NFL 2018-19 Divisional Playoff Round Review

Saturday Games

AFC

Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

v.

Kansas City Chiefs   (12-4)

Kansas City 31, Indianapolis 13

Through much of this season, the Chiefs would score on their first two possessions of the game, take a sizable lead, and then never look back. And that is pretty much what happened in this game. KC came out on fire, scoring two touchdowns on their first two possessions to take an early 14-0 lead. They expanded that to 17-0 in the second quarter, and the only time that Indianapolis managed to do much of anything positive in the first half was on a blocked punt resulting in a touchdown. Still, KC would score another touchdown to take a comfortable 24-7 lead into the lockers for halftime.

The Chiefs would add to that in the fourth quarter, as they never really relinquished that big lead too much, even as the Colts were finally showing signs of coming to life. Ultimately, the Chiefs managed to put the Colts away with the extra points that they scored, and a defensive effort throughout the game that was very impressive, and never allowed Indianapolis to get their own dangerous offense going.

KC's Patrick Mahomes completed 27 of 41 passes for 278 yards, with his favorite target being Travis Kelce. Those two connected seven times for 108 yards. Damien Williams added 129 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.

In a losing effort for the Colts, quarterback Andrew Luck completed 19 of 36 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown. T. Y. Hilton proved to be Liuck's favorite target, as they connected four times for 60 yards and one touchdown. Marlon Mack added 46 yards on the ground in nine carries.


My pick: Inaccurate

NFC

Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

at

Los Angeles Rams  (13-3)

L.A. Rams 30, Dallas 22

The Rams struggled a bit in the first quarter, but they found their rhythm and took over the game in an explosive effort that saw them come from a 7-3 first quarter deficit to a fairly comfortable 20-7 lead by halftime. They added another field goal early in the third quarter, and managed to hang on for the win that sends them to the NFC title game for the first time since the 2001 season, when they were still known as the original incarnation of the "Greatest Show on Turf," and when they were still playing in St. Louis.

Jared Goff did not have a banner day, as he completed 15 of 28 passes for 186 yards. Robert Woods brought in six of those receptions for 69 yards. Running back C.J. Anderson was productive on the grounds, however. He collected 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, helping lift the Rams over the Cowboys.

As well as the Cowboys were playing in the final weeks, they simply could not overcome a tough Rams team playing at home on the West Coast. Dak Prescott completed 20-32 for 266 yards and one touchdown. Dallas wide receiver Michael Gallup hauled in six receptions for 119 yards. But the 'Boys fall short once again. Ezekiel Eliot was not too effective on the ground, although he had one big touchdown. Still, on the day, he only managed 47 yards on 20 carries.






My pick: Accurate

Sunday Games

AFC

Los Angeles Chargers (12-4)

v.

New England Patriots (11-5)

New England Patriots 41, L.A. Chargers 28

The Patriots earned their eighth straight AFC title game appearance by downing the Chargers. New England completely dominated the first half, taking a huge 35-7 lead by halftime, effectively putting Los Angeles away early and running out the clock on the Chargers in the second half. With this win, the Pats solidified a perfect record at home this season, as they went 9-0 overall between regular season and postseason.

The Chargers defense looked overwhelmed, allowing New England to gain nearly 500 yards of total offense. The Patriots dominated the time of possession battle, and capitalized on two turnovers by the Chargers, while committing none themselves. Brady threw for well over 300 yards in the air, while Sony Michel gained 129 yards and got three rushing touchdowns on the ground.

Tom Brady had a solid day, completing 34 of 44 pass attempts for 343 yards and one touchdown. Julius Edelman caught nine of those receptions for 151 big yards. Sony Michel added 129 grounds yards and three rushing touchdowns.

In what surely was a frustrating day, Chargers QB Philip Rivers completed 25 of 51 pass attempts for 331 yards, with three touchdowns, and one interception. Charger receiver Tyrell Williams grabbed five catches good for 94 yards. Running back Melvin Gordon  only got 15 yards on nine carries, but he did have one touchdown.

The Patriots keep on rolling...



My pick: Accurate

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

v.

New Orleans Saints (13-3)

New Orleans 20, Philadelphia 14

The Eagles jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and at that point, looked capable of running away with this thing. New Orleans looked completely overwhelmed, and it was beginning to seem like Philly was a team of destiny, and that a rematch of last year's Super Bowl between New England and Philadelphia might be inching closer to a reality.

But to the credit of the New Orleans Saints, they came back. They tightened up on defense big time, showing that this is the best defense that this team has had in a long, long time. It reminded me a bit of the way that they used to play in the early nineties, when they had names like Pat Swilling and Ricky Jackson, and ranked near the top of the defensive rankings for several seasons.

Indeed, the Saints came crawling back, refusing to yield any more points, or much of anything at all, really, to the Eagles. The Saints closed it to a 14-10 deficit by halftime, and they scored a touchdown late in the third to take a narrow 17-14 lead. They added a field goal in the fourth quarter, and clamped down on the Eagles "O" until the final drive of the game, when Philly again threatened. But wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had a pass go right through his hands, and it was then picked off by New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore. That effectively iced the game, and any very slim hopes that Philly still had ended when Saints running back Alvin Kamara broke through for a huge first down with less than two minutes left to play, and with the Eagles all out of timeouts.

Drew Brees completed 28 of 38 passes for 301 yards, with two touchdowns and one INT. Michael Thomas added 171 yards and one touchdown. New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara earned 71 yards on 16 carries.

In the first loss that he suffered as a starting quarterback in a long while, Nick Foles completed 18 of 31 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown, but two costly interceptions. Alshon Jeffery grabbed five receptions good for 63 yards. On the ground, Wendell Smallwoodpicked up a pedestrian 33 yards on 10 carries. 

My pick: Inaccurate