Okay, so now we know who will be playing in Super Bowl LIII.
The New England Patriots are going back to the big game for a third straight year, which is an amazing accomplishment. They managed to do that after surviving a tough challenge by the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium on a frigid, subfreezing evening in Kansas City.
On the NFC side, the Rams enjoyed a comeback win to outlast the Saints, even if it took a highly controversial call, and overtime.
So, it was the two road teams who prevailed, setting up a second Super Bowl featuring the Rams and the Patriots. They met in Super Bowl XXXVI, with the then young, upstart, Patriots coming in as prohibitive underdogs, but managing to beat the mighty Rams, pulling off what was the second biggest upset in Super Bowl history. It was the first championship that launched the amazing dynasty that the Patriots have become.
Let's take a closer look:
NFC Championship Game
Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 3:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams (13-3)
v.
New Orleans Saints (13-3)
L.A. Rams 26, New Orleans 23 (OT) - The Rams exacted a measure of revenge against the Saints, the team that handed Los Angeles their first defeat on the year following a perfect 8-0 start.
But it was not looking too good early on. New Orleans held a comfortable 13-0 lead, and seemed to hold all of the cards. The home crowd was raucous, and the Rams seemed on the verge of letting the game get out of hand.
That was when they turned it around. The defense tightened up. The offense began to play the way that they have been playing all season long. And slowly but surely, they fought their way from that 13-point deficit to get back into the game.
It was a tight game towards the end, and you could argue that this game will forever be overshadowed by one of the worst no-calls in history. Inside of the two minute warning, with the game winding down and the Saints in scoring position, Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman put a blatant hit on Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis that was illegal on many levels. Number one, he never turned around. Number two, he hit him before he ever got the ball. Number three, he hit him helmet to helmet. A penalty would have put New Orleans into position to score a touchdown but, more importantly, it would have given them a fresh set of downs, which would seriously have hurt the Rams chances and limited any possibility of scoring, or possibly even getting the ball back.
Yet, it was not called. Many feel that the Saints deserved to win, but were cheated out of it by this bad no call. Everyone in New Orleans knew it was a blown call, and a chorus of boos rained down on the refs afterward. Robey-Coleman admitted that it was a penalty. Even the referee apparently admitted that he made a mistake.
New Orleans was forced to settle for a field goal on the next play, and the Rams got the ball back. They managed to get into field goal position themselves to force overtime. And once in overtime, Drew Brees, who usually is a very prolific passer who generally makes good decisions, made the worst decision, and the worst pass, that I have ever seen him make. He tried to throw with a defender literally right on top of him, in his face, and who managed to hit the passing arm of Brees just as he let it go. The ball looked very weird from the start, sailing high. My immediate thought was that this looked like a pass that could easily be intercepted, which it was. The Rams then took that ball at midfield and drove far enough to get a 57-yard field goal, which could have cost them dearly if the kick was no good. But it was good, and the Rams, and not the Saints, are going to the Super Bowl.
Young Rams quarterback Jared Goff was impressive, completing 25 of 40 passes for 290 yards, with one TD and one INT, but showing efficiency when he had to. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks was his favorite target with seven receptions for 107 yards. On the ground, C.J. Anderson led the Rams, although he picked up only 44 yards on 16 carries. Strangely enough, Gurley did not really play much.
In the loss, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees completed 26 of 40 for 249 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Alvin Kamara was his favorite target, collecting 11 receptions for 96 yards. Running back Mark Ingram II picked up 31 yards on nine carries.
But it was not looking too good early on. New Orleans held a comfortable 13-0 lead, and seemed to hold all of the cards. The home crowd was raucous, and the Rams seemed on the verge of letting the game get out of hand.
That was when they turned it around. The defense tightened up. The offense began to play the way that they have been playing all season long. And slowly but surely, they fought their way from that 13-point deficit to get back into the game.
It was a tight game towards the end, and you could argue that this game will forever be overshadowed by one of the worst no-calls in history. Inside of the two minute warning, with the game winding down and the Saints in scoring position, Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman put a blatant hit on Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis that was illegal on many levels. Number one, he never turned around. Number two, he hit him before he ever got the ball. Number three, he hit him helmet to helmet. A penalty would have put New Orleans into position to score a touchdown but, more importantly, it would have given them a fresh set of downs, which would seriously have hurt the Rams chances and limited any possibility of scoring, or possibly even getting the ball back.
Yet, it was not called. Many feel that the Saints deserved to win, but were cheated out of it by this bad no call. Everyone in New Orleans knew it was a blown call, and a chorus of boos rained down on the refs afterward. Robey-Coleman admitted that it was a penalty. Even the referee apparently admitted that he made a mistake.
New Orleans was forced to settle for a field goal on the next play, and the Rams got the ball back. They managed to get into field goal position themselves to force overtime. And once in overtime, Drew Brees, who usually is a very prolific passer who generally makes good decisions, made the worst decision, and the worst pass, that I have ever seen him make. He tried to throw with a defender literally right on top of him, in his face, and who managed to hit the passing arm of Brees just as he let it go. The ball looked very weird from the start, sailing high. My immediate thought was that this looked like a pass that could easily be intercepted, which it was. The Rams then took that ball at midfield and drove far enough to get a 57-yard field goal, which could have cost them dearly if the kick was no good. But it was good, and the Rams, and not the Saints, are going to the Super Bowl.
Young Rams quarterback Jared Goff was impressive, completing 25 of 40 passes for 290 yards, with one TD and one INT, but showing efficiency when he had to. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks was his favorite target with seven receptions for 107 yards. On the ground, C.J. Anderson led the Rams, although he picked up only 44 yards on 16 carries. Strangely enough, Gurley did not really play much.
In the loss, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees completed 26 of 40 for 249 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Alvin Kamara was his favorite target, collecting 11 receptions for 96 yards. Running back Mark Ingram II picked up 31 yards on nine carries.
My pick: Inaccurate
AFC Championship Game
Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 6:40 p.m.
New England Patriots (11-5)
v.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
v.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
New England 37, Kansas City 31 (OT) - The Chiefs won throughout the season using the same formula: they would score often early, particularly on their first couple of drives, and force opposing teams to have to play from behind. Once they get that lead, this is a very tough team to beat.
New England understood that, and wanted to make sure not to fall into the same trap. So, they took the ball on their initial drive, and hung onto it. They marched down the field, and ate a lot of time off the clock. They capped it with a touchdown for an early 7-0 lead. The Patriots defense held, and New England marched down the field once again, and also again ate a lot of time off the clock.
Tom Brady uncharacteristically threw a bad interception to end that New England threat, but the Pats defense held still, and the Patriots were more careful with the ball after that. For all intents and purposes, they dominated the first half, grabbing momentum early and taking control of the game before the Chiefs got back into it in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter.
That fourth quarter was a wild one. The two teams combined for 38 total points, a new record for the AFC Championship Game. New England entered with a 17-7 lead, but the Chiefs outscored them, 24-14, to tie the game up and force overtime.
In the end, however, the Patriots got the ball in overtime and, once again, marched down the field, and capped a strong drive off with the winning touchdown that secured their place in Super Bowl LIII.
On the day, Tom Brady completed 30 of 46 passes for 348 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions. Julius Edelman was his favorite target, collecting seven reception for 96 yards, although Gronkowski also had some big catches, particularly one very late in the fourth quarter that put New England in position for the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Patriots the lead. Sony Michel provided a strong presence on the ground for New England, gathering 113 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.
On the losing side, KC's young quarterback phenom, Patrick Mahomes, had a frustrating day, completing 16 of 31 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Sammy Watkins hauled in four receptions for 114 yards. Kansas City running back Damien Williams picked up 30 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
In all, the Pats held on for 43:59, as compared to 20:53 which the Chiefs held it for. A classic case of ball control and keeping a dangerous offense off the field and cold.
New England's strategy worked, and it was good enough to get them to where they wanted to go from the beginning: right back to the Super Bowl, and the big dance. Now, they want to do whatever is necessary to earn the right to dance again once there.
New England understood that, and wanted to make sure not to fall into the same trap. So, they took the ball on their initial drive, and hung onto it. They marched down the field, and ate a lot of time off the clock. They capped it with a touchdown for an early 7-0 lead. The Patriots defense held, and New England marched down the field once again, and also again ate a lot of time off the clock.
Tom Brady uncharacteristically threw a bad interception to end that New England threat, but the Pats defense held still, and the Patriots were more careful with the ball after that. For all intents and purposes, they dominated the first half, grabbing momentum early and taking control of the game before the Chiefs got back into it in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter.
That fourth quarter was a wild one. The two teams combined for 38 total points, a new record for the AFC Championship Game. New England entered with a 17-7 lead, but the Chiefs outscored them, 24-14, to tie the game up and force overtime.
In the end, however, the Patriots got the ball in overtime and, once again, marched down the field, and capped a strong drive off with the winning touchdown that secured their place in Super Bowl LIII.
On the day, Tom Brady completed 30 of 46 passes for 348 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions. Julius Edelman was his favorite target, collecting seven reception for 96 yards, although Gronkowski also had some big catches, particularly one very late in the fourth quarter that put New England in position for the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Patriots the lead. Sony Michel provided a strong presence on the ground for New England, gathering 113 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.
On the losing side, KC's young quarterback phenom, Patrick Mahomes, had a frustrating day, completing 16 of 31 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Sammy Watkins hauled in four receptions for 114 yards. Kansas City running back Damien Williams picked up 30 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
In all, the Pats held on for 43:59, as compared to 20:53 which the Chiefs held it for. A classic case of ball control and keeping a dangerous offense off the field and cold.
New England's strategy worked, and it was good enough to get them to where they wanted to go from the beginning: right back to the Super Bowl, and the big dance. Now, they want to do whatever is necessary to earn the right to dance again once there.
My pick: Accurate
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