NFL Playoffs: Divisional Roundup

COLTS/CHIEFS

It could have been a duel between two young guns that hail from Texas – except one team didn’t bring the right amount of ammo. 

Andrew Luck did not save his best for last in a lopsided 31-13 loss to the Chiefs that actually looked way worse than it did on paper.

The veteran quarterback was no match for the new face of Kansas City’s franchise, Patrick Mahomes, who read the room like a seasoned comic, connecting on 27/41 passes for a total of 278 yards.

Head coach Andy Reid’s deficient defense peaked at the perfect time forcing four straight three and outs to start the game, holding the Colts to zero first downs in the first quarter.

Luck’s lifeless offense fell victim to Kansas City’s newfound pass rush that batted a series of passes just shy of the line of scrimmage, sacking the scraggly bearded QB three times – five hits in total.

In the second quarter Indianapolis had a chance to close the gap within seven, but 46-year old field goal kicker Adam Vinatieri, wildly inconsistent in postseason play, booted a chip shot from 23 yards – leaving any momentum on the cutting room floor.  

But before the Chiefs count their un-hatched chickens, they’ll have to get past the very prolific New England Patriots, who currently have all of their offensive and defensive ducks in a row.

COWBOYS/RAMS

December 18, 2018 is a date that if all goes according to plan will be remembered as one of the greatest gets in L.A. Rams history.

It’s the day journeyman C.J. Anderson landed in the City of Angels to fill in for injured franchise running back, Todd Gurley, taking opposing defensive linemen to task.   

On Saturday, Anderson and a healthier Gurley rushed their way past the Dallas Cowboys defense to the tune of a combined 238 yards en route to the NFC championship game against the Saints next Sunday.  

Jared Goff passed for a pedestrian 186 yards, spending much of the night handing off, but his clutch 11-yard scramble on 3^rd and 7 with 1:51 to play sealed the win.

Behind the old school style of play from new school coach head coach Sean McVay the Rams offensive line battered the Cowboys’ front with a relentless running game.  Nothing fancy. Just good old- fashioned brute force barreling into the end zone and classic clock burning keep away.  

Come Sunday, if the Rams can apply the dominant offense and running game they displayed against Dallas, the Saints will be watching the Super Bowl outside of Atlanta.  

CHARGERS/PATRIOTS

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

That sums up the Chargers ineffectual Cover 3 zone defense that they stuck with to a fault, allowing Tom Brady and company to have their way with them offensively.

For the better part of four quarters, it was like painfully watching someone you love repeatedly being taken advantage of because they didn’t know how to dodge an abusive relationship. 

Making matters worse, the Chargers, who refused to blitz, never got close to Brady in the pocket. You would think the Bolts would’ve been more prepared for the Patriots style of play. Don’t these guys watch tape?

If blitzing weren’t a viable option, then man-to-man coverage would’ve at least put more pressure on Brady in the pocket, forcing the 41-year old to hold onto the ball longer, taking him out of his quick release comfort zone.

It was like a drinking game every time a New England receiver was wide open for a screen, slant or virtually any pass to the sidelines or midfield. The Chargers learned the hard way that one type of defense doesn’t fit all.

On the other hand, the Patriots’ blitz-heavy pass rush worked like a charm on Philip Rivers all day long. The battered quarterback got more “bouquets” from defensive end Trey Flowers than he bargained for.

Beating New England at Foxboro, especially in a divisional playoff game, is a tall order for any team. But next Sunday the Patriots will compete against Kansas City in the unfriendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium. 

Mahomes has been spectacular all season long, but he’s still a first year starter making a playoff run for the first time. Brady is like a fine wine that just gets better with age – especially during this time of year. He’s impossible to stop when he’s on his game – and if his performance against the Chargers is any indication of where he’s at – the Patriots will be Super Bowl bound.

EAGLES/SAINTS

For a few shining moments it looked like the Eagles were going to pull off the upset of the divisional playoffs, but Drew Brees and his brethren of Saints finally found their rhythm to march one step closer to a Super Bowl berth, rallying past the reigning champs 20-14.

Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles found himself in familiar waters filling in for injured starter Carson Wentz for the second year in a row. But the repeat of another possible Cinderella season fell short on the Eagles final drive, when Foles’ pass to the sure-handed receiver Alshon Jeffrey deflected into the clutches of Saints Marshon Lattimore with less than two minutes left on the clock.

As the Saints celebrated, Jeffrey laid face down on the field with his head on his hands for what seemed like an eternity which resulted in no mercy on social media from his former Chicago Bears fans who he taunted after the Eagles wild-card upset last weekend.

Brees found a boatload of good fortune in All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas, who tallied a franchise playoff-record 171 yards for one touchdown on 12 receptions. Alvin Kamara pounded Philadelphia’s defensive line with 71 yards, adding an additional 35 via the air.

The Saints gambled on their first play when a deep pass to Ted Ginn Jr. was picked off by Cre’Von LeBlanc resulting in the Eagle’s early 7-0 lead. Philadelphia doubled their pleasure on the following drive with a 2^nd and goal 1-yard rush by Foles.

But for the next three quarters, Foles and company lost their footing, allowing New Orleans to tack on 20 points, seven of which resulted on the heels of a fake punt.

Wil Lutz tacked on a pair of field goals for the Saints, who last got this far in 2009 when they won the Super Bowl.