Christian Kirk capped off the first week of the playoffs by reminding us that no matter what happens in the preseason, you never really know with any certainty what’s coming up in the playoffs. It’s a strange game.
There were six wide receivers on the weekend who went over 100 yards. Four of them didn’t have a 100-yard game in the regular season – Jalen Coker, Romeo Doubs, Demarcus Robinson and Kirk.
In 22 of the last 24 postseasons a player has done this. But this is the first season of the 32-team era that four have done it (and there are still seven games left to play).
In the case of Kirk, I don’t understand it. For the bulk of the season, he hasn’t looked any better the vast cast of other wide receivers on that team. Nico Collins has generally been their main guy, and there hasn’t been much difference between their other four – Kirk and their three from Iowa State (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson).
Collins left last night’s game with a concussion (I don’t think he’ll be playing in New England). But even before that injury, it was clear it was going to be Kirk’s night. He’s a lot more experienced than their other receivers, and it was clear early that he came to play and he was going to be more involved.
Higgins throughout the season has shown the most potential of maybe becoming the team’s No. 2 guy, but he wasn’t much of a factor for most of last night’s game. I remember late in the first half wondering if he was even playing – I Googled to see if he was either hurt or suspended. He rallied late with a couple of catches. Noel had a chance to make a long catch, but the throw showed up late, allowing the defensive back to jar it loose before Noel could get it fully secured.
I would guess for the New England game, the passing game will be built mainly around Kirk, Higgins and Dalton Schultz (who averaged about 5 catches per week in the regular season).
| FIRST 100-YARD GAME IN PLAYOFFS (since 2002) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Opp | Score | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2025 | Christian Kirk, Hou. | at Pitt. | W 30-6 | 8 | 144 | 18.0 | 1 |
| 2025 | Jalen Coker, Car. | v. LAR | L 31-34 | 9 | 134 | 14.9 | 1 |
| 2025 | Romeo Doubs, G.B. | at Chi. | L 27-31 | 8 | 124 | 15.5 | 1 |
| 2025 | Demarcus Robinson, S.F. | at Phi. | W 23-19 | 6 | 111 | 18.5 | 1 |
| 2024 | Xavier Worthy, K.C. | Phi. (SB) | L 22-40 | 8 | 157 | 19.6 | 2 |
| 2024 | Zach Ertz, Was. | at Phi. | L 23-55 | 11 | 104 | 9.5 | 0 |
| 2023 | Romeo Doubs, G.B. | at Dall. | W 48-32 | 6 | 151 | 25.2 | 1 |
| 2023 | Michael Gallup, Dall. | v. G.B. | L 32-48 | 6 | 103 | 17.2 | 0 |
| 2022 | Gerald Everett, LAC | at Jac. | L 30-31 | 6 | 109 | 18.2 | 1 |
| 2022 | Isaiah Hodgins, NYG | at Min. | W 31-24 | 8 | 105 | 13.1 | 1 |
| 2021 | Aaron Jones, G.B. | v. S.F. | L 10-13 | 9 | 129 | 14.3 | 0 |
| 2021 | Odell Beckham, LAR | S.F. (SB) | W 20-17 | 9 | 113 | 12.6 | 0 |
| 2020 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | v. Cle. | L 37-48 | 13 | 157 | 12.1 | 1 |
| 2018 | Michael Gallup, Dall. | at LAR | L 22-30 | 6 | 119 | 19.8 | 0 |
| 2017 | Chris Hogan, N.E. | Phi. (SB) | L 33-41 | 6 | 128 | 21.3 | 1 |
| 2017 | Vance McDonald, Pitt. | v. Jac. | L 42-45 | 10 | 112 | 11.2 | 0 |
| 2017 | Corey Clement, Phi. | at N.E. | W 41-33 | 4 | 100 | 25.0 | 1 |
| 2016 | James White, N.E. | Atl. (SB) | W 34-28 | 14 | 110 | 7.9 | 1 |
| 2015 | Jeff Janis, G.B. | at Ari. | L 20-26 | 7 | 145 | 20.7 | 2 |
| 2015 | Corey Brown, Car. | v. Ari. | W 49-15 | 4 | 113 | 28.2 | 1 |
| 2014 | Jermaine Kearse, Sea. | v. Car. | W 31-17 | 3 | 129 | 43.0 | 1 |
| 2014 | Chris Matthews, Sea. | N.E. (SB) | L 28-24 | 4 | 109 | 27.3 | 1 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | at Ind. | L 44-45 | 8 | 150 | 18.8 | 1 |
| 2013 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | v. S.F. | W 23-17 | 6 | 106 | 17.7 | 0 |
| 2013 | Ted Ginn, Car. | v. S.F. | L 10-23 | 4 | 104 | 26.0 | 0 |
| 2012 | Zach Miller, Sea. | at Atl. | L 28-30 | 8 | 142 | 17.8 | 1 |
| 2011 | Darren Sproles, N.O. | at S.F. | L 32-36 | 15 | 118 | 7.9 | 1 |
| 2010 | Greg Olsen, Chi. | v. Sea. | W 35-24 | 3 | 113 | 37.7 | 1 |
| 2010 | Todd Heap, Balt. | at K.C. | W 30-7 | 10 | 108 | 10.8 | 0 |
| 2008 | Santonio Holmes, Pitt. | at Ari. | W 27-23 | 9 | 131 | 14.6 | 1 |
| 2008 | Kevin Curtis, Phi. | at Ari. | L 25-32 | 4 | 122 | 30.5 | 0 |
| 2007 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | v. Jac. | L 29-31 | 10 | 135 | 13.5 | 0 |
| 2007 | Vincent Jackson, S.D. | v. Ten. | W 17-6 | 5 | 114 | 22.8 | 1 |
| 2006 | Jabar Gaffney, N.E. | v. NYJ | W 37-16 | 8 | 104 | 13.0 | 0 |
| 2006 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | v. K.C. | W 23-8 | 9 | 103 | 11.4 | 0 |
| 2005 | Cedrick Wilson, Pitt. | at Cin. | W 31-17 | 3 | 104 | 34.7 | 1 |
| 2004 | Kevin Curtis, St.L. | at Sea. | W 27-20 | 4 | 107 | 26.8 | 0 |
| 2003 | Brandon Stokley, Ind. | v. Den. | W 41-10 | 4 | 144 | 36.0 | 2 |
| 2002 | Kevin Johnson, Cle. | at Pitt. | L 33-36 | 4 | 140 | 35.0 | 0 |
| 2002 | Frank Wycheck, Ten. | v. Pitt. | W 34-31 | 10 | 123 | 12.3 | 1 |
| 2002 | Javon Walker, G.B. | v. Atl. | L 7-27 | 5 | 104 | 20.8 | 0 |
—Ian Allan