Postseason Overtime

The NFL's Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs game will be considered one of the best games in postseason history ever. With how it unfolded in the final two minutes of regulation, it hit the marks of nail biting drama.  Kansas City would win in overtime and it brought up the question of postseason rule changes. Under the current guidelines, the team that has the ball first can end it with a touchdown, which is what the Chiefs did. Buffalo did not get an opportunity.

This takes me back to about three years ago where the Chiefs were on the losing end of overtime against New England. I think it stings a bit more because of the dramatics of the fourth quarter. Both sides going stride for stride. It will be a marquee matchup for the next decade. Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen were outdoing each other greatly. To not see Allen get the ball in overtime does feel like a travesty. That is kind of why Chiefs fans felt that way in early 2019.

I think you have to go kind of college football with overtime. Both teams get an opportunity to score. They score on field goals or touchdowns barring extra points, it becomes sudden death. Turnovers, special teams, safeties, those should end the game. But the opposing side should get one shot at evening the game before it becomes sudden death or they fail to get points. I know it's perfect by any stretch, but I have a feeling there will be a rule change sooner or later. I don't think for this year, but it will be in the back of many people's minds.

While this doesn't ruin the game, you think of the what ifs on both sides, mostly Buffalo. Give credit on Allen for not dwelling on the losing effort. I think we got spoiled because of how dramatic all four games were. It might be disappointing for the Championship round, but Rams vs. 49ers should be interesting and Cincinnati are a good underdog against the Chiefs. This year's playoffs are a bit refreshing.

Super Bowl LV Thoughts

Very simple. My thoughts on what could happen with Super Bowl LV. It's going to be different given the pandemic, but should be an entertaining game, nonetheless.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there has to be stability on offense. No turnovers is the key and maybe getting Antonio Brown back if he can recover from his knee injury. A 43 year old Tom Brady will have to throw for 60 percent or better completion rate on his passes. The receivers like Mike Evans need to be super aware of when passes are coming to them. A guy like Scott Miller could surprise people. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones have to be ready to tote the rock. Defensively, I would say it would be easy to stop the Kansas City Chiefs run game, but you never know. The secondary and linebackers have to keep eye on Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Mecole Hardman and where they are on the field. Do that and that's how they win.

For the Chiefs, they need the run game to show up. They have to trust their rookie running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Pat Mahomes will definitely put on a show, but a banged up offensive line might be a bit of trouble. Tampa has the number one run defense, but they have to try to rush it. Feed the ball here and there to keep the defense honest. Hill and Kelce will be given some targets, but don't be surprised if you see one of the others play a factor. On defense, pressure on Brady will be a huge importance and the difference between winning and losing. Evans, Chris Godwin, and Brown are tough to deal with, but a tight end such as Rob Gronkowski could be a nightmare. Each position of the Chief defense has to put 110 percent into being ready to deliver the hits, deflections, and turnovers if they can stop the Bucs.

I think the Chiefs will win. It will be close, but it comes down to both teams run games and the turnover battle. 

Playoff Moving

The people that are hired for Fox Sports 1, I don't care much for. For as bad as ESPN is at times with attention seeking, this is much worse. When you have idiots Skip Bayless, it's easy to change the channel. Or buffoons like Colin Cowherd. This take he had a few days ago for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs game is so bad, it makes you wonder why someone like him still has a job. He thinks Pat Mahomes deserves his chance to play and that the game should be moved until he is healthy.

That's not how football works. I don't know if Cowherd has bets riding on the Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, but the timetable to get the season finished is very tight. The NFL is the only league to be on schedule right now. If it was COVID issues and Mahomes and a half dozen players got the virus, I get it. This is a health issue pertaining to injury, though. Cleveland played their playoff game without their head coach and left guard. I doubt they complained that much.

Mahomes is going through the concussion protocol despite his injury being a tweaked nerve in his neck. Call it a weird theory, but maybe the neck nerve issue caused it him to have issues with his head to the effects of getting a concussion. I'm sure doctor reports are confidential., but it's still a concern. A neck issue is not something simple. You're hoping there isn't any aggravation if you're Andy Reid. I do think Mahomes will play, but it's a matter of seeing his health if he takes any major hits. Last thing anyone wants to see is a player become a paralyzed person. The last time anything major like that I can think of was Buffalo's Kevin Everett in 2007.

If Chad Henne is going to start, that's what can potentially happen. I know a Josh Allen and Mahomes game is what Cowherd wants, but the NFL will not bow to this selfish prick. These teams and players have followed a strict regiment since July. They have done a lot to get the season almost finished and they will not adhere to a loudmouth radio host who's angry that the major star of one team may not play. You don't rush concussion protocols. Barring any setbacks from either team, the game will play on Sunday. Suck it up, Cowherd! 

Rich Enough and Jewish Hate

I don't know if I would feel comfortable giving Pat Mahomes a lot of money. Kansas City gave him a 10 year deal that is worth 500 million. The way I look at it, they want him to have his prime years in Missouri. While he has shown what he can do in these last two seasons, it's hard to gauge whether the team can continue to do well. My big concerns would be the run game and possibly the secondary on defense. They got a defensive coordinator that knows how to win in Steve Spagnuolo. Eric Bieniemy can still show his potential in hopes of getting a coaching job .

Ten years is a lot, though. Mahomes had a knee issue that took him out a few games last year. With most of these deals, a lot of quarterbacks did not see Super Bowls. Some playoff spots, but nothing else. But with how Andy Reid runs things and with wanting to continue on, Kansas City should still be poised to be a threat like in his Philadelphia days.

Speaking of Philadelphia, I've always viewed DeSean Jackson as a punk player. It wouldn't surprise me if he was part of a gang. That being said, he has had a solid career and wasn't in the headlines for the wrong reasons off the field. There is no excuse for what he did earlier in the week that has no place in the game. He quoted a series of lines that Adolf Hitler supposedly said, but wasn't true. Essentially, hate towards Jewish people. He has put out apologies, but it's funny his teammates, Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz, haven't said a damn thing.

For all the hoopla surrounding Black Lives Matter and all that crap, Jewish people go through quite a bit of hell, too. I didn't know until today Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and GM Howie Roseman were both Jewish. That must have offended them very deeply.  It's been 75 years since Allies uncovered the atrocities of what the Nazis did in places like Auschwitz. Quoting something from Hitler raises a lot of concerns, even if the quote was false. Anti-Semitism is probably not uncommon.

If the Eagles don't cut Jackson, I see a fine and maybe a game or two suspension. They are in a similar situation to what happened with Riley Cooper back in 2013. I don't know what the fanbase would want, but Lurie and Roseman have to do something. Even though he returned last year, he didn't do anything after the first week and was hurt. Times have changed over the last seven years, and if the front office doesn't make the right decision, they will look really bad for dealing someone that could be a racist, whether Jackson is or not.

We do need football, but some of these news worthy stories make you a little weary.

Super Bowl LIV Recap

If you wanted excitement compared to last year, this year's Super Bowl had everything you needed for a great game. Adversity, some old school and new school. The recipe needed for LIV. For the Kansas City Chiefs to defeat the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31 to 20, it ends the 100th NFL season in grand style.

For San Francisco, the key factor of them was the defense. If they wanted to win, they needed to keep Pat Mahomes under control because of his arm. Unfortunately, it bended and the results were obvious. Mahomes contributed to three of the four touchdowns scored. Damien Williams was a bigger workhorse than what he did the other two games in the playoffs. Defensively, they got better late in the game. Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill made big plays in the receiving game. Enough stuff to keep the 49ers guessing. Three straight comebacks is very unbelievable considering the circumstances.

Kansas City buckled down for that second half. For as good a run game was for the 49ers, it never clicked for the running backs. Deebo Samuel, a receiver, was leading the way early on before Raheem Mostert took over in rushing, but not by much. Jimmy Garoppolo showed some poise during the game, but made costly mistakes with two interceptions, which the Chiefs took advantage of, including the final touchdown by Williams with less than two minutes to go. There was jitters in him throughout it. The 49ers knew they had to throw to keep themselves in the game, but the attempted runs that worked early failed later. That's the joy of Steve Spagnuolo. Playoff pressure and he gets his defenses to finish strong.

For Andy Reid, he now has a championship as a head coach. His place in Canton should be an instant lock. Spagnuolo putting together a ride similar to his 07 Giant run. Mahomes now has a place in football immortality. If puts on 10 to 12 more years of greatness, he'll be a Hall of Famer. Guys like Tyrann Mathieu get the taste of a Super Bowl win. As for the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan will have a lot to think about. That defense will be looked at as disappointing. And offensively, it wasn't a matter of burning clock. It was a matter of trying to not have similar plays over and over. Maybe Garoppolo learns a thing or two about defeat and rise to the occasion next year. This team is built to win a championship. They are going to be in the hunt for a good while.

I wouldn't put it in as a top 10 Super Bowl game, but definitely one of the best in the last 10 years, and a hell of a way to start the new decade. Top 15, top 20 game. The Midwest gets to have fun with bringing a trophy to that section. Can't ask for a better Super Bowl in recent memory.

NFL Conference Recap

We got the teams. Now for quick thoughts.

Pat Mahomes is lethal and the reason Kansas City won on Sunday. Rallying twice from 10 points down to take over and get the team to the title game for the first time since the 1969 season. A defense that shut down the Tennessee Titans run game. Ryan Tannehill put up decent enough numbers, but not enough. Outside of a run game, the Chiefs look poised to make a big stand with Andy Reid in two weeks.

San Francisco ran and ran. Raheem Mostert was the hero in the 49er win against the Green Bay Packers. Over 200 yards and four scores puts them in as the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Mistakes for the cheese heads and a poor run game stalled the offense in the first half. By the time they got rolling, it was too little, too late. A questionable defense couldn't do anything against Kyle Shanahan's running back tandems and the Niner defense made the plays when they needed to.

The advantage goes to San Francisco right now because of their strengths in every facet. Passing is the weak link due to not needing to use it. But Jimmy Garoppolo will have to throw for at least 170 despite the Chiefs run defense not being too elite and a better secondary. But San Fran's defense has to close the windows on Mahomes' throwing and contain him to where he can't scramble or make those throws to get those first downs. And the run game for the Chiefs has to show up. It can't be there for the second half and that's it. When it comes down to it, it should be a match up that can be very good. At the very least, this should be a more entertaining game on paper compared to last year.

Prediction: San Francisco wins 30 to 21. It will be a tight game at points.

2020 NFL Divisional Recap

Another series of wheels in motion.

Another round of Derrick Henry and a huge win for the Tennessee Titans. Add 195 rushing yards and a stingy defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens. Every facet coming in at the right time. The Ravens not having a good running attack combined with an unprepared defense. But then you have adversity like the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat Mahomes' arm got them out of a 24 to nothing deficit to win 51 to 31 against the Houston Texans. A tighter second half on defense, better running of the ball. Bill O'Brien may have coached his last game with the Texans.

We have the not surprised results of the NFC. San Francisco played strong defense in their win against the Minnesota Vikings. Tevin Coleman has been valuable in the ground game and Jimmy Garoppolo played decent enough. The Vikes were sloppy running the ball and a couple special teams mistakes doomed them and their usually good defense. Green Bay survives a late attempted comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Jones scoring and running keeps them in games. Otherwise, Hollywood Rodgers is not on the level of where he has been in years past and the defense almost choked. That should question how big of a test it will be when they face the 49ers on Sunday.

In three weeks, I believe we will see a San Francisco/Tennessee Super Bowl in Miami. At this point in time, the former's defense can hang with the best. The latter plays it old school on offense. Keys for the other teams: If you're Green Bay, be aware of the run and don't forget about Jones. If you're Kansas City, run the ball to provide enough balance and keep eye on formations when playing defense. Mike Vrabel is laying down the law with the Titans. These Conference Championships should provide good entertainment and tight match ups.

Kareem Hunt and Bad Journalism

I do shake my head in disgust at stuff like TMZ, Inside Edition, and other stuff that is basically paparazzi or bad journalism. The effort to make stories is very minimal and it drives into nothing but hate. In the last 24 hours, Kansas City Chiefs running back has been cut for a February incident that including assaulting a woman. A video had just been posted to TMZ and the club released him.

If it was a recent incident in the last week or two, I wouldn't be bothered to do a blog. But from an incident in February? I do think what Hunt did was very stupid and completely unnecessary. What's making me scratch my head at this is why wait until a critical part of the NFL season? Is TMZ trying to sabotage the Chiefs? I want to say yes, but I don't know. We're a month away from football playoffs, and it changes everything in the AFC.

There's a reason why the paparazzi has been hated for over 20 years. Ever since the car accident that killed Princess Diana in France, it puts these so called journalists below tons of professionals. While TMZ may be looked at and sourced by certain TV channels and newspapers, it doesn't mean they are a completely innocent group. Going after celebrities and specific incidents make them no different than ambulance chasers. This could be the case with Hunt, even though what he did was wrong.

One of these days, someone from TMZ, Inside Edition, or one of those paparazzi sites or shows, is going to get killed for sticking their nose into a thing that they shouldn't have been. It only takes one major incident for things to have major change. Whether the Chiefs or NFL does something to look further into whether TMZ did this deliberately, I don't know. Either way, whoever posted the video is going to get a lot, and I mean, a lot of hate.

NFL Wild Card 2018

Another season, another set of NFL playoffs have started once again, beginning today. Here are some quick thoughts and predictions.

Today's games should be an easy one. The early match up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans is one sided favored towards the Chiefs. Offensively, they are an explosive bunch and the defense can hold its own and play well. With questions on both sides for the Titans, Arrowhead should be happy to get a win unless there's some unforseen circumstances like blowing it against the Colts four years ago. On the other side is the LA Rams having their first home playoff game in Los Angeles since the 1989 season against the Atlanta Falcons. Both sides can play with tough running games, defenses that don't give up, and good arms to throw the ball. It all depends if Atlanta can keep up and hang in the game, but the Rams seem destined to get into the Divisional Round. That's who I think advances.

Sunday's matches could see any of these four win. The early game is the Buffalo Bills going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo could win, but it all depends on LeSean McCoy actually suiting up from last week's ankle injury. They can prevent passing touchdowns, but the run defense is one of the worst. Facing the number one rushing team is a huge task, as well as Tyrod Taylor needing a perfect game. It should be in the books as a Jacksonville win, but don't rule out the Bills entirely. Blake Bortles could throw interceptions and rely on Leonard Fournette to help the Jags. I think it goes to Jacksonville winning. The question is: How much with they win by?

New Orleans and Carolina are the last match of the weekend. For the Saints, a much better defense and a punishing ground game bolstered them into the playoffs. That's who I see going further into the postseason. As strong as Carolina's rushing is, it is inconsistent. The passing is far from great, but not horrible. It all depends on how the defense can perform. They can pull off an impressive win, but every facet has to be near perfect. Any mistakes, and it could be a blowout.

Next week, we will look at the Divisional Round and who should advance to the Championship game.