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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more