The first postseason in nearly two decades without the Manning name
In short: For years, the NFL playoffs were synonymous with the Manning dynasty. The 2017–18 season shattered that era of dominance, marking the first time since 2001–02 that neither Peyton nor Eli Manning took the field. It was a season of historic droughts ending and new records being forged.
The 2017–18 NFL playoffs served as a major turning point in the league's landscape. Beyond the absence of the Mannings, the postseason saw the first time since 2008–09 that the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers did not feature in the bracket. Simultaneously, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, and Buffalo Bills reached the playoffs for the initial time since the turn of the millennium (specifically 2008, 2007, 2004, and 1999, respectively).
The tournament was defined by dramatic shifts in momentum and record-breaking feats. Having trailed by 18 points at halftime, the Tennessee Titans secured a postseason victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, who held a 21–3 lead, marking the first such comeback by a visiting side since 1972. Marcus Mariota achieved a feat not seen since at least 1950 by both throwing and receiving a touchdown during that specific playoff match. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles secured their first Super Bowl title in the Super Bowl era, snapping a 57-year championship drought.
The season also showcased extreme statistical outliers. The New Orleans Saints witnessed Graham Gano connect on a 58-yard field goal, matching the NFL's historical record for the longest postseason kick in a high-scoring contest. Conversely, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills engaged in a defensive struggle that produced the lowest-scoring NFL postseason game since 1997. The playoffs concluded on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, cementing a year of transition for the league's elite.
The structure of the tournament remained consistent, with the 1 and 2 seeds receiving first-round byes. The 3 and 4 seeds hosted the 6 and 5 seeds, respectively, in the wild-card round. This specific year was also notable for its lack of overtime drama, marking the first time since 2013–14 that no games proceeded to extra periods.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2017–18 NFL playoffs
- Also: Wikidata — 2017–18 NFL playoffs · CC0
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