NFL 2015-16 Divisional Round Playoffs Review

This weekend, there some phenomenal games. Each contest was closely contested and, for the most part, these games were well played by both sides. The only exception that comes to mind would be Seattle's first half effort, which saw them spotting Carolina a 31-0 lead. Indeed, while the Seahawks fought back in a courageous manner in the second half, and actually did make a game of it, they had simply allowed too much in the barrage of points that the Panthers scored relatively early, even if Seattle managed to shut Carolina out the rest of the way. Otherwise, every team played well, whether it was in a winning or losing effort. One game in particular, the Cardinals-Packers game, became an instant classic, with two plays in particular displaying the brilliance and resolve that underscored how both teams got this far to begin with.

So, let's take a look:

New England Patriots 27, Kansas City Chiefs 20 

I believe that the Kansas City Chiefs were the hottest team in the league coming into this game. But playing at New England is a hard way to continue such a hot streak. Indeed, KC's 11-game winning streak came to an end against the Patriots, who did just enough to beat the Chiefs.

For their part, KC showed the resolve and determination that helped them to overcome that disastrous 1-5 start, battling back whenever the Patriots threatened to run away with it, or take control of the game. But ultimately Kansas City kept the game close, and had opportunities to steal the game, or at least force it to overtime, late.

However, New England under Belichick is nothing if not resourceful. The Patriots defense managed to hold, and the Chiefs ran out of opportunities, and they ran out of time.

The Patriots were victorious in the playoffs yet again, which means that they qualify for the AFC title game for a fifth straight year. a record. However, they will now have to travel to Denver to face the Broncos, the same team that handed them their first loss of the season in overtime after New England had raced out to a 10-0 start, and have struggled against in recent years. Two seasons ago, the Patriots lost to Denver in the AFC title game at Mile High. Let's see if they can do better now.

Arizona Cardinals 26, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)

Not too long ago, these two teams met in a game that was far from memorable. Indeed, the Green Bay Packers were destroyed by the Arizona Cardinals. In fact, they seemed to lose a lot of confidence and momentum with that 37-7 rout, and they did not get it back on time to beat the Vikings in a winner takes all contest for the divisional title, despite it being at Lambeau Field. And for a while, it seemed that they did not have it at Washington during the Wild Card game, either. But then, they came alive, taking over the game and casting Washington aside, moving onto the divisional round, where they met, once again, the Arizona Cardinals in the desert. They would have another chance against the team that had taken away their swagger, their earlier momentum.

Indeed, Arizona faced a different Packers team yesterday than they did in December. This was a hard franchise with plenty of playoff experience (Green Bay is tied with New England for the most consecutive playoff appearances with seven straight seasons qualifying, dating back to the 2009 season), and the result was a tough contest for both teams. This was a very different game than the regular season showdown, and it was also a very different game than the last time that these two teams met in the playoffs, when the Cardinals outlasted the Packers in an offensive shootout, scoring the deciding touchdown in overtime to win it, 51-45, following the 2009 season. That was the year after Arizona had won the NFC title, and a season before the Packers would run the table to emerge as Super Bowl XLV champions.

The Cardinals are a much better team now than they were back in 2009, with a tough defense, an explosive offense, and one of the best coaching staffs in the league, particularly head coach Bruce Arias, who has already deservedly won "Coach of the Year" status twice. He kept his team calm and composed, despite a very tough challenge by Green Bay. It was a back and forth contest, with both teams owning momentum at times. However, what everyone will remember about this game was the ending. The Cardinals had a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter, and were able to tack on a field goal, so that the Packers would need a touchdown and an extra point simply to stay in it. Green Bay was able to drive into Arizona territory, but the drive stalled, leading to the final seconds and desperation time for Green Bay. That was when one of the most memorable plays of this postseason occurred, as Aaron Rodgers threw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone, much like he did in a regular season contest at Detroit. In that Detroit game, the miracle was answered, as Richard Rodgers of the Packers came down with it in the end zone for six, with no time left on the clock. That had been to win it. And like that Detroit game, Rodgers found his man yesterday. Jeff Janis came down with it, despite two defenders on him, and the Packers got the touchdown with no time left on the clock. When the extra point proved to be no problem, the game was tied at the end of regulation, and headed for overtime.

There was a strange mishap during, of all things, the coin toss, not all that dissimilar to what happened a few weeks back during overtime in the Jets-Patriots game. The coin was thrown into the air, but did not actually flip. And so, it was negated, and needed to be redone, although there was clear reaction from both teams, as well as the Arizona crowd. When the coin was finally flipped correctly, Arizona had won, and elected to get the ball first.

It did not take long for Arizona to answer Green Bay's miracle with one of their own. The Cardinals obviously wanted to do something to avoid getting the ball back into the hands of Rodgers and that Packers offense. To that end, they knew that the best performer in the postseason for them, by far, was Larry Fitzgerald. But in trying to complete to Fitzgerald, Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer had to get out of trouble himself. Watch the entirety of this play, and see how a miracle play that saw Palmer complete his pass to Fitzgerald, who then managed to evade a whole host of Packers defenders with remarkable speed and moves, almost did not happen. In fact, the play was almost a sack for a loss for Arizona instead. Yet somehow, they were able to avoid disaster, and complete what was a miracle play instead:

The Cardinals were in business, fired up by their own miracle play to answer the prayer play that had kept Green Bay alive at the end of regulation.

A couple of plays later, the Cardinals wisely went to Fitzgerald again, and this proved to be the decision that clinched the game for them:

For the second time in eight seasons, the Cardinals are headed back to the NFC Championship, only 60 good football minutes away from the Super Bowl, if they play their cards right. Should be interesting to see if they can do it. If they show the resolve that Fitzgerald did in overtime yesterday, nobody can stop them.

Carolina Panthers 31, Seatle Seahawks 24

This season, the Carolina Panthers were far and away the most successful team during the regular season. They completed the season with a rare 15-1 record, easily the best in the NFL, and thus earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Arguably the most impressive victory for them was at Seattle. Everyone knew that they were good, yet a lot of people (including me, admittedly) expected them nonetheless to lose at home to Seattle.

So, the Panthers had good reason to feel motivated, given that they were not afforded the level of respect that almost every other 15-1 team (or better) has received. Perhaps that explains why they came out on fire, scoring three touchdowns for a 21-0 lead even before you knew what was happening. They tacked on another field goal after Russell Wilson threw his second interception of the game, and then got yet another touchdown after another Seattle drive stalled.

That accounted for the amazing 31-0 lead, and that is too much for anybody to allow.

To their credit, Seattle did battle back to at least make a game of it. Carolina never scored again, and the Seahawks rallied, getting back to within a touchdown very late in the final quarter, keeping what slim hopes they still had alive. However, 31 points proved to be just a little too much even for a team of the Seahawks caliber, and the onside kick prayers went answered for Seattle. Carolina recovered, and that iced the game.

The Panthers will now play in their fourth ever NFC Championship Game, but they will get to host it for the first time in franchise history, when the Arizona Cardinals come to town next Sunday at 6:30pm ET.

Should be a good one!

Denver Broncos 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 16

A lot of people seemed to believe that the Steelers were the hottest team in the league, and had them penciled in to get back to the Super Bowl. They had a miracle victory in Cincinnati in last weekend's Wildcard contest, so it might indeed have seemed in the cards for them. However, Denver is a tough team that had nonetheless earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs, so long as they stayed in it. Yet, the Broncos suffered some puzzling losses this season that kind of made you scratch your head and wonder about them. One of them was a loss at Pittsburgh in a game where they led by 17 in the first half, and seemed to completely own the momentum, only to get dominated in the second half.

Of course, what happens in the regular season and what happens in the playoffs are often two entirely different things. And the Broncos were certainly hoping that would be the case here.

Denver had numerous chances early in the game, but squandered a few by playing a little too cautiously. As a result, despite having some great field position to begin drives, they were only able to get a couple of field goals for a 6-0 lead. When Pittsburgh finally answered in the second quarter with a touchdown, they instantly took the lead at 7-6, and added to that with a field goal a little later.

For a while between the second quarter and well into the fourth quarter, neither team could capitalize much on offense, and there were exchanges of field goals that saw Pittsburgh holding a 13-12 lead. That was when the Steelers had the ball, and it was getting well into the final quarter. The Steelers offense was moving the ball down the field very well, and were starting to be in at least field goal position.

That was when the Broncos came up with perhaps the biggest play of the game for them, hitting Steelers running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, which resulted in him losing the ball. Denver recovered, ending a viable Pittsburgh threat, and giving Peyton Manning and his offense a chance with 9:52 left in the game. This time, they capitalized, as Manning led his team on a 13 play, 65-yard drive that ended with an exclamation point touchdown by C.J Anderson. The Broncos got the two-point conversion, and that left the Pittsburgh Steelers down by seven, and with only three minutes left to play. For the first time all game, the Steeler defense look tired, perhaps worn out from the thin air at Mile High.

Pittsburgh faltered on the ensuing drive, unable to convert on the necessary fourth down, which gave Denver the ball back, already in field goal range. But the Steelers had their timeouts and used them well, forcing Denver to go for a long field goal. Yet, the attempt was good, and the Broncos were up, 23-13.

The Steelers were able to get their offense going on the next drive, and tacked on a field goal to keep hope alive with less than 30 seconds to play in the game, but they needed an onside kick attempt to be successful. However, the Broncos were able to get it, and that iced the game.

Denver now awaits the arrival of arch rival New England, as the two best teams in the AFC for the last four seasons will meet again in the AFC title game. It will be a renewal of the best rivalry in the NFL between two legendary quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Denver will hope to make a record-tying eight Super Bowl appearance, while New England will try to set a new record with what would be their ninth ever appearance in the Super Bowl. The AFC Championship Game will be next week at 3pm ET.