Summary

  • Reigning champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers advance with 31-15 win over Philadelphia Eagles

  • NFC sixth seeds San Francisco 49ers eliminate third seeds the Dallas Cowboys after a nail-biting 23-17 win

  • 49ers go on to face Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round

  • Pittsburgh Steelers are beaten 42-21 by the Kansas City Chiefs, who advance to a Divisional Round showdown with the Buffalo Bills next weekend

  • Defeat brings about the expected retirement of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after an 18-year NFL career

  • Roethlisberger spent his entire career with Pittsburgh, winning two Super Bowl titles in 2005 and 2008

  1. Bye bye Big Ben?published at 01:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0 Kansas City Chiefs

    Ben Roethlisberger's farewell tour should probably end here tonight at Arrowhead, but with this Steelers defence you just never know.

    They gave him a great send-off in Pittsburgh and he's getting a second chance with the ball now after the Chiefs had to punt.

    See how his final game at Heinz Field went...

    Media caption,

    NFL: Roethlisberger bids farewell to Steelers fans in style

  2. Three and outpublished at 01:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0 Kansas City Chiefs

    Ben RoethlisbergerImage source, Getty Images

    The Steelers won the toss and took the ball, and promptly go three and out - before letting Mecole Hardman make a nice return on the punt.

    That won't go down as a good start.

  3. 'Big Ben talk makes me nervous for the Chiefs'published at 01:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0 Kansas City Chiefs

    Jason Bell
    Former NFL cornerback

    Big Ben's come out and said 'we're lucky we're here, we're completely overmatched, just enjoy this moment'... that kind of talk makes me nervous. In the locker room, you know [Steelers coach] Mike Tomlin has got them fired up because of that.

  4. We don't have a chance - Big Benpublished at 01:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0 Kansas City Chiefs

    Ben RoethlisbergerImage source, Reuters

    We're off at Arrowhead, where Big Ben reckons he doesn't stand much of a chance of winning..

    The Steelers' veteran quarterback said: "We probably aren't supposed to be here. We probably are not a very good football team. Out of 14 teams [in the play-offs], I think we're probably number 14.

    "I know [the Chiefs] are not the number one seed, but they're the number one team that has won the AFC the last two years, arguably the best team in football.

    "We don't have a chance. So, let's just go in and play and have fun."

    What do you reckon... is it all just a ploy to take the pressure off Pittsburgh, and put it on Kansas City?

  5. Steelers v Chiefs statspublished at 01:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers v Kansas City Chiefs (01:15)

    • Coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record in any of his 15 seasons in charge of the Steelers. This is his 10th play-off berth in those 15 years.
    • Kansas City extended its streak of AFC West division titles to six (2016-21).
    • Ben Roethlisberger will make his 23rd play-off appearance to draw level with the great Joe Montana in fourth on the all-time QB list.
    • Roethlisberger has at least 450 passing yards and four-or-more touchdown passes in each of his last two postseason starts.
    • Steelers linebacker TJ Watt had 22.5 sacks and matched the single-season NFL record held by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.
    • Kansas City’s Travis Kelce is the first tight end ever to top 1,000 receiving yards in six NFL seasons, and also the first ever at his position to reach 80 receptions in six consecutive years.
  6. Good luck stopping Mahomespublished at 01:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    Pittsburgh Steelers v Kansas City Chiefs (01:15)

    And breathe..But not for long, as we've not got the Steelers v Chiefs in a matter of moments!

    And if the Steelers want the upset, they're going to have to stop Patrick Mahomes doing this type of thing. That's easier said than done though...

    Media caption,

    Patrick Mahomes scores a stunning touchdown after scramble

  7. The mood in Dallas...published at 01:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Why did Dak run it so far....

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  8. "It was a dog fight" - Jimmy Gpublished at 01:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Jimmy GaroppoloImage source, Getty Images

    Jimmy Garoppolo is all smiles after watching his defence seal the game in a thrilling finish to a thrilling game.

    "It was a dog fight, a hell of an atmosphere out here, the fans were nuts - it was everything we thought it was going to be. It was fun," he told US television.

    "Guys were just stepping up big in key situations, that's what it was all day. We've got some dogs on our defence, it was fun."

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  9. Niners are going to Green Bay!published at 00:59 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    As the lowest seed remaining, the San Francisco 49ers are off to Lambeau Field to face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers next week.

    The Dallas Cowboys are going home - and that ending was probably about as Dallas Cowboys-like as you could imagine.

  10. GAME OVER! Niners advancepublished at 00:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Phew! Well, that was some finish! That just about had it all, including a bizarre ending, but in the end it's San Francisco who move on to the Divisional Round.

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  11. Game over or is it?published at 00:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Dak Prescott runs it up the middle but the officials take a while getting the ball spotted.

    They think it's all over, but we just need to check..

  12. The lateral!published at 00:55 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    A pass to Cedric Wilson, who laterals to CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys get a big chunk with still 24 second left to play.

    Dallas get to the 50 with the next play and with 18 seconds left there's time, and plays, left for a Hail Mary at least.

    Hold on to your hats!

  13. Penalty costs the 49erspublished at 00:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Jimmy G gets the QB sneak but they were not set at the line and a false start penalty means that they haven't win this game yet as they have to punt it away.

    Dallas get the ball back on their 20 with 32 seconds left. Can Dallas now win this?

  14. Here's the game..published at 00:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    What play would you run on fourth and inches to win the game?

  15. He's short!published at 00:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    He's short! Will they go for it on fourth down and inches, possibly just an inch?

  16. Did Deebo get it?published at 00:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Deebo Samuel takes the ball and runs it almost to the first down marker - but did he make it?

    They'll have a close look at this as if he makes it, it's game over...

  17. Third downpublished at 00:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    It's third and 10, and Dallas take their last timeout - the 49ers will run this then let the clock tick down before punting it away, unless they make a first down here...

  18. Flag!published at 00:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    My word! Randy Gregory with another mindless penalty gifts the 49ers a first down and moves them a step closer to victory.

    Dallas can still get this ball back but they'll have to burn their two remaining timeouts here to stop the clock. The 49ers will be running this ball.

  19. Incomplete!published at 00:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    A huge fourth down and 11 and the 49ers side the house at Dak Prescott, who somehow unleashes a deep throw to Cedric Wilson, who seems to just slip as he tries, and fails, to catch the ball.

    The 49ers take over with a minute and 38 second left to play. A first down ends it.

  20. Two minute warningpublished at 00:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2022

    San Francisco 49ers 23-17 Dallas Cowboys

    Dallas have a huge third and 11 coming up after the break against this limping 49ers side who are desperate to get a stop with their banged-up defence.

    The Cowboys have all the momentum here though and they have the ball just inside the 49ers half.