Well, this is it ladies and gentlemen. The stage is set, the AFC and NFC Champions are crowned, and we are all set to watch the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta in two weeks in Super Bowl LIII. But how these teams achieved this great honor is what matters more today, because both of these teams arrived at the biggest game in all of the land in rough and tough and thrilling fashion since we were treated to a pair of overtimes games, a first on Championship Sunday and well, let’s not waste any more time today and get right down to reflecting upon all the wonder we experienced during yesterday’s Conference Championships.

The New Orleans Saints blew it, not the refs.
The big story that came out of yesterday’s NFC Championship Game, was that the officials somehow cost the New Orleans Saints the game by not calling a flagrant helmet to helmet/pass interference call late in regulation and well, that’s just silly. Because while the refs did indeed get that call wrong, there’s no guarantee that the penalty would have produced a different result score wise and quite frankly, this loss is on the Saints through and through. For they had the opportunity to put it in the end zone multiple times and settled for Field Goals and had one of those three-point attempts ended in a touchdown, New Orleans would be enjoying a trip to the Super Bowl.
 
But all mistakes aside, a lot of credit needs to go to the Los Angeles Rams in this game because they handled this difficult road trip in masterful fashion. They figured out how to overcome the noise, they were patient and settled, despite the fact that New Orleans came out swinging. But most importantly, they took advantage of every single opportunity that came their way and adjusted to the Saints accordingly and as I made mention of in my preview article, it all came down to defense and their fine defensive play is what finally earned them the NFC Championship and a spot in Super Bowl LIII.

​The AFC Championship Game was a tale of two halves…with some thrilling overtime thrown into the mix.
Football coaches preach the importance of being prepared for sixty minutes of play, and there’s good reason for that. Because fortunes can change as a game rolls on, and adjustments come into play and opportunities arise and for proof, look no further than the AFC Championship game. Because the first half of this game was all about the New England Patriots, and they outright dominated the Chiefs on every single down on both offense and defense, to the point where it felt as though they were going to win this game handily…and then the second half arrived, and things got interesting.
 
Because Kansas City played some inspired football in the third and fourth quarters, the kind that put points on the board. But, feel good stories sometimes only go so far, and despite their best efforts, KC found ways to allow for the Patriots to stay in the game. And they accomplished that, by taking a page from the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive playbook from last year’s AFC Championship game, and the Chiefs D offered up all kinds of zone defensive looks that Brady was able to read and take full advantage of. So, thanks to Andy Reid’s poor postseason coaching skills, Kansas City’s magical season came to a close in heartbreaking fashion and the New England Patriots are headed to their third straight Super Bowl. 

Championship Sunday truly is a special time of year. Because on this particular day, every team that takes the field, knows precisely what is at stake. This is it, their chance to play in the game they’ve dreamed of playing in since they took up football, and all they have to do to live that dream…is win one more. It’s why these games are sometimes more intense than the Super Bowl itself, because who wants to go home, knowing they were that close to competing for the World Championship? But alas, today, only two teams will advance and without further ado, here is our preview of what to expect on Championship Sunday.

THE BUZZ
If there’s one thing sports fans everywhere love, it’s an epic rematch and this game…is the round two we’ve all been waiting for. Because earlier this year, the Rams and the Saints met in New Orleans for an epic shootout, one where the Saints emerged victorious and all the talk that came out of that game, wherein everyone wondered if it was a preview of the NFC Championship Game, was one-hundred percent correct. And with a spot in Super Bowl LIII on the line, I think we can all expect this matchup to be an instant playoff classic as two great quarterbacks take the field, hoping to build or add to their legacy.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
Defense. Defense. Defense. Did I mention that playing defense is the key to this game? Because that’s all there is to it my friends. For Drew Brees and Jared Goff are supremely talented at taking advantage of any opportunities that come their way which means it is up to whatever secondary is currently on the field to remove those opportunities. That means the first defensive squad that figures out how to get to the quarterback, and neutralize the receivers they’re facing off against, will be the one to earn their team the George Halas Trophy and a few plane tickets to the Super Bowl. As to which team that will be, I haven’t a clue, but man, this one is going to be a blast to watch. 

​THE BUZZ
While the New England Patriots have accomplished some incredible feats upon the field, and have been here time and time again, they’re underdogs in this game for a couple of key reasons. First and foremost, they’re not playing as well as they did last year, and they’re vulnerable and quite frankly beatable. But they’re also underdogs because, football fans are absolutely dealing with Tom Brady fatigue. There’s a general vibe outside of Foxboro, that it’s time to see someone else outside of New England in the big game and plenty of fans are hoping to see them lose this game and well, the Chiefs might fulfill that wish, because they’re hungry for revenge from the loss they suffered to the Pats earlier this season and they’re also an incredibly talented team. One that can hang with New England and make a game of it.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
I’ll say it now, this is quite frankly, Kansas City’s game to lose. Because not only are they the better team in this game, they also proved in their Divisional win over Indianapolis that their defense knows how to adjust to a particular offense and exploit their opponent’s weaknesses and now that they’ve faced off against the Pats once before and know they can control the tempo of a game, I expect them to follow the formula to beating Tom Brady. Which means there will be some heavy blitzes coming number twelve’s way, and a lot of man coverage on the field in order to throw his timing off and if the Chiefs can execute that plan all night long, expect the Kansas City Chiefs to hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy before booking their charter to Super Bowl LIII.  

​I said it the other day, and I will say it again, this year’s Divisional Round ended up surprising me in just about every single way imaginable. After all, we usually see some kind of wild upset, or some kind of earth-shattering play. But this past weekend’s slate of games featured little of either, instead it was old school football, and downright domination from some teams as the cream of the NFL’s crop punched their ticket to Championship Sunday. But, despite the fact that this weekend wasn’t quite as wild as we might have liked for it to be, there’s still plenty to discuss when it comes round two of the NFL Playoffs, so let’s get right down to it and break down exactly what we learned from the Divisional Round.
 
Irony, meet the Indianapolis Colts.
One of the highlights of Wild Card Weekend, was the intensity that the Indianapolis Colts brought to the field. Because their fierce style of play, and obvious preparation is precisely why they dominated the Houston Texans. But boy, what a difference a week makes. I don’t know if Indy spent the whole week riding high on that victory or what, but they were not prepared in the slightest when they took the field against the Kansas City Chiefs, and apparently, they left their swagger in Houston because wow…they were manhandled in KC. The Chiefs simply carved them up like a Holiday roast in the ugliest of fashion and well, all we can do is hope that this is a fine lesson for Indy in that, you can’t take a week off when it comes to intensity and it’s on to the next one as soon you get back to work on Monday.
 
The Los Angeles Rams exercised great patience in their win over Dallas.
Make no mistake about it, the Dallas Cowboys had one hell of a year, and their energy and swagger down the stretch made them a lot of fun to watch in the playoffs, and that joy extended to Saturday night’s game. Because the Cowboys came to play in L.A. and were fierce on the field and hungry for a win. But the Rams, who were similar in their enthusiasm last year, made sure to not let the moment get the better of them, and they were quite patient in this game, and waited for the right opportunities on both offense and defense, and for their patience, they were rewarded with a magnificent playoff win over a quality team, and now they are one step closer to the biggest game in all the land and I tip my cap to the Rams and their supremely zen style of play in this matchup.
 
The Los Angeles Chargers embarrassed themselves in Foxboro.
What I continue to find funny about teams that face the Patriots in the playoffs, is that they all seemingly forget that the Pats are in fact beatable, and that there is a formula to making that happen. For time and time again, teams that play tight man coverage on Brady’s receivers, and hit #12 or sack him, are the ones who walk away with an important regular season or postseason victory. The Chargers undoubtedly knew this heading into Foxboro, and they demonstrated in their victory over the Ravens that they are able to adapt their defense to defeat a particular offense when necessary. But instead, they chose to go the ‘safe’ route this weekend and embarrassed themselves in the process. They played zone or Cover 3 (and up) all game long against a quarterback who thrives on that, and to make matters worse, the Chargers offensive game plan was as vanilla as it gets and it didn’t exploit a weak secondary and well, when all is said and done, hopefully this blowout loss will teach Los Angeles a big lesson in how properly preparing for an opponent can reap all kinds of benefits.
 
The New Orleans Saints didn’t let adversity rattle them.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again; great teams are defined by how they perform with adversity surrounding them and for proof, look no further than the Eagles/Saints game. Because Philadelphia came out swinging and stunned the Saints early on with a beautiful interception of Drew Brees before quickly putting 14 points on the board, and let’s be honest, that kind of fast and dominant play can and will rattle most teams. But the Saints didn’t let it bother them in the slightest and they stuck with their game plan, made adjustments on the fly and eventually put up all the points necessary to secure the win and by keeping a level head during this game, Drew Brees gets another chance to lock up a conference title for the Big Easy since the Saints will be hosting the NFC Championship Game.   

I have to admit, I’m a touch surprised at how the first day of the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs turned out. Because usually the first day of this round features a stunning upset, or an incredibly close game that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But instead, day one was pretty by the numbers. The home teams handled their business and never put us in doubt as to who was going to win and let’s be honest, the Kansas City game was more or less a blowout. But, there’s still time for some big-time surprises and the potential for a true thriller. So, without further ado, let’s take a moment and look at today’s games as we all prepare to settle in for Day Two of the Divisional Round. 

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
In a way, you have to feel a little bad for the Los Angeles Chargers this year. After all, they had an amazing season, and played some dominant football in the AFC that eventually led them to a quality 12-4 record. However, the fact that this team is in the AFC West made that record about as irrelevant as it gets since the Chiefs won that division, pushing the Chargers into the #5 seed in the AFC Playoffs, but that didn’t stop them from making the most of that opportunity since they handled the Baltimore Ravens with ease. As for the New England Patriots, well they did what they’ve done for ages now and won the AFC East in order to get here, but it was perhaps their toughest run to the #2 seed in a long time. Because the Pats finished 11-5 this year and they looked downright average at times, but a weak division helped provide them with another shot at the tournament.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
For the Patriots, the big key to this game is that they have to get their offense rolling. There can be no mistakes, no dropped passes or missed throws in this one, they have to look like a well-oiled machine against a confident and talented Los Angeles squad who are looking to defeat a vulnerable New England team. So as long as Tom Brady keeps a rhythm going and gets his guys into the end zone, they should be fine. As for the Chargers, well, they are definitely chomping at the bit to end the Patriots season in Foxboro and the key to this game for L.A., is to sock New England in the jaw on both sides of the ball. Which means that Philip Rivers needs to take full advantage of the Pats porous secondary and hit them with some big plays and all the Chargers D has to do…is stick with the formula that teams have beaten Brady with time and time again. That means some healthy blitzing to hit and chip Brady to throw off his timing and to lock down those receivers in tight man coverage, and if they can pull all of that off, they’ll earn the upset. 

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
Let’s be honest, the Philadelphia Eagles have provided sports writers everywhere with some phenomenal material over the past two years since their story continues to be downright magical. After all they won the Super Bowl last year on the arm of a backup QB and after appearing to have a Super Bowl Hangover so bad they almost missed the tournament this year, that same backup QB, Nick Foles, leads the team to a playoff berth and a stunning victory over the vaunted Chicago Bears. As for the Saints, well…they too had quite the magical year but in far different fashion. Because this year, everything came together for the Saints on both offense and defense and thanks to Drew Brees’ incredible performance this season and a defense that rarely let anyone score on them, this team earned the NFC South division title, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
For the Eagles to have a chance in this one, they have to do precisely what they did in Chicago all over again. Which means the offense needs to exercise great patience and take every yard the defense gives them, so long and sustained drives are key so that they can wear down that powerhouse Saints defense, and speaking of defense, that Philly secondary has to figure out how to take away any routes available for Drew Brees, in the hopes of keeping New Orleans out of the end zone. As for New Orleans, well…they honestly just need to do what they’ve been doing all year long, which is wow us on offense and contain Foles and the Eagles running game. So, in essence, it’s New Orleans’ game to lose since they’ve been playing top notch football all season long and as long as they don’t take Philadelphia for granted, they should do just fine in this game. 

​And then there were eight. Yes, just like that, the playoff field was whittled down by four, sending the Wild Card winners on the road to face off against teams that fared better in the regular season, which should in turn level the playing field since the playoffs are designed to bring forth the cream of the crop. But while the Divisional Round is supposed to be a more ‘refined’ weekend of football, let’s be honest, it’s just as up and down as Wild Card Weekend and one team, or several, will be stunned by an upset over the course of the next two days. Which means it’s high time we dig in and examine this weekend’s amazing slate of games, starting with Day One of the Divisional Round! 

HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
For the Kansas City Chiefs, today’s game serves as the continuation of a magical 2018 campaign. For this is a team that outright dominated their opponents this season, with a dynamic offense centered around a dynamic quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, and his ability to escape sacks and make incredible plays time and time again helped this team to secure another divisional title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. As for the Indianapolis Colts, well they reached this round by shocking the Houston Texans in their own home. Because Indy was downright dominant at NRG Stadium last weekend and their ability to dominate the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense, alongside a great performance from Andrew Luck, kept their Super Bowl dreams alive.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
On paper, it looks like this matchup skews toward Kansas City and there’s good reason for that. They truly do have one of the finest offenses in the league and Patrick Mahomes is a big reason as to why this team is enjoying a home game today. And quite frankly, if the Chiefs are able to pick apart the Indy defense and keep the points rolling, then there’s no reason as to why KC should lose this game. That being said however, there is one big glaring problem when it comes to the Chiefs; their defense. Because their secondary is simply awful, and teams have torched KC with the passing game all year long because of how poorly their corners play. So, I fully expect Indianapolis to take full advantage of that weak secondary and with that incredible offensive line in front of him, Andrew Luck may have quite the day. So really, it’s Kansas City’s game to lose. If their defense doesn’t step up, they’re one and done. But if they can put it all together today, KC may enjoy quite the victory. 

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
There have been a lot of questions surrounding the Dallas Cowboys over the past couple of years and understandably so. Because they haven’t shown the football world a sense of toughness or that they outright hunger for a win. But their game last week silenced much of that talk because when the chips were down, and they needed a win, the team came together and pushed ahead, securing a victory over the Seattle Seahawks. As for the Rams, well, they made it to the playoffs this year by following the formula that got them here last year; scoring a boatload of points and stifling defensive play that keeps opponents out of the end zone. And the end result of sticking with what works in 2018, was a 13-3 record and the number two overall seed when it comes to NFC Playoff seeding.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
This is another game where on paper, it would seem that the home team has quite the advantage. Because Los Angeles has a downright incredible offense, one that seemingly scores at will thanks to their star QB and RB and to complicate matters further for Dallas today, is that powerhouse defense, one that does a fine job of shutting down wide receivers and it also features a defensive line that loves to feast upon quarterbacks, and I’ve no doubt they have the standard plan in place to beat Dallas. So, I expect L.A. to go after the run and lock down the Dallas receiving corps. But, the biggest X Factor in this game, is that Los Angeles cannot take the Cowboys for granted for even a second. Because despite Seattle’s attempts to contain the run last week, Ezekiel Elliott found ways to get the ball down the field and Dak Prescott did a fine job of exploiting any gap he found in the Seahawks secondary and I fully expect Dallas to do more of that this week. So, this game may come down to who wants it more and I cannot wait to see how this one turns out.  

​There really is nothing quite like NFL playoff football and for proof, look no further than this past weekend’s slate of games. For Wild Card Weekend once again lived up to its namesake since we were treated to some unexpected upsets and stunning plays and well, with so many amazing moments hanging over these matchups, let’s get right down to it and discuss some of those incredible moments and what we learned from the first round of the NFL Playoffs.
 
The Houston Texans didn’t take their playoff appearance seriously.
I’ve seen some incredible things happen in the playoffs in my many years of watching football. I’ve seen games come down to one last play in the final seconds of the game. I’ve seen horrific blowouts and competitive games. But from time to time, I see something that simply leaves me shaking my head; teams that flat out don’t take their opportunity in the tournament seriously and that’s what I saw from the Houston Texans on Saturday. Because it was clear from their lackadaisical style of play, and their outright surprise when it comes to how Indianapolis challenged them, that they expected this game to be a walk in the park and well, hopefully this ugly loss will teach the team and the coaching staff to bring their A-game to the field every single week, and to never underestimate their opponent or expect a win, otherwise, they’ll see another early exit from the playoffs in the same kind of embarrassing fashion.
 
The Dallas Cowboys simply wanted it more.
I’ve been a big-time critic of the Dallas Cowboys over the past couple of years, and with good reason. They’ve squandered opportunities on the field, they’ve made some bone headed play calls and folded when teams have stood up to them. But this year, this team has made me eat a lot of crow when it comes to my criticisms and once again, I have to tip my cap and give well-deserved credit to the Cowboys because my goodness, they showed up to play on Saturday night. They wanted this win and they wanted it bad and they didn’t quit when the Seahawks chipped away at the lead and they stepped up on both offense and defense when they absolutely needed to and for their efforts, they’re off to the Divisional Round and I see no reason why they can’t keep this high level of play going when they face the Rams this Saturday.
 
Lamar Jackson was downright terrible on Sunday.
I have been and will forever be quite critical of the Run-Pass-Option style of play in the NFL because it simply is not sustainable. Eventually, teams figure out how to defend against a particular team that runs it well and unless the QB who helps pilot this program can play the position in traditional fashion, this little experiment often ends in disaster and for proof, look no further than Sunday’s AFC Wild Card Game. Because the Chargers were fully prepared for the RPO, and by shutting down the run, they forced Lamar Jackson to win the game with his arm and that…did not go well. Jackson struggled to read the defense and made errant throws left and right and while I fully understand he threw two touchdowns late in the game, let’s be honest…those happened during garbage time when the Chargers went into Prevent. Which means that Jackson needs to spend his offseason in the film room and working on his mechanics because this kind of performance won’t be tolerated when next season rolls around.
 
The Eagles cooked up a little postseason magic once again.
Okay, I won’t lie to you all, this segment was originally focused heavily on Cody Parker’s kick. But after seeing that Eagles Defensive Tackle Treyvon Hester tipped that ball at the last possible second, it became clear that the story here is how the Eagles once again willed themselves to an incredible win over a quality football team. Because the Bears defense is magnificent, and the offense is no slouch either, but on Sunday Night, neither side was able to contain the Philadelphia Eagles, who took advantage of every single opportunity that was presented to them and man, did they end this game in thrilling and stunning fashion. Either way, the defending champs are on to the Divisional Round once again and it should be interesting to see how they handle the Saints. 

​Well, fellow football fans, it’s a quite a special day in the NFL. For after months of hard offseason work, a grueling preseason and a bevy of tough and hard-fought games, the playoffs get underway today with twelve teams vying for a shot to play in Super Bowl LIII. Which means that we are going to be in for a quite a treat over the next couple of days, because the first round of the playoffs, Wild Card Weekend, often lives up to its namesake since we are often privy to stunning upsets and quality play as these teams work to advance to the Divisional Round. So, with that in mind, let’s not waste any more time today and get right down to previewing what to expect from Wild Card Weekend in the NFL. 

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE PLAYOFFS
I’m starting to wonder if the NFL should dub this game, the Miracle Bowl since early on in 2018, both of the teams featured in this game, looked as though they had zero chance of making the playoffs. For the Colts lost five of their first six games, making it seem as though another disappointing year was on the horizon for them. But clearly, this squad came together since they finished strong in the second half of the season, posting a final record of 10-6 and they did just enough to find a home in the tournament and the team they’re facing, also had a scare to start their season since the Houston Texans went 0-3 to start off their 2018 campaign. But much like the Colts, a light switch flipped on for Houston and they went on an outright tear, enjoying a nine-game win streak before suffering a few more late season losses. But their record of 11-5 was enough to lock up the AFC South.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
Make no mistake about it, both of these teams feature prolific offenses that can quite frankly achieve wonders and much that comes courtesy of Quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson since they can score seemingly at will. Which means that the real key to this game is defense. Because unfortunately, both of these teams feature bend, but don’t break defenses that tend to keep their opponents in the game with this softer style of play so really, one of these teams needs to step it up on that side of the ball if they want a chance to advance to the next round. Which means they simply cannot give up an inch when it comes to the run game, and their secondaries have to play tight coverage to take away routes from these talented quarterbacks and the first team to buckle down and play stifling defense will be the one to advance to the Divisional Round.

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE PLAYOFFS
If there’s one thing I find truly fascinating about this particular matchup, it’s the fact that both of these teams, didn’t make the playoffs in 2017. But clearly, not being in the tournament, and being criticized for not doing so allowed for both of these teams to do a little soul searching and make some necessary changes in 2018. Because a Seahawks defense that was derided as soft, stepped up their game this year and helped Seattle play the spoiler on more than occasion and their reward for their efforts was a 10-6 record and a spot in the tournament. As for Dallas, well at first it seemed this season was going to result in another missed shot at the title, but a mid-season trade for WR Amari Cooper injected life into a listless offense, allowing for the Cowboys to go 10-6 as well, which was good enough to help them secure the NFC East Divisional title.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
Regardless of how dynamic and fun these teams are on game day, they both have glaring weaknesses that either side will need to exploit in order to secure a victory. The Cowboys for example, tend to fold when they become one dimensional on offense and the Seahawks defense tends to wear down when it is on the field for extended periods of time. So, if the Cowboys want to win this thing, they need long and sustained drives. Which means they cannot abandon the run, and Dak Prescott has to take whatever opportunities present themselves on the field passing wise and not worry about deep shots down the field. As for Seattle, well, they just have to shut down everything we just discussed. If they contain or neutralize the run, and blanket Amari Cooper and force Dak into making bad or panicked decisions, then the game is theirs.

​HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE PLAYOFFS
This is a bit of an odd matchup, because it isn’t every day that you see a 12-4 team like Los Angeles, traveling to another town for a Wild Card Matchup. But such is life in the AFC West and since the Chargers had to work to keep pace with the Chiefs, the best they could achieve in the playoffs was the #5 seed and I’ll be damned if they didn’t earn it. Because L.A. dominated many of their opponents this year on their way to that stellar record. As for Baltimore, well they are another team that quite frankly, I think the league and the fans left for dead early on the season because they were 4-5 heading into the bye week. But a switch to Rookie QB Lamar Jackson electrified and inspired this team, allowing for them to finish 10-6 on the season, and secure the AFC North in thrilling fashion in Week 17.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
This is a tough one to dissect because both of these teams are about as dynamic as they come. But there is a path to victory for both of these teams. For Los Angeles, they have to overcome that powerhouse Ravens defense, and that is no easy task. But a balanced attack, one involving the run and a quick passing game should help to wear that defense down and allow for Philip Rivers to find the end zone. As for Baltimore, well, the time has come to unleash a passing attack. Because the Chargers will be fully prepared for the run, since that is Lamar Jackson’s favorite thing to do, so, if he can air it out and catch Los Angeles off guard, there’s a good chance that Baltimore can outscore the dynamic Chargers offense. 

HOW THESE TEAMS REACHED THE PLAYOFFS
If anything, this matchup features a lot of feel good stories when it comes to the teams taking the field. After all, a year ago, the Chicago Bears were a in a rough place, having finished 5-11. But a coaching change, and a dynamic trade for one of the best pass rushers in the league jumpstarted this team in 2018 and they outright dominated most of their opponents this season as they more or less cruised to a 12-4 record and their first NFC North title in 8 years. As for the Eagles, well, the defending Super Bowl Champion looked as though they were dealing with a Super Bowl hangover since it was an up and down year for this team. But, once again, the injury bug found QB Carson Wentz, pushing Nick Foles back into the starting lineup, which in turn created a little late season magic, since Foles led the Eagles on a three-game win streak, one that helped Philly lock up a playoff berth and a chance to properly defend their title.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
Make no mistake about it, the Philadelphia Eagles are facing quite the opponent in this matchup, but victory is possible, provided they make a few key things happens. First and foremost, the offensive line needs to give Nick Foles time for a play to develop, which means they have to figure out how to slow that pass rush down and open holes for their running back and the defense, well they have to confuse Mitch Trubisky. So, if they can put together some wonderfully disguised packages on the field, they’ve got a shot at winning this game. As for Chicago, well…they just need to play their game. Let the defense dominate the line of scrimmage and let Khalil Mack rush all day long and they should be able to get off the field quickly and keep themselves fresh, allowing for the offense to wear down Philly’s D on their way to the end zone, and a win.

​Well football fans, we’ve come to the most bittersweet time of the year, the end of the NFL Regular Season. And I call it bittersweet simply because, for some fans, their team’s journey has come to an end and they face an offseason of re-loading or rebuilding to try and compete in the fall while other fans, are rejoicing over the fact that their favorite team is getting their respective shot at the title in the playoffs. But, before we can discuss what comes next for a particular squad, or what a particular team’s chances are in the postseason, we still need to discuss this past week’s slate of games, for plenty of important moments came forth from Sunday’s finale. So, without further ado, let’s dig right in and discuss what we learned from Week 17 in the NFL.
 
The road to the Super Bowl is going through Kansas City in the AFC.
After weeks of back and forth in the AFC, the playoff seeding is finally decided and any AFC team that wants a shot at the Super Bowl, has to travel to Kansas City and that’s a huge deal for the Chiefs. Because home field advantage is always a wonderful thing and they were simply electric at Arrowhead against the Raiders on Sunday with their fans cheering on every last touchdown. But while this is cause for celebration for Chiefs fans, if their defense falters in the postseason, home field advantage will mean nothing when all is said and done. But it really is a different deal when you’re in your own house and I expect KC to deliver at least one electric game when the playoffs come to town.
 
The New Orleans Saints better do their best to keep Drew Brees healthy in the playoffs.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you have to have a quality backup in the NFL ready to go simply because…anything can happen on any given Sunday and you need a strong #2 to step up and guide the team in the event of a crisis at Quarterback and well, after what I saw from Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday, I’m a touch nervous for the Saints in the postseason. Because if Brees goes down for any reason, their Super Bowl dreams may be in trouble because Teddy, was not good. Yes, he got a late game touchdown, and yes, he completed 63% of his passes. But he only amassed 118 yards over the course of four quarters and threw an INT and really…didn’t command or electrify the offense. So, that O-Line better do whatever it takes to keep Drew Brees upright because the alternative is downright concerning…
 
Baltimore may be the proverbial dark horse in the playoffs.
Every single year, there’s that one team that outright wows us in the playoffs with dynamic play or a stunning upset and this year, there’s a good chance the Baltimore Ravens might be that team. Because they are a tough team on offense and defense and their last-minute stand against the Browns showed the football world, they want a fair shot at the title, and they will play their hearts out to get there, and that should scare the living daylights out of the Chargers. Because Los Angeles had trouble putting away a bad Broncos team, and now, they’ve got to deal with that vaunted defense and the ever-sneaky Lamar Jackson. So, expect this team to go far if they continue to play with a chip on their shoulder.
Black Monday was absolutely brutal this year.
Black Monday, and all the firings that come with it are tradition in their own right in the NFL, as teams make coaching changes in the hopes of becoming more competitive next season, but this year’s firing spree simply felt far more brutal than it has in past years. After all, we saw Arizona add Steve Wilks to the one and done game, and while many of the vacancies made sense this year, Marvin Lewis’ release came as quite the surprise since he’s been a fixture in Cincinnati, as did Atlanta’s decision to clean house coordinator wise since that usually means the Head Coach is going to be on a short leash after that, so Dan Quinn will need to work miracles in the fall. But while this is always an ugly day, and you feel for the guys let go, what’s done is done, and teams have made their decisions to move in a different direction and time will tell if letting these men go was the right call, or a knee jerk reaction.
 
The Denver Broncos have a long road ahead of them.
I remember that when Josh McDaniels was fired in the Mile High City in 2010, the city basically erupted in joy, and with good reason, he is, and remains, the worst coach in Broncos history and while some would like to dispute that with Vance Joseph’s record, never forget that McD cheated, the end. But, I digress, and bring up Josh because Vance’s firing on Monday, was met with far different fanfare. Some fans were ecstatic at his dismissal while others believed he deserved more time and well, in my mind, there was no joy to be found in his termination simply because, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in order to return Denver to contender status and quite frankly, the coach is merely one cog in that proverbial wheel. The Quarterback situation is still a mess since Case Keenum had quite the disappointing year when one considers what he is getting paid, the wide receiving corps had a lackluster year as well and the offensive line still isn’t fixed. So, while some may think Vance being gone is the cure all, that’s likely not the case and until John Elway gets those key positions stabilized, the next guy to lead this team on the sidelines, is in for one bumpy ride…