The elite eight in the NFL have now been whittled down to four. But before we can look ahead to championship weekend, we need to look at what was unexpected (and expected) from the divisional playoffs.

Panthers WR Steve Smith, Dolphins RB Ricky Williams and Bengals LB Rey Maualuga were among the notable players who suffered injuries in Week 16.

Matt Bryant, the Buccaneers’ kicker for the last four seasons, lost his job to former Jet Mike Nugent. Bryant was among 21 players released by the Bucs today.

On Sept. 24, Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and his wife, Melissa, lost their 3-month-old son Tryson. On Wednesday, Bryant made an emotional trip to a children’s hospital in the Tampa area to sign autographs and spend time with some kids going through a tough time.

You don’t have to be a Buccaneers fan to be rooting Sunday for Tampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant.

Despite burying his infant son Saturday in Texas, Bryant is expected to kick for the Buccaneers versus the Packers on Sunday.

Some stories go beyond wins and losses or fantasy football. In Tampa Bay, the family of Matt Bryant is dealing with the death of their 3-month-old son, Matthew Tryson Bryant, on Wednesday.

Some stories are so sad they can’t even be fathomed. One emerged out of Tampa on Wednesday. Matthew Tryson Bryant, the infant son of Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and his wife Melissa, passed away Wednesday morning.