🏈🏈🏈🏈
NFC Championship Game:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Green Bay Packers 26
Well, the Buccaneers won the "Battle of the Bays." In their first NFC Championship Game appearance in 18 years, and the fourth overall NFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history, the Bucs prevailed by riding their offensive explosiveness through the first half and early in the third quarter, and then relying on a defense that bent but did not break.
This game looked like it was going to be a blowout. The Bucs went ahead early in the game, and seemed to be outplaying the Packers consistently. They took a fairly decisive 21-10 lead into the lockers by halftime. Then, they opened the second half with a touchdown, and a commanding 28-10 lead.
Ball game?
Not exactly. After all, Green Bay had home field advantage for a reason, and it was not for simply giving up when the going got tough. They have now had two seasons in a row where they finished 13-3, and made it to the NFC Championship Game both seasons. So you kind of suspected that they would have something to say about it, some kind of response, before the game was over.
Sure enough, the Packers rallied. In fact, there were times when a comeback seemed inevitable, as they seemed to own the momentum later in the game, through most of the second half, really. But as it turns out, Tampa Bay bent, but did not really break. They allowed the game to get closer, even a lot closer. At one point, late in the fourth quarter, it was a one possession game, and the Packers were in scoring position. A touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, would tie it up, and likely send the game into overtime.
That was when one of the most memorable moments in the game occurred. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opted for a field goal instead of taking the chance on potential game-tying touchdown, if it was followed up with that two-point conversion. The decision to go for that field goal, with the obvious assumption that Green Bay would hold Tampa Bay and then manage to get the ball again for a chance to win the game, is a decision that has been questioned ever since, and likely will be talked about and debated for years.
As it turned out, that was a fateful decision for the Packers, because they never did get the ball back. The decision to get the field goal to cut the lead to 5, instead of going for the potentially game-tying touchdown, backfired. Any realistic chance that Green Bay had to tie or win the game went out the window at the Packers defense could not stop the Bucs from getting not one but two first downs. The second one, which came very late in the game, and with the Packers no longer having any timeouts, effectively iced the game for Tampa Bay, and sent them to the Super Bowl.
Statistically, this game was quite close. Tampa Bay hung onto the football for over 34 minutes, and enjoyed a fairly slight advantage in first downs earned, 23 to 19 for Green Bay. The Packers, however, actually outgained the Buccaneers, 381 to 351. Brady threw three picks, all in the second half, that accounted for all of the turnovers for his team. The Packers had two turnovers during the game.
On the day for the victorious Tampa Bay Bucs, Tom Brady completed 20- of 36 passes for 280 yards, with three touchdowns, and those three INT's. His favorite target was Chris Godwin, who picked up 110 yards with five receptions. Running back Leonard Fournette added 55 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries, but his power running hurt the Packers defense at some key times.
On the losing side for Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers completed 33 of 48 passes for 346 yards, with three touchdowns and one INT. Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the team with four receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, Aaron Jones was limited to 27 yards on six carries. The Packers rushing game was simply not much of a factor in this game.
Now, however, Tampa Bay is heading to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. They won their only previous appearance, back in the 2002-03 season, when head coach Jon Gruden defeated his former team, the Oakland Raiders, 48-21. They had not won a playoff game since until this postseason run, which sees them reach the Super Bowl once again, making history as the only team in NFL history to reach the big game on a season when the Super Bowl is being played in their home stadium. Also, Tom Brady makes history, or rather adds to his already considerable legacy, by qualifying for his 10th Super Bowl, which is just stunning. He has played in one of ever 5 1/2 Super Bowls ever played, which is quite a feat, considering that he was not born yet until the game was more than 10 years old. He will be going for a seventh Super Bowl championship ring, which would extend his already existing record of six Super Bowl rings, more than any other player in any other position in NFL history. He will also make history as the oldest player ever to play in this biggest game in the NFL.
My pick: Accurate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020-21 NFC Champions
AFC Championship Game:
Kansas City Chiefs 38, Buffalo Bills 24
The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs managed to outplay Buffalo, even though the Bills jumped out to early 9-0 lead, also ended with 9-0 run. In between, however, was all KC. Yes, that offense had an avalanche of points, and buried Buffalo's chances of reaching the fifth Super Bowl in franchise history this season.
Still, the Bills enjoyed a successful season, finishing with a 13-3 record, tied for the best franchise record ever, when the team managed to finish 13-3 in both the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Those were the first two seasons of a four-year stretch when the Bills famously qualified for the Super Bowl every year, but unfortunately, lost each of those appearances.
The Bills played well in this one, and even had a bit of a chance late in the game. Yes, they were able to get a touchdown midway through fourth, when they were down 38-15, and could just have gone for regular extra point to close it to 38-22 Frankly, I was perplexed as to why they would immediately go for a two-point conversion, when a simple, standard extra point would have made it a two possession game. Nor was I the only one, as commentator (and former Cowboys quarterback) Tony Romo repeatedly stated the same thing, questioning their decision to go for two. With the recovery of an onside kick, which they in fact would get against seemingly impossible odds, they would have had an actual chance to score and make it one possession game if they managed to earn another touchdown, and they actually got quite close to their own end zone, to boot. In other words, they would have given themselves a shot.
One problem that the Bills had a couple of times in this game, and in other important games that they played, was when quarterback Josh Allen was about to get sacked, and yet, he refused to go down. There were times when he admittedly impressively was able to get out of what seemed like sure sacks. Yet, there were other times when his refusal to go down, and backing up even farther downfield, away from their own end zone, often makes losses in yards by sacks much worse. That was what happened, and a real possibility of a touchdown late in the game had to be sacrificed in favor of a field goal, to actually make it a two-possession game, since their failed two-point conversion on the previous scoring drive had kept it a three possession game.
It was a long field goal attempted, but Buffalo placekicker Tyler Bass was solid. on the day, he kicked four field goals, including not one but two 51-yarders, one early to give the Bills the first lead of the game at 3-0, then that one late to keep the Bills somewhat in the game.
However, the Chiefs offense was able to do what they had to do, and with such little time left, they were able to kill the clock and ice the game, earning their second straight trip to the big game.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was able to play the full game after clearing concussion protocol after sustaining an injury in last week's game against Cleveland. On the day, he was quite effective, completing 29 of 38 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. He was obviously instrumental in helping lift the Chiefs over the Bills and back to the Super Bowl. He was able to spread the ball around in particular because of two receivers, both of whom earned over 100 yards. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had nine catches for a whipping 172 yards, as his speed clearly hurt the Buffalo defense, which struggled and scrambled to keep up with him numerous times. Also, star tight end Travis Kelce had thirteen catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Darrel Williams added 52 yards on 13 carries.
On the losing side, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen completed 28 of 48 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns, as well as one INT. He also led the team in rushing, with 88 yards picked up in seven carries. The Chiefs defense had some hard times with trying to contain his legs, as his mobility proved a formidable weapon for Buffalo at times. Cole Beasley was strong on the receiving end, grabbing seven receptions and picking up 88 yards.
The Chiefs enjoyed only a very slight advantage in time of possession, hanging onto the ball for just over 31 minutes. However, the advantage for them was much more noticable in terms of yards gained, with 439 yards to 363 for the Bills. KC also got 29 first downs, to 24 for Buffalo. Both teams had one turnover apiece.
With the win, the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the second year in a row, and a fourth time in franchise history. They will try to become the eighth franchise in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. No team has managed the feat since the New England Patriots managed to win consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Chiefs have been established as three-point favorites early on, as the odds just came in.
My pick: Accurate
Kansas City Chiefs
2020-21 AFC Champions
No comments:
Post a Comment