Divisional Playoff Weekend

PACKERS 32, RAMS 18

Predictable as hell. Of course the Rams defense would play like shit at Lambeau a week after dominating Seattle. Green Bay never even needed much of an officiating boost, cause the Rams were never a threat. Oh sure, they had 1 or 2 2nd half possessions where they maybe could have tied or tightened the game, but not for one moment did I ever think the Rams had any control of the game or that the Packers were in trouble. And inevitably the whole game they would take the dumb sack or make the dumb penalty or blow a tackle or coverage. Aaron Donald was a non-factor. Jared Goff hit a few throws but mostly stunk. Cam Akers had a couple good runs, but nothing special. Meanwhile the Packers ran at will. Rodgers was never hassled. The Rams looked like a team that needed to play against Chris Streveler in week 17 to even make the playoffs. It's time to stop treating Sean McVay like he is Bill Walsh. If a DPI is correctly called in the Superdome 2 years ago he is seen very differently.

BILLS 17, RAVENS 3

Well, this was the game of the week I was most looking forward to, but it wasn't exactly a classic. I liked the first half, with lots of defense. Everybody was missing kicks, even future HOFer Justin Tucker, so the score was lower than it should have been. The Ravens seemed in good shape when they snuck in a tying field goal before halftime. But back to back 3rd quarter drives decided the game. First the Bills drove pretty effortlessly to a touchdown. Then the Ravens drove down for a would be tying touchdown, but Lamar Jackson was picked at the goal line and it became a daggering pick six. Game over. Everyone knew it. To rub salt in the Ravens wounds Lamar later got concussed and something called Tyler Huntley had to try to lead a 4th quarter comeback. So the Bills have their first multi-win postseason since 1993.

CHIEFS 22, BROWNS 17

Finally these moribund playoffs had some real drama. Sadly to get us there required Patrick Mahomes getting concussed. Until his injury the Chiefs, while not dominant, were always in control of things, and you never felt like the Browns had momentum. The Browns did okay. They held KC to field goal tries a few times, and generally kept Mahomes off the field. That fumble turned touchback was obviously huge, as the game went from probably being 16-10 to 19-3 at the half. I certainly thought when Mahomes went out the Chiefs were screwed. You could tell the team felt that way too, at least for a while. Cleveland had momentum. Then after that awful Chad Henne pick they had the ball and I certainly thought Buffalo was about to host the AFC championship. But then a combo of solid defense and poor playcalling by Kevin Stefanski gave KC the ball back. (The Stefanski fanboys amongst the Vikings fanbase was crushed) That Henne scramble on 3rd and long, and Reid going for the 4th and 1 will become legendary if the Chiefs go on to the super bowl again. Whether they will or not hinges almost entirely on Mahomes status for next week.

BUCCANEERS 30, SAINTS 20

Told you the NFL was going to get what they want. I hate being right sometimes. 

No, officiating was not the reason this game went the way it did. No, it is not a coincidence that after 2 weeks of playoffs where officials were not really a factor, they picked this game to be a major factor. 

The biggest factor of all here was Drew Brees. In possibly his final game Brees looked as washed up as any once great QB ever has. He literally could not throw the ball further than maybe 15 yards. He threw 3 terrible picks (the 1st one aided by a blatant uncalled DPI). He was easy to pressure. It's no coincidence their lone explosive pass play all game was from Jameis Winston. No doubt in my mind that Winston wins that game, but Sean Payton stuck with Brees out of stubborn respect.

And because of this, I am now forced to endure another week of Tom Brady hype. Even though Brady again was nothing special. He threw 3 interceptions that were all dropped. Antoine Winfield Jr. made the key strip. I'm so tired of Brady's literally endless reserve of good luck. It's sickening.

So now I am reduced to doing the unthinkable as a Vikings fan. I will be rooting for the Packers to go to the Super Bowl. Because I hate Brady more than anything else in sports. I can't fucking take this shit. I thought we were finally done with this after last year, after Brady was shit down the stretch and got bounced quickly in the playoffs. Instead here this prick is in the NFC title game after beating only 2 winning teams all year. Asshole is even guaranteed to hold all the passing records now that Brees is done. This son of a bitch gets EVERYTHING handed to him for 20 years. I can't stand Aaron Rodgers. I can't stand the Packers. But at least they are legit. Tampa Bay is not. I want the Packers to get fucking curb stomped in the Super Bowl. But for one week I will root as hard for them as I did in the Favre era.

I'm going to be sick.