Big mistake. Mahomes, on one good leg, scrambled for a crucial first down late in the fourth quarter. A late hit out of bounds by Joseph Ossai put the Chiefs in field goal range. Harrison Butker nailed the 45-yarder. Chiefs 23, Bengals 20.
Super Bowl LVII: The Mahomes Masterclass
The finale in Glendale, Arizona, was a classic. The 2022 playoff bracket nfl culminated in a battle between the two best teams in the league—the Chiefs and the Eagles.
It was the first time two brothers, Travis and Jason Kelce, played against each other in the Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts played arguably the best game ever by a losing quarterback, accounting for four touchdowns. But the second half belonged to Kansas City. Mahomes was perfect. Isiah Pacheco ran like he was trying to break the floor.
The game ended 38-35. A controversial holding call on James Bradberry late in the fourth quarter gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs, allowing them to bleed the clock. People still argue about that call today. But regardless of the flag, Mahomes’ second-half performance (on that same bad ankle) cemented his status as the greatest of his generation.
Key Insights to Take Away
If you’re looking to apply lessons from the 2022 season to your own sports analysis or future betting, keep these three things in mind:
- Health is the ultimate "X-Factor": The 49ers had the best roster in football, but they lost because they ran out of quarterbacks. Depth isn't just a luxury; it's a requirement for a deep run.
- The "Home Field" Myth: The Bengals went into Buffalo and dominated. The Giants went into Minnesota and won. Don't overvalue the home crowd when a team has a clear tactical advantage on the line.
- Elite QB Play Neutralizes Everything: Mahomes was injured. He didn't have Tyreek Hill anymore. It didn't matter. When you have a top-three quarterback, the "rules" of the bracket don't always apply to you.
To dig deeper into the stats of this specific season, you should check out the official NFL Postseason archives or Pro Football Reference for the full play-by-play breakdowns. Understanding the nuances of the 2022 playoff bracket nfl is the best way to predict who might be the "next" Jaguars or the "next" Brock Purdy in upcoming seasons.