Written by: Tyler Deakin
What a great weekend of games to watch in the NFL! That Chiefs-Bills game is still being played out in a parallel universe with better NFL overtime rules. Only 15 total points separated the 4 games & 8 teams competing in the Divisional Round. This is the first time in 12 years that a conference title game will not feature Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. We’re talking about a historic weekend of NFL action folks, so I hope you were paying attention. Here’s a breakdown for you in case you need a refresher course on how everything shook out. Without further ado, here’s my spin on what was a truly fantastic weekend of action in the NFL playoffs.
Joe Burrow has the “it” factor
There’s no doubt that Joe Burrow has the it factor in spades! The Bengals won the game despite giving up a ridiculous 9 sacks to the Titans defense. Burrow was flustered all day long but with 20 seconds left in the game found WR Ja’Marr Chase for 19 yards to set up rookie kicker Evan McPherson’s game-winning 52-yard field goal. McPherson called his shot before making the kick that sent the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game! Credit should be given to the Bengals defense too, the unit gave up just 16 points & while totaling 3 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, & 5 tackles for loss. All of this begins & ends with the Bengals star quarterback though, as the team seems to rally around his presence, intensity, and swagger on the field.
You done messed up, A-Aron!
For those who don’t get the reference, it’s from a Key & Peele skit called Substitute Teacher that builds up to a moment where the teacher yells, “you done messed up, A-Aron!” at a student named Aaron. We’ll discuss Aaron Rodgers today, who messed up big time in a prime opportunity to advance to the NFC Championship Game. It’s not so much that he made any critical mistakes, as he had 0 turnovers & went 20/29 passing for 225 yards. The problem is that the Packers offense mustered only 10 points against the 49ers defense. That’s absurd! Rodgers squandered the opportunity of a lifetime in hosting a playoff game where his defense held the 49ers offense to just 6 points. Meanwhile, the 49ers won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. Their defense was phenomenal in giving up only 10 points while totaling 5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, & 2 passes defensed. Special teams was crucial in this one, with a late blocked punt & subsequent recovery for a touchdown by the 49ers being the difference in the game.
Rams blow a lead & recover
This was the “game of the year” before the real Game of the Year took place later that same day. The Rams held a 20-3 lead at halftime, a 27-3 lead late in the 3rd quarter, & they still almost lost. That’s because Tom Brady started doing Tom Brady things with 3:04 left in the 3rd quarter, leading two touchdown drives & a field goal drive to tie the game with 0:42 remaining. His comeback bid was aided by the Rams offense inexplicably losing 3 fumbles, missing a field goal try, & punting twice late in the game. None of that mattered in the end though as the Bucs defense made a critical mistake in leaving WR Cooper Kupp in single coverage with 27 seconds left in the game. He caught a 44-yard rainbow from Matt Stafford to set up Matt Gay’s 30-yard game-winning field goal. Just like that, the Rams are headed to the NFC Championship Game!
Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen
I thought the Chargers-Raiders Sunday Night Football game in Week 18 was the Game of the Year, but boy was I wrong! Both teams essentially traded blows with each other the whole night thanks to stellar play from Patrick Mahomes & Josh Allen. These two could be the league’s next version of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, as the young superstars are bolstered by dynamic supporting casts, fantastic coaching, and phenomenal rosters around them. Speaking of dynamic supporting casts, Bills WR Gabriel Davis had the game of his life against the Chiefs! He went for an eye-popping 201 yards & 4 touchdowns (an NFL playoffs record) on 8 catches. That wasn’t even the craziest thing about this game though, as the final 1:54 in regulation featured 4 lead changes, 2 touchdowns, & 2 field goals. This includes one field goal drive by the Chiefs that started at their own 25-yard line with 13 seconds left. That Chiefs field goal tied the game, and then Mahomes led an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to win the game in overtime.
Bills should not have kicked the ball into the end zone for a touchback. No time ticked off and 13 seconds was all that was needed for Mahomes to tie the game. A squib kick would have forced a reception starting the clock. Even as few as 3 or 4 seconds off the clock could have left the Bills in the lead at end of regulation. And don't get me started about the stupid NFL overtime rules!!