NFC Divisional Review and Championship Preview
NFC Divisional Review and Championship Preview
As I said in the preview of the Chiefs-Patriots game, this round of the playoffs brought us no surprises in the outcomes. Yes, I was surprised that the Chiefs defense showed up (for once) but other than that, there was no surprise in the outcomes. The Chiefs scored four TDs and Tom Brady threw for over 300 yards.
And now for the NFC…
The number of people claiming that Dallas walks away with an NFC title game reservation was getting obnoxious and I’m glad it didn’t pan out. It’s like these people were totally oblivious to the fact that a.) The game was being played in Los Angeles and b.) The Rams shouldn’t be slept on. Like I said last week, they have three terrific players and Sean McVay. I get the Cowboys were on a hot-streak but their defense was exposed by the Ram running game.
Take notes Frank Reich, that’s how you win a playoff game.
Even Zeke himself said that the Rams “dominated us up front”. Aaron Donald will always be a problem for offenses but the Rams O-Line looked like the Hogs. William Perry could’ve ran for 100 yards with that line. Also, it’s not like this game was ever in doubt. Once the Rams got the lead, they were safe while Jerry Jones once again proved he couldn’t win without Jimmy Johnson.
Rams 30-Cowboys 22. Ain’t that something?
Speaking of the ‘Aints, they ain’t that no more! I mentioned that this was the perfect way for Philly to extract revenge on the Saints for that week 11 beat down and after the first quarter, it was looking like that was to be. Of all the things that impressed me about this divisional round, it was the Saint defense. They allowed zero points after that opening quarter while scoring 20 unanswered.
Taysom Hill is the hero in New Orleans while Alshon Jeffery proved the goat in this one. I want to make one thing clear, this loss was not Alshon Jeffery’s fault. How can you blame one player for one play when you hadn’t scored in the last two and 8/10 quarters? Your running game was non-existent, Nick Foles proved human after all and your beloved Eagles are champions no more Philadelphia.
Sweet revenge for the Saints, this game wiped away all memories of the Stefon Diggs fiasco. A play like that could ruin a franchise, just look at the Bills after the Music City Miracle. You took that play in stride and will now host the Rams in the NFC Championship game. If you feel it necessary to put a bounty on certain players, please be wiser this time around.
I’m joking of course, but what is no joke ladies and gentleman, is the NFC Championship game is being played this weekend at the Superdome! There was a time when many thought the building would never again re-open but since it has, it’s had far more fun playing in it than before. It will host its first championship game in nine years and by the end, hopefully, another celebration will have broken out…maybe in overtime!
On the flip side, it could be as quiet and devastated as the HHH Metrodome was when Morten Anderson hammered home the ‘98 Viking’s final coffin nail. If there’s a team who might be able to do this, it’s the LA Rams. If an offense as explosive as theirs is playing in a dome…you might as well replace “Goff” and “Gurley” with “Warner” and “Faulk”.
At the same time, one has to think the New Orleans defense will carry into this weekend what they came out with Sunday night. Three straight quarters is the current shutout streak for the Saints D, how many more will they make it? It’s been many moons since a shutout in an NFC Championship. Will this mold be broken? It remains to be seen.
My opinion is that the Saints and the Patriots will appear in the Super Bowl. No matter how you cut it, there’s not much disappointment in any situation but I’m sure we can all agree that a Brady-Brees Super Bowl would be quite a treat. I have no idea how either that match-up or these coming match-ups would end up but for now, we can dream. Congrats to all four teams remaining, your road is that much shorter but oh so long.
-By: Thomas P. Braun Jr.