Divisional Playoff Recap


What a weekend. I again went 3-1 in my picks, and it was again the pick I felt most sure about that went against me. Here's a recap of what we saw on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday Games:
49ers 27, Vikings 10
About: I thought the 49ers would win, as they're the better team. But I thought it might be closer. Instead, the Vikings got a big play early, a 41-yard strike to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown, but couldn't find any offense after that. The 49ers, meanwhile, did what they do. They spread the ball around among running backs and receivers, and they used a fierce pass rush to create turnovers and wreak havoc. Kirk Cousins deserves a lot of credit for his work in New Orleans, but he looked more like what we've seen in big games on Saturday. It wasn't enough, and the 49ers are hosting the NFC Championship Game.

Titans 28, Ravens 12
About: This was the surprise of the weekend. In fact, if you told me that Lamar Jackson would throw for 365 yards, rush for 143 and Ryan Tannehill would throw for just 88 yards, I would have loved me prediction of a 34-20 game for the Ravens. Instead, it was a dominating performance by the Titans, who forced three turnovers and disrupted the Ravens all day. Tannehill has yet to throw for 100 yards in the playoffs, but it hasn't mattered. Derrick Henry followed up his 182-yard day against the Patriots with 195 yards rushing on Saturday, also throwing for a three-yard touchdown. He's been superhuman in the playoffs, and if the Titans go to and/or win the Super Bowl, it will be thanks to his efforts. That, and some gutsy coaching from Mike Vrabel.

Sunday Games:
Chiefs 51, Texans 31
About: This was a wild game. The Texans came out hard, taking a 24-0 lead. And it seemed the AFC would see another upset. And then the Chiefs' offense kicked in, and they scored on eight straight possessions, including four touchdowns to end the first half with a lead. The Chiefs' offense has long been a strength, and it could lead them to a win over the Titans. But if they start the same next Sunday, and dig a three score hole, I think they'll have trouble coming back against Tennessee in the same way.

Packers 28, Seahawks 23
About: This game wasn't as good as the score would indicate. The Packers dominated in the first half, building a 21-3 lead. They then scored on the first possession of the second half, but couldn't get anything going for a long stretch after. The Seahawks, meanwhile, struggled mightily in the first half but reeled off three second half touchdowns to get close. So the game ended competitively, but it was really a tale of two halves. And now Aaron Rodgers has earned a trip back to the Bay Area for the NFC Title game.

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