Dissecting Round 2

I have seen the Broncos choke away a season before. It's always a bummer, but nothing has been quite like the past two days. Living in California, there were some Broncos fans, but it's not the same as living, essentially, in the heart of Bronco country. There was a strange grief that struck the whole area Saturday, as Justin Tucker banged home a 47-yard field goal to give the Ravens an upset victory. Two days later, people are still frustrated and talking about it. It still doesn't feel real. It still hurts.

Now comes the blame game. That's what it's like living HERE when the Broncos fold. Especially the way they went down. Sure, Peyton Manning has his head hung low, but so, too, do we all. Another season blown.

I went 1-3 this weekend in picks. It's safe to say I didn't see this coming. Maybe I should have, maybe we all should have, but I didn't. Here's my thoughts, game by game:

Ravens 38, Broncos 35 2OT:
This was an ugly game. The fact it was close and went into overtime might lead one to suspect it was the best game of the weekend. It wasn't. And I'm not just saying that because the Broncos lost. This was some marginal football, and a weakly contested game. The officiating was all over the board, it took WAY too long, and all that was before the Manning apocalypse that ended the game.

I have never really liked Peyton Manning, so it's been a challenge for me to root for him as a Bronco. It was easy to blame him after the game, but he's not solely to blame. Sure, Manning did have a terrible game. And he sunk his playoff record in cold games (below 40 degrees) to 0-4. That's a problem. He's also going to be 37 next season, so he's got a limited window. Also a problem. One of the things I questioned during Manning's search for a team was why he would come to Denver. He is a poor outdoors, cold weather quarterback. It gets cold here, and we play outdoors. Manning never looked comfortable in the elements — something that is supposed to be a homefield advantage for the Broncos. Consequently, Manning made a couple ill-advised throws and a terrible fumble. That led to 17 Baltimore points, including the game-winning field goal.

But Manning was hardly the only problem Saturday for Denver. Aside from special teams all-star Trindon Holliday, the Broncos played like a weak team.

Consider the defense — namely the lack of coverage and pass rush. Those two things go hand-in-hand, but they helped create problems. The Broncos have a couple of power rushers up front — Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil — who did nothing Saturday. That gave the Ravens' Joe Flacco time to carve up the secondary, torching Champ Bailey on a pair of deep touchdowns during the game. Then, with the Broncos up seven and time winding down in the fourth quarter, Flacco found Jacoby Jones behind the defense for a 70-yard strike that tied the game. On that play, the Broncos safety — in this case Raheem Moore — didn't play deep enough and let the receiver get behind him. It's an unthinkable effort in a crucial situation.

The coaching wasn't solid either. The offense seemed to lack ump and direction. Whether the fault of Mike McCoy, or Manning calling plays at the line, it was a dink and dunk effort that was tenuous at best. And with the running game falling apart after the injury to Knowshon Moreno, the team had trouble moving the ball. But the lack of desire and will to take chances to win the game hurt too. On some key third downs the Broncos opted for give up runs over trying to make the line of gain with Manning slinging the ball. If you're not going to trust Manning in that situation, why sign him?

But the most unforgiveable coaching move might have been kneeling on the ball to go to overtime without trying to get in field goal range with 31 seconds left and two time outs. Why not even try? Sure, as Matt Prater made clear early in the game, a field goal is no sure thing. Still, why not try to win. You are at home and your defense is getting bombed? But, that's John Fox. I questioned his hiring two years ago because he is overly cautious. He's been good in the regular season, but that caution killed the team yesterday.

So, in the end, there is plenty of blame to go around and a long off season to consider what might have been. You don't get to 13-3 and capture a one seed every year. This one hurts more than most, particularly because it should have been different.

And for the Ravens, the Ray Lewis retirement parade lasts another week. Sure, the Patriots will be favored on Sunday, but you have to wonder if the Ravens aren't one of those slumping teams that skid into the playoffs only to find beast mode. It worked for the Giants last year. It could work again.

49ers 45, Packers 31:
I have to admit, I didn't see a lot of this game. The hang over depression from earlier in the day was a bit much. But, for a brief shinning moment, it looked like the great Colin Kaepernick experiment was about to go down in flames. Kaepernick threw a pick-6, giving the Packers an early 7-0 lead. That could have been the end. The Packers, after all, have an incredible record in the playoffs when they grab a turnover, and this one led to early points. But Kaepernick is no push over, and neither are the 49ers. And it turns out those flaws that haunted the Packers early in the season are still there.

After Green Bay tied the game at 24-24 in the third quarter, Kaepernick and the 49ers went into beast mode. Three straight touchdowns — the first a 56-yard scamper from Kaepernick — and it was over. The 49ers showed they were the better team on both sides of the ball, and might well be on their way to the Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers is still a great player, but you have to wonder if the Packers' window of dominance is closing. The defensive core is getting older, and the team still hasn't worked to correct its flaws. The problem is they are no longer able to overcome them so easily. It will be a long off season for Rodgers and company as well.

Falcons 30, Seahawks 28:
This was, arguably, the best game of the weekend. Seattle is a team that most pundits felt was the best, most complete team. But the Seahawks are much better at home, and Sunday they hit the road. The Falcons have been a tough team to peg all season long. They are 13-3, and the top seed in the NFC, but few believed them to be legitimate contenders.

After taking a 20-0, then 27-7 lead late in the second half, Matt Ryan and the Falcons seemed to be in the driver's seat. Then a funny thing happened. Russell Wilson came on, the Seahawks surged, and the Falcons fell apart again. As the Seahawks took a 28-27 lead late in the game, it seemed fortune had shifted.

But Matt Ryan, previously 0-3 in the playoffs, came through in the clutch on a pair of passes to get his team in field goal range. Matt Bryant did the rest, and the Falcons will host the 49ers for the right to get to the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The Seahawks seem to be a strong up and coming team, while the Falcons now have a chance to actually do something in the Post Season that matches what they've done the last five years in the regular season. Both teams can hold their heads high after this game.

Patriots 41, Texans 24:
Most felt this game would be lopsided. After all, the Patriots beat the Texans 42-14 on December 10 and seem to be healthier now. And, after some early drama, the game was a pretty lopsided affair.

Texans fans will argue they had a shot. The game was, at one point, 17-13 in favor of the Patriots. But it was never really that close. New England is too good, and too experienced. The Texans are a good team and should continue to be a playoff team, but I still think they are missing an element to make them a great team. That is especially true on defense — their strength — where a few teams have found it easy to exploit them.

The Texans have made it to the Divisional Round two years in a row. If they want to move past that, something needs to change in the off season.

As for the Patriots, they are poised to go to another Super Bowl with Tom Brady. They are still searching for a fourth title with Brady, but luckily for them the Giants won't be going to the big game. Of course, they have to get past the Ravens to do it. Last year's AFC title game was close, and I suspect we will see more of the same on Sunday.