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Houston Texans 45, Cleveland Browns 14
Yikes!
Now, I won’t pretend that I was not rooting for the Browns here in this one. Also, I actually thought that they were going to win.
And for a while there early on, it looked like Cleveland had come to play. In a back and forth game that sure seemed like it was going to be a shootout, and Browns offense was moving and scoring.
Until they just stopped. The Browns defense was ranked among the elite defensive teams in the league, but they simply had no answers for that explosive Houston Texans offense on this day.
Also, not only did Cleveland’s offense stop scoring, but they kept handing golden opportunities to the Houston defense, who were only too happy to oblige. Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco threw two pick sixes, as the game slowly but steadily grew out of reach for the Browns to have any hopes remaining for any kind of a comeback.
So we had the blowout playoff game that we got. The Texans were the first team in history during the Super Bowl to win a division title with a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. Now, they became the first such team to win a postseason game.
As for the Browns, who just a couple of weeks ago still hoped to have a shot at the number one seed? Well, this was a good season overall, but this loss feels like it lends it a bittersweet kind of a feel to it. Now what loyal fans of the Browns wanted or needed, frankly.
Let’s see how the offseason goes, and what kinds of adjustments the team makes in order to field an even better, more promising team next season.
My pick: Inaccurate
Kansas City Chiefs 26, Miami Dolphins 7
In the end, this year’s Dolphins will likely be known as a team that flirted with greatness, but which also folded when the going got tough. Remember that just after Thanksgiving, Miami enjoyed a 9-3 record, and with a three-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East race, the Fins looked like a sure bet to win the division title.
However, that was when the losses started, and just as Buffalo began to get hotter. By the time the two teams met in the regular season finale last Sunday night, the Bills seemed to have the momentum, while the Dolphins were desperately trying to cling to the narrow lead which they still had entering that game. Towards the end of the game, they were equally desperately trying to cling to the late lead that they had in the game. But once Buffalo came alive, Miami folded, and just could not hang on when their relatively elite status was on the line.
So the Dolphins, instead of playing from the comforts of home in warm southern Florida, now had to go to very frigid Kansas City, to play in one of the coldest postseason games in recent history. Against the defending champions.
Not surprisingly, the Fins lost in a one-sided contest. No, the Chiefs offense did not explode, and still looks a bit suspect. But KC did what they had to do in order to win, and they ultimately won this one convincingly. This was in large part because of that Kansas City defense, which was the strength of this team, this year.
The Chiefs built up an early 10-0 lead, before the defense finally allowed Miami’s first – and only – touchdown. Or indeed, the only points that the Fins would score on this particular day. By halftime, KC had expanded the lead to 16-7.
In the end, the Chiefs defense beat Miami’s offense to the punch. They were too quick, too tough, and it was just too cold. All too much for the Dolphins, who looked ready for the showers well before the game was officially over. As good as Miami had appeared to be at some point this season, they proved not to be a serious title contender in the end, getting bounced convincingly, and as early as possible in the Wild Card round.
As for the Chiefs, this really comes as no surprise. They showed why they are the defending champions, and will now advance either to head up to Buffalo should the Bills win or, failing that, to host the Texans should the Steelers win.
My pick: Accurate
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