Detroit
Lions
11-6
28
FINAL
44
Atlanta
Falcons
15-2
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Wildcard Round matchup, the Atlanta Falcons topped the Detroit Lions with a final score of 44-28, advancing deeper into the playoffs. Both teams came in with high expectations, but it was Atlanta that showcased superior execution on both sides of the ball to secure the victory.
Shedeur Sanders shone brightly for the Lions, throwing for 321 yards and four touchdowns, while Calvin Johnson made his presence felt with 125 receiving yards. Despite their efforts, the Lions struggled to keep pace with the Falcons, who relied heavily on the dynamic play of Mike Vick, who racked up 84 rushing yards and kept the chains moving.
Defensively, Deion Sanders proved to be a game-changer for Atlanta, intercepting three passes and stifling Detroit's offensive rhythm at critical moments. The turning point came in the second quarter when Sanders snagged his second interception, shifting momentum and allowing the Falcons to capitalize with a quick touchdown drive, ultimately paving the way for their victory.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders | QB | 25 | 15 | 60% | 321 | 4 | 3 | 104.1 |
| MIKE VICK | QB | 17 | 11 | 65% | 283 | 4 | 0 | 147.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE VICK | QB | 9 | 84 | 9.3 | 13 | 1 | 29 | 0 |
| Shedeur Sanders | QB | 3 | 35 | 11.7 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Jonathan Taylor | HB | 8 | 14 | 1.8 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Cam Skattebo | HB | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALVIN JOHNSON | WR | 7 | 125 | 17.9 | 29 | 2 | 39 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 3 | 119 | 39.7 | 61 | 1 | 74 | 0 |
| Cooper Kupp | WR | 2 | 74 | 37.0 | 51 | 1 | 64 | 0 |
| Theo Johnson | TE | 3 | 70 | 23.3 | 14 | 1 | 29 | 0 |
| Jayden Reed | WR | 3 | 54 | 18.0 | 21 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| KJ Hamler | WR | 1 | 51 | 51.0 | 22 | 1 | 51 | 0 |
| Jalin Hyatt | WR | 2 | 42 | 21.0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Jalen Coker | WR | 2 | 41 | 20.5 | — | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Dallas Goedert | TE | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEION SANDERS | CB | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Travon Walker | LEDG | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Bailey | REDG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Derick Hall | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Benford | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| RASHEAN MATHIS | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordyn Brooks | SAM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ty Robinson | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Hamilton | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Heyward | DT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marshon Lattimore | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NIGHT TRAIN LANE | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Abdul Carter | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Stutsman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jihaad Campbell | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sauce Gardner | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jevon Holland | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zaire Barnes | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DERRELL REVIS ISLAND | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keisean Nixon | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Marcelino McCrary-Ball | WILL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ka'imi Fairbairn | K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Smyth | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 58 |

