It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This

 January 24, 2022

Even the most casual fan would have enjoyed the drama that unfolded this past weekend in the NFL. All four games were close and intense battles. As usual, my picks went in the crapper. The upsets that were in vogue during the season continued. Three underdogs pulled out road trip victories.  The Kansas City Chiefs were the only favorite that won.

The most improbable upset was the San Francisco 49ers beating the Green Bay Packers. The Packers marched down the field scoring a touchdown on their first possession. The running plays were working and Aaron Rodgers completed 7 of 8 passes. I was expecting a huge Packer victory. However, I can’t remember a team putting the clamps on Rodgers and the Packer offense like the 49ers did. Rodgers only completed 7 of his last 21 passes. The 49ers, led by defensive lineman Nick Bosa, had the Packers in disarray. The weather may have played a part as well. It didn’t help that Packers kicker Mason Crosby’s 39 yard field goal attempt was blocked at the end of the first half. The 49ers offense was self-imploding and could only muster 3 points through three quarters. Leading 7-3 in the fourth quarter, Rodgers connected with wide receiver DeVante Adams, who was all alone deep in 49ers territory. A touchdown would have iced a Packers victory. However, the 49ers defense stood tall and held the Packers to a field goal. The biggest sequence came with less than five minutes remaining when the Packers had the ball deep in their territory. An illegal receiver downfield and an illegal procedure had the Packers punting out of their end zone. The crowd was stunned and went silent when the punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. Rodgers had trouble converting third downs and turned over the ball on downs in the waning moments. The 49ers vaunted rushing attack putting them in field goal position. Robbie Gould hit a field goal as time ran out. 49ers 13 Packers 10.

L.A. Rams quarterback Matt Stafford, and receivers Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr., were having a field day. They led the defending champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-3. This could have been larger if the Rams didn’t fumble on the Bucs 1 yard line at the end of the first half. In the second half, the Bucs defense caused three fumbles allowing quarterback Tom Brady to work his magic. The Bucs would score two touchdowns and after throwing 54 passes, ran the ball into the end zone to tie the score. Problem was, there was still 1.43 seconds left. Stafford quickly got the Rams in field goal position where kicker Matt Gay hit a 30 yard field goal as time ran out. Rams 30 Bucs 27

The two best young quarterbacks, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, faced off in probably the juiciest of the playoff games. Each threw for over 300 yards. You knew this would be a high scoring shootout. It seemed evident that whoever had the ball last would win this game. Despite missing a field goal and an extra point, the Chiefs led 26-21 with a little over 7 minutes left. The game went back and forth as the teams combined to score 25 points in the final two minutes. Buffalo thought it had the game won when Allen hit wide receiver Gabriel Davis and caught a 19 yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left. Amazingly, in two plays the Chiefs got into field position to tie the game sending it to overtime. Kansas City got the ball first, scored a touchdown, game over. The team that had the ball last, won. There will be some discussion over overtime rules, for now, Chiefs 42 Bills 36.

The other AFC game was the heavily favored Tennessee Titans against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans were the best team all year and they had the league’s best running back, Derek Henry, back from injury. Though the Titans offense never got on track and the Bengals were able to keep it close. Titans
coach, Mike Vrabel, eschewed an extra point when the Bengals committed a penalty to put the ball on the one yard line. They went for two and the attempt failed.  I’ve never been a fan of going for two in the first quarter. This would come back to haunt them. The game was tied at 16 with 2.43 left. With a 1 point lead they could have tried to run out the clock but they needed to score. Instead of using the run to get in field goal position, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw his third interception. It didn’t take much for the Bengals to set up rookie Evan McPherson for a 52 yard field goal as time ran out. Bengals 19 Titans 16.

In the anticlimactic championship games, the Chiefs will have no trouble and wallop the Bengals. The Rams will be heavily favored to beat the 49ers. This may be next week’s upset.