Eagles Win Super Bowl 40-22

Phi 40 - KC 22:  Not much to say about this one.  I knew the Eagles defense was really good but wow.  They dominated the line of scrimmage and made life a nightmare for Patrick Mahomes.  Good on Philly.  Huge win for the Eagles who get their second Super Bowl victory.  You have to be happy for all these guys.  They had a great year and were pretty dominant when it mattered most - the playoffs.   

 

Bills lose to Chiefs 32-29 in AFC Championship Game

Buffalo lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.  Just ugh.  So close to winning.  After Buffalo got the touchdown late in the 2nd quarter, I thought they were there.  But KC had an answer for every score.  They executed really well in big moments.  Overall, the team stats were very similar.  Felt like I kept thinking Kansas City had the right play at the right time.  

I know Buffalo converted 4-6 fourth down conversions but the story is they put themselves in that situation too much.  And the failure to convert their last two fourth down conversions were huge.  They only converted 5 of 14 third downs.  Again, making them go for it on 4th.  The old guy in me was saying "kick the field goal" a few times.  I know what the metrics say different but big what ifs.  Give KC's defense credit too.  They stopped two of Buffalo's two-point conversions which, in the end, were huge.   

KC just seemed to have the right play call so many times on offense.  It was frustrating to watch.  The blitz on Buffalo's 4th down play was another perfect call.  The drop by Kincaid was huge.  It would have been a really good play but still it felt like he could and should make that catch.  Buffalo was in that situation because I think Kansas City was better and put themselves in a position to win.  It was a really good Bills play too.  It could have been a big gain if the KC defense doesn't get to Josh Allen like they did.  Their defense made it a struggle for Buffalo.  I know the Bills scored 29 points, but it rarely felt easy.  I'm always guarded as a fan, but I had bought into this iteration of Buffalo being able to win it all.  But KC was better. 

Washington - Philly was all about turnovers.  It really was that simple.  The game got away from the Commanders at the end but what can you do when you keep handing over the ball.  They were within 10 points at the end of the 3rd but the turnovers were maddening for anyone rooting for Washington or just wanting a good game.  Washington has lots of good things to take into next season and Jayden Daniels wasn't the reason they lost yesterday.  On the other side the Philly offense looked really good.  They could run, pass whatever they needed to do.  

  

Super Bowl LVIII: San Francisco at Kansas City

SB LVIII:  Great Super Bowl to look forward to this year.  I'll be rooting for Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers.  I really want McCaffrey, my favorite player in the league today, to get a ring.  Hard betting against Mahomes though.  He seems to burn you when you do that.  That said the Chiefs offense has struggled at times this year including doing nothing in the second half of the AFC Championship.  That said, the Ravens D is excellent against the pass where the 49ers D can struggle against the pass.  The 49ers just feel more even across the board.  This could end up being a slugfest.  The fun is we won't know until tomorrow night.  I'm rooting for the 49ers and I'll take them to win it.  Maybe 23-20.

 

Tampa Bay Wins the Super Bowl!

Super Bowl LV wasn't the game any of us were hoping for but come the end of it we had a definitive winner.  Really the Bucs defense deserved the MVP trophy.  The scheme worked perfectly.  Kansas City couldn't get anything deep and Tampa Bay's front four provided consistent pressure making life for Patrick Mahomes miserable.  Great coaching by the Tampa staff.  And yes Tom Brady and the offense were excellent.  I was rooting for Tom Terrific and he didn't let anyone down.  The Chiefs on the other hand didn't adjust to the defensive scheme of the Buccaneers.  I get that the defense was playing great but you had to think short quick passes would have helped.  I didn't see KC do that consistently.  Great win for the Bucs.  I'm happy for Brady and Gronk but also for Leonard Fournette and the Buccaneers players who helped make it all possible. 

Buffalo Bills Lost AFC Championship Game

The Bills lost to the Chiefs 38-24 this Sunday.  It was no big surprise right?  The Chiefs are so good.  Now the off season starts and the Bills have some things they need to figure out.  I'd think the offensive line and running game would be tops on the list.  The line isn't bad but it needs to be better.  We'll see if they can make improvements on defense as well.  Don't get me wrong Buffalo is a really good team.  But to keep up with other teams who will also get better and to keep up against the elite teams they have to continually evolve.  For now I will enjoy the 2020 season.  It was great to see Josh Allen get it and take his game to another level.  Can't wait to see what he still has in the tank.  Stefon Diggs was also a huge revelation.  I wasn't ready to say he was a difference maker when he was acquired via trade.  Boy was I wrong.  So a good starting point for the Bills and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

 

 

Buffalo Bills to the AFC Championship Game

 Buffalo beat Baltimore getting to the AFC Championship this Sunday.  It wasn't the prettiest game as the Bills had zero rushing game and Josh Allen wasn't at his best.  Baltimore has a good defense so it was a struggle most of the game.  Buffalo didn't take control until late and obviously Lamar Jackson having to leave the game for the 4th quarter didn't hurt.  Still the Buffalo defense played really well with the 101 yard pick six as Baltimore was threatening being the turning point of the game.  I expect the Championship game to be tough but when Buffalo's offense is at it's best it can compete with anyone.  Their defense will also be key.  They showed they can contain good teams.  Just need them to keep it up.  Go Bills!  

Kansas City Wins Super Bowl LIV!

Super Bowl LIV was a fun game.  We knew San Francisco had a great defense and they had KC's number for 3 1/2 quarters but the Patrick Mahomes and that offense would not be denied.  And at the same time the KC defense found what it took to slow down the 49ers consistently.  The Chiefs had to feel lucky to be tied at 10 at the half with the way San Francisco's defense seemed to be chasing Mahomes every play.  Given how the third quarter was much of the same and the start of the fourth was a disaster they were darn lucky to only be down 10 with 7 minutes to go.  Still I thought, when it was 3rd and 15, that the 49ers were ripe for victory.  Like many I was wrong but that set up the improbable comeback that was great to watch.

Andy Reid at his Monday morning press conference: "I didn't spend the night with the trophy. I spent it with my trophy wife." 

Kansas City was just too good to be denied.  The San Francisco defense finally seemed to slow down after that big catch by Hill and the Chiefs could do no wrong.  San Francisco deserves all the props they get.  They were a great team this year and looked like the eventual world champions for much of this game.  Rooting for the Chiefs I'm really happy for Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and and ex-Buffalo Bill Sammy Watkins.  They had a ton more stories on offense and defense - Damien Williams, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, that defense, etc, etc...  I'm happy for Chiefs fans who waited exactly 50 years and the franchise who have had many good teams throughout the years but couldn't get back to the big game.  Good NFL season and sad to see it end but it won't be long and we'll be back here doing all over again.

AFC and NFC Championship Games - Just Wow!

"Are you not entertained?"  Great games yesterday.  The first time both conference championship games have gone into overtime.  Did the Saints get hosed?  Oh yes.  That was a horrible call.  The easy answer is to say don't put yourself in that position.  Don't go silent for almost two quarters while the Rams get back into the game.  Don't call for a pass on first down with under two minutes to go and definitely don't let it go incomplete.  It will be so hard to think of this game though and not think of the non call at the end of the 4th quarter.  Still New Orleans had the ball in overtime and failed.  Congratulations to the Rams.  They adjusted on offense to the stadium noise and their offense came alive.  I'm still confused as why Todd Gurley wasn't in the game more.  The touches he did have weren't great but when you have a beast like him you have to ride him.  This is great young team and I can't wait to see what they can do in the Super Bowl.

    We keep wanting to pick against the Patriots and they keep snubbing their nose at everyone.  This will be their 8th Super Bowl appearance in the Tom Brady era and 10th overall.  Just crazy.  Give it to their defense for shutting down Mahomes and the crazy good Kansas City offense long enough to give New England a 14-0 lead at the half - and they needed it.  The KC offense finally appeared and the rest of the game was back and forth never quite knowing which was it would end.  Again we went to overtime and the Pats made sure the Chiefs revitalized offense didn't get a chance to steal the game.  This was a fun game to watch.  I was hoping the Chiefs would win even though I have a self proclaimed man crush on Michigan alum Tom Brady.  They don't call him the G.O.A.T. for nothing.  Hopefully Kansas City will be back in force again for years to come.  For now we'll see what greatness the Pats can dial up in the Super Bowl.