OT - It's Official, This Was The Best NFL Playoff Weekend EVER!
Bills/Chiefs was the culmination of the best NFL Playoff Weekend ever. All 4 divisional round games were walkoff wins. 3 underdogs win, and the finale was an overtime classic where 3 touchdowns, a FG, and a two point conversion were scored UNDER the 2 minute warning in regulation!
What do the sports shows lead with tomorrow morning? The upstart Bengals who had to overcome a phenomenal defensive effort from the Titans? Or, the Titans QB who threw an INT with less than 30 seconds left in the game? Do they lead with yet another Packers and Aaron Rodgers playoff collapse? How about the Matthew Stafford led Rams who had the game in hand, and literally tried to fumble it away? They gave the GOAT Tom Brady chance after chance, and he took advantage of it and forced over..t..., uhh, not quite! 4th Quarter Matthew hit 2 passes to get the Rams into FG range, and Tampa's former kicker won the game for the Rams!
Or, do they lead with one of the 10 greatest playoff games in the Super Bowl Era?! Mahomes had it won, then he didn't. Josh Allen had it won, and then he didn't. Mahomes again had it won, and then he didn't. Allen AGAIN had it won, and then... you know the rest. ALL in the last 2 minutes of the game! Whew! It's all downhill from here. There's no way that Championship Sunday with the Bengals/Chiefs and 49ers/Rams matchups can top this weekend. Wow! Just wow!
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:11 PM ^
#1 they absolutely should have done. KC had more than enough time to get within range with their TOs and the yardage difference was immaterial with pro kickers who can consistently hit from 50+. At that point you want to take away time and trade yards for it.
#2 isn't a bad idea but it's so different than you're used to that if you haven't practiced it you're just as likely to have a blown assignment and give up a huge gain. But it would be smart for coaches and teams to practice it because every second a QB has to wander around and survey open WRs is one he can't rely on later. And Mahomes isn't the type of guy who's going to run for 15 yards in a flash; if he decides to run for it it'll take some time off the clock.
I just think the NFL needs to revisit their OT rule. A team shouldn't win until it has the ball and the lead; if you wind up trading TDs so be it. But they already have some weird rule about how a first FG doesn't end a game so if teams keep scoring TDs then you'll just have to deal with it. KC's defense was playing like ass to end the game and for them to get bailed out because they didn't have to see the field in OT isn't fair.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:27 PM ^
All buffalo had to do when there were 8 seconds left was not tackle Kelce. Put 4 guys on the goal line and two guys on each sideline. Let him go. The clock would've run out.
January 24th, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
There is a rule in the NFL that if a player gives himself up (ie goes down on his own), then the play is over. Slightly a interpretation rule but Kelce can take a knee by himself, set the ball down and the play would be over....
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
I thought the game was over with the Bills up 3 with 13 seconds left. Alas, Buffalo scored too quickly and gave Mahomes too much time.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
1: Squib kick, 100%.
2: I would've sent a blitzer. They dropped 7 guys into coverage and still couldn't stay within 10 feet of Kelce who was wide open and got a ton of yards after the catch. Mahomes is one of the most slippery QBs of all-time but send an extra man and make him scramble and maybe he has to string out the play, which eats up some seconds. Don't let him sit in a clean pocket and have free throws to Kelce and Hill. And if you do get a sack, the game is pretty much over.
January 24th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
Buffalo's problem was they played too soft. That first play, quick screen to the FASTEST GUY IN FOOTBALL had no defenders within 15 yard of him when he caught the ball. And that doesn't even account for the fact that Hill had 3 blockers in front of him.
Just perfectly executed by KC to pick up 20 easy yards in 4 seconds....
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:50 PM ^
Yesterday was fabulous. Today had exciting finishes that sucked ass.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:05 PM ^
Your bookie gonna come callin?
January 24th, 2022 at 8:34 AM ^
Nah . Sports gambling is for... other people. I just had hopes for #8 for TB12 and that KC could watch the SB from their TV sets.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:52 PM ^
Was thinking the same thing, NFL couldn't have asked for a better weekend.
And especially when 3 of you're all-time great QBs all left the playoffs mulling retirement.
Then you come back with Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow.
Insane.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
Football is a marvelous game, it really is. The structure of the sport is just so good. Casual fans who barely watch can tune in and enjoy it. Hardcore fans can watch and enjoy it. You don't need to spend hours and hours paying attention during the week to be completely included in the water-cooler conversations tomorrow; literally just watching the end of the Buffalo-KC game and you're right with everyone.
Every play matters. Every game matters. Every second. Every yard. Football is magnificent.
It was a weird day for me. I was actually ministering to a family going through an awful time during the end of Buffalo-KC, and even though some of the people were watching I was there for them, and my interest in football could have easily distracted me in an inappropriate way. Not sure why I'm even putting this here, except that it's been kind of a hard evening and talking about football is a nice way to unwind.
But I couldn't tune it out entirely (especially with guys commenting on it). And what a game.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:07 PM ^
It's weekends like this that make me appreciate the NFL more than CFB. Im tired of the uneven playing field in CFB.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:17 PM ^
College football at its best is just peerless. But a lot of the best moments are in the regular season, and the college football playoff just hasn't produced anything remotely like this yet.
To find days like this you have to go to rivalry weeks, or days like that epic day where Manningham beat Penn State and the Bush Push beat Notre Dame literally within seconds of each other, among other amazing events that day. October 15 '05, btw, perhaps the best day of football ever played.
But this was absolutely epic. And, today in particular, it was great that it was elite players playing at the highest level that produced the excitement.
January 24th, 2022 at 7:03 AM ^
Lol you whine about everything.
And that's not me whining about your whining. It's an observation.
Be an NFL fan. Be a non-Michigan fan since you're over Harbaugh. Go chase your happiness.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:14 PM ^
As a Chiefs fan living in Buffalo it was the nastiest emotional rollercoaster I never knew I wanted to be on and I can’t talk about it with anyone! Lol! My wife was talking to a chimney repair guy who, after hearing I was a Michigan fan got all quiet and said they, as in Buffalo, don’t like Harbaugh because he punched Jim Kelly over 40 years ago! Lmao. Pretty sure they are gonna be salty about this for the next… forever!
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:27 PM ^
The best weekend of pro football in a long, long time. And I'm thankful I got to watch every second of it. BUF/KC was one of the best games ever.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:32 PM ^
It was quite remarkable to witness all those games. Wow.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:41 PM ^
Shitty OT rule should be the lead. Coin toss was the game mvp. NFL needs to revisit this rule for future postseasons.
January 24th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
Its an absolutely ridiculous rule, especially in today's offense driven NFL where its so much easier for teams to score and put up points. The rule may have worked for the league 20-25 years ago, where plenty of games were still being won by a 17-14 score, but that's not how the game operates anymore.
The minute KC won the toss, everyone from KC to Buffalo knew the game was over. The fact that Buffalo wasn't even given a chance to respond was ridiculous. Even if you put the ball in Allen's hands and tell him "you need a TD on this drive, or its game over," that's still far better than what's currently in place. At least then he gets an opportunity.
In my mind, when it comes time for the playoffs, let these guys play it out. Leave nothing to interpretation. Let them play a full fifteen minutes of OT, and whoever's leading at the end of the period wins. If its still tied at all zeroes, keep going until its not.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^
I'd shorten it to 10 minutes but otherwise agree - just play out the period and if it's still tied, play another period. Figure out something gimmicky for if it's still tied after that, but by that point each team has had more than their fair share of opportunities.
Or just have it like college - each team has an equal number of possessions. You don't have to start on the opponent's 25 (my only gripe about college). Maybe start on your own 35 or 40.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:41 PM ^
Was really rooting for Buffalo, but you apparently can’t give Mahomes any time at all. Fantastic weekend of football
January 24th, 2022 at 1:36 AM ^
Too bad the Bengals don’t have home field next week with expected wind chills at -20. The Chief’s win could play the Kellen Winslow vs Miami game in that analogy
January 24th, 2022 at 7:49 AM ^
This is why the NFL is so much better as a sporting product than college football - the playoff games are insane. The level of competition is higher, sure, but it's the fact that it's just so hard to be dominant in the league that leads to great dramatic games.
I generally like college football more, but the CFP have added a sour twist to that - uncompetitive games to determine which SEC team is the most loaded with talent. Boring.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
Another huge factor that favors the NFL is the pace of the games; mainly 30 sec time outs. The game time is barely over 3 hours, not the 3:45 in college.
If College TV football can do the same thing, it would be so much better. I won't wait for that to happen.
January 24th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
First three games -
Three walk-off field goal wins.
Three wins by the visiting teams.
Three wins by the underdogs.
It doesn't get any better.
However, Bucs loss showed how crucial good OTs are to Tom Brady's winning ways.
January 24th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
I'm so damn sad for Josh Allen. His defense (and the inane OT rules) did him dirty. Left the field with a lead and 13 seconds left, lost the game without ever seeing the ball again. Just awful. Say it with me people: PREVENT DEFENSE PREVENTS YOU FROM WINNING. What the actual hell were the coaches thinking? Also: that was like the one time a squib kick would have been sensible.
Great weekend of games though, that's for damn sure.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
I'm not much of an NFL fan, but I saw parts of every game including the lead up to each walk off win. Totally bonkers!! I did think that Tom would pull out another incredible win, but happy for Matt all the same.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
All 4 games were as much as one could ask for. The Bengals are impressive and Burrow has so much upside. Tampa almost got the huge upset but ran out of time. What an effort by Brady. Over at KC, they had just enough time to tie the game then win in OT. What a matchup with those two teams.
The Chiefs/Bengals matchup will be must see TV. I'll take the Chiefs. On the West Coast, I like the Rams in another close one.
January 24th, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
Best weekend of NFL games I've ever watched.
I'm generally more of a college fan than an NFL one, but two areas in particular where I prefer the NFL that I think were definitely on display this weekend.
1) much greater parity from top to bottom and especially from say, 1-10 results in more competitive games that can go either way. Even though overall parity would probably hurt Michigan more than help I'd much rather watch 12 good competitive games a year than games against body-bag teams
2) games get done in a reasonable amount of time even though they're both playing 60 minutes of game-time. College should switch to the NFL running clock rules although I'm sure it'd be tough to get the TV networks to go for that as it'd result in less commercials they can sell.
January 24th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
Agreed on both. I like college football more, but the parity in the NFL makes every game great. It's why you end up with weekends like this. It's like having the top 10 in college football spread out over 30ish teams and they play every weekend. Much better TV for neutral observers
January 24th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
No, the parity does not "make every game great". How quickly people forgot all the borefests from the Wild Card weekend or the fact that at least 3/4 of regular season games are borderline unwatchable.
Yes the NFL has seen some really entertaining games recently, but honestly, nothing that you couldn't watch on any given college football Saturday.
And if anything the only reason the NFL even has some of those games now is the fact that the playing field currently is so slanted toward offense in football that college football concepts actually work in the pros.
January 24th, 2022 at 11:30 AM ^
As a Bills fan that was brutal. Up there with the MSU punt muff for losing a game you had 99% locked up and still found a way to lose. The 'defense' with :13 left was brutal. They played like they were protecting the sidelines...when the Chiefs had all 3 timeouts.
NFL OT rules are awful. Josh didn't even get a play in overtime. What sort of dumb rule is that. Criticize college OT all you want but it's worlds better than the NFL's version
January 24th, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
That Bills-Chiefs game was pretty great but got ridiculous at the end. It was a wild finish but let's be real: both teams played disgraceful defense at the end of that game.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^
Thank you for this.
To me that is a great game if Buffalo bothers to even attempt to cover the freaking pro bowl tight end on the most critical play of their season. You know, if Mahomes has to make a tough throw and the tight end pulls it in despite tight coverage to get into field goal position, for example. Instead, that play...well, I knew a guy who firmly believed that all NFL games are fixed (like it is just pro wrestling). I don't believe that, but when I saw that play, I sure thought of him.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
Yeah, as fun as it was, that Rams - Bucs game had me wondering if the game was fixed or rigged. That game was too bizarre. Had the Rams lost that game, if I'm the owner, we clean house. That game had all the making of the Falcons meltdown in the Super Bowl.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
I thought the same thing. I turned it on and it was 27-3 and then it got ridiculous. And then the Bills-Chiefs turned into a circus and I was like: should I trust this?
With sports gambling now legalized and corporatized (and with live in-game betting), I'm going to be extremely suspicious of certain results going forward. It's easily accessible and there is an insane amount of money involved in these games. I would be very surprised if there is not a major scandal in the near future involving a player, coach, referee or even an entire league (my guess is that it will be in college basketball).
In conclusion: sports are insane now.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
Not a big NFL guy and little rooting interest but that was some top shelf entertainment. Especially the last game, with the two QBs throwing lasers for TDs in the last couple minutes, it looked like a light saber duel
January 24th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
I really hope that game last night prompts the NFL to get rid of the sudden death OT. Still, Buffalo's decision making in the last 13 seconds of regular time was just awful all around
January 24th, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
I've said this in the past on here and I get shit for it, but the NFL is far better than college football.
January 24th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
This will be unpopular opinion, but I didn't watch one second of the playoffs. I haven't watched the NFL since the Giants beat the Patriots in 2007 and now suddenly I have to accept the worst team in the playoffs is the best team in the NFL over the undefeated at the time Patriots. The Giants didn't even win their way in. They lost to the Patriots in the last game of the season. I was already finding the NFL boring, but still watched some games. That ruined the NFL for me. Haven't watched since.