Thursday Morning Update
Lead Story: 49ers Oust Defending Champs in NFL Playoffs
The San Francisco 49ers knocked out the Philadelphia Eagles (last year’s Super Bowl winners) with a 23–19 victory in the NFC wild-card round. The game featured a bit of creativity, including a trick play where Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, plus a late touchdown from quarterback Brock Purdy. For those who usually skip sports—this is a big deal because the reigning champs are now done for the year, and the 49ers stay alive in the postseason. (AP News)
Playoff Shake-Ups: Historic Wins and Big Exits
- Bills Break Decades-Long Playoff Drought: The Buffalo Bills clinched a 27–24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card. This marks Buffalo’s first road playoff win since 1992, with Josh Allen sealing things with a late touchdown run. The win keeps those “could this be their year?” hopes alive for Bills fans—and gives anyone watching Monday watercooler ammo. (Reuters)
- Texans Steamroll Steelers (and Aaron Rodgers’ Hopes): The Houston Texans scored their first ever road playoff win by dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 30–6. Even if you’re not glued to football, this matters: the game powered Houston into the spotlight with two touchdowns by their defense and ended Aaron Rodgers’ playoff run. (Associated Press)
Other Notable Stories
- Fourth-Quarter Chaos Sets NFL Record: The opening weekend of the 2025 NFL postseason set a new record with 12 lead changes in the fourth quarter alone—proving nobody can predict the end of these games, not even the experts. (AP News)
- Stars Bounce Back on the Ice: The Dallas Stars stopped a six-game losing streak by beating the Washington Capitals 4–1—thanks in part to a shorthanded (they had fewer players on the ice) goal from Radek Faksa. For hockey newbies, a streak-busting win like this can shift a team’s fortune mid-season. (ESPN)
- Hat Trick Highlights Across Hockey: Justin Sourdif of the Washington Capitals scored his first NHL hat trick (three goals in one game) and added two assists in a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Elsewhere, Anthony Duclair notched his fourth career hat trick during a league-wide surge of nine hat tricks in just the first six days of January—a rare bit of scoring fun. (ESPN, Pro Hockey News)
- Predators Edge Out Capitals: Roman Josi led the Nashville Predators to a 3–2 win over the Washington Capitals with one goal and two assists—a good day at the office for Josi and a close finish for both teams. (ESPN)
Thursday Morning Takeaway
The 49ers knocked out last year’s Super Bowl champion Eagles, while the Bills and Texans both made history with big road playoff wins in the NFL wild-card round (AP News, Reuters, Associated Press).
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