Saturday Games:
LA Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31
Most people, including myself, believed that the Los Angeles Rams were the better team overall entering this one.
And while the Panthers played tough and threatened to hand the Rams yet another loss in Carolina this season, Los Angeles managed to win. They survive a tough contest, a scare, and now they will advance to the next round. Hell, they may even host a playoff game next weekend, as improbable as that seemed last weekend, if the 49ers manage to upset the Eagles later today.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is a serious candidate for the NFL MVP award this season, and he showed why in this contest. He remained cool and composed, completing 24 of 42 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns. That said, he also had one INT.
Overall, the Rams put up 411 total yards of offense, and that is after subtracting a rather whopping 83 yards from 9 penalties. Certainly, the Rams made some costly mistakes that could have doomed them. But they managed to escape and live to fight another day.
As for the Panthers, they were not a great team. Yet, they won the NFC South division title, and played the Rams very tough in their one and only playoff game. This is something which they can build on.
My pick: Accurate
Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27
Now, I will be the first one to admit that the ending took me by surprise. When the Packers were up 21-6 in the fourth quarter, I thought the game was over.
Clearly, I was wrong.
Apparently, you cannot underestimate the life left in these Bears, even when they are down.
Chicago came storming back, even after being seemingly lifeless for most of the game. Up until they rallied in the fourth quarter, they were doing the things that teams that lose playoff games do. Making mistakes. Turning the ball over. Not creating enough opportunities and/or not taking advantage of enough opportunities. Generally, not showing life.
And then, just like that, they turn it all around. They come roaring back to life, and it was like the dam bursting for the Pack. They managed to score a touchdown, and that helped. But when you look at it in retrospect, it almost feels like that was just them plugging a finger in one of the many holes of the wall that, up to that point, had been holding up well, but was suddenly crumbling.
Da Bears came alive, scoring touchdowns while the Packers defense no longer could contain them, and Green Bay's potent offense just could not keep up.
When the Bears were trailing, 27-24 late in the fourth, I thought maybe they would settle for a field goal to force overtime. Instead, they scored a touchdown to pull ahead.
Then the defense held.
What a game! What a win!
Chicago was the best team in the NFC North this season, winning the division title. But there is nothing like really stamping your authority by booting your biggest rival out of the playoffs. Coming back from so far down and seemingly so far gone is just the icing on the cake.
What a win, as the Bears advance to the divisional round. They will find out who their opponent is later today, after the Eagles-49ers game.
My pick: Accurate - barely
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