The Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts sure kicked off the playoffs in fine fashion.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints played a competitive game in the nightcap.
I expected the score of the first game to be more like the score of the second game and the score of the second game to be more like the score of the first game. Something like that.
The Colts made pretty quick work of a 28 point 3rd quarter deficit. It was pretty remarkable that the Chiefs had a 28 point 3rd quarter deficit after losing Jamaal Charles to a concussion after only three carries.
I've long been puzzled by Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe. He has all-world talent but he's never come close to playing at that level. He had a real nice game yesterday until the Chiefs last offensive snap. He could have kept his team's season alive if he could get both feet down on that field. It's an awareness that great receivers have. He caught the ball but just ran off of the field without a thought to his feet. Great receivers make that catch.
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck didn't play his best game. Three interceptions is never a great game for a quarterback. Like all great quarterbacks, he plays the game without a thought to earlier mistakes.
Luck did it Stanford. He's done it in the NFL. I love the way he brushes away contact from pass rushers. He never seems bothered by the movement around him.
How many true franchise quarterbacks are there?
Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees. No doubt. Philip Rivers. Maybe. I'm ready to put Andrew Luck in that group. Russell Wilson is hovering over that group. I'm more comfortable putting Luck and Wilson in that group than I am putting Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, and Matt Ryan in it. Now, Eli Manning turns into a whole other beast in the playoffs but he's so inconsistent in the regular season. Those games are important too. Yesterday, it was amazing to watch Luck and Brees play football. Luck wasn't at his best the whole game but he was sure something in bringing his team back from a huge hole. Brees was just so calm at the end. Sometimes, it's the calm in leading your team to a win that makes a franchise quarterback.
The Colts going straight from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck should be illegal.
As a Minnesota Vikings fan, I want one of those franchise quarterbacks. It's been so long.
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters said that the Saints got lucky. It was likely a knee-jerk comment following a difficult loss but Peters might like to think about his own team rather than the supposed luck of his opponent. The Eagles converted only three of twelve third down attempts. Converting both fourth down attempts improves that some but that's not efficient offensive football. Peters and his unlucky offensive pals had four three-and-outs. That's terrible for a team that brags of an explosive offense. The Eagles gave up a game-winning, five minute drive that closed the Eagles season. None of this is luck. It's the Eagles failing to win a playoff game.
Pretty Chilly
Today's San Francisco 49ers-Green Bay Packers Wildcard game at Lambeau Field could join the coldest games in NFL history. Here's the ten coldest recorded games:
10. Dec. 22, 1990 Lambeau Field
Packers vs Lions 2 degrees
9. Jan. 15, 1994 Ralph Wilson Stadium
AFC PLayoffs Bills vs Raiders 0/-32 wind chill
8. Dec. 26, 1993 Lambeau Field
Packers vs Raiders 0
7. Dec. 10, 1972 Metropolitan Stadium
Vikings vs Packers 0/-18
6. Dec. 3, 1972 Metropolitan Stadium
Vikings vs Bears -2/-26
5. Jan. 20, 2008 Lambeau Field
NFC Championship Packers vs Giants -4/-24
4. Jan. 4, 1981 Cleveland Municipal Stadium
AFC Playoffs Browns vs Raiders -5
3. Jan. 7, 1996 Arrowhead Stadium
AFC Playoff Chiefs vs Colts -6
2. Jan. 10, 1982 Riverfront Stadium
AFC Championship Bengals vs Chargers -9/-59
1. Dec. 31, 1967 Lambeau Field
NFL Championship Packers vs Cowboys -13/-48
Chilly Game thoughts:
It's a little funny to see the Raiders presence in three of these game. That must be something of a shock to the system.
I remember #2 well. The week before, the Chargers played one of the most incredible football games that I've ever seen against the Miami Dolphins. It was a draining, overtime game played in 76 degree Miami. Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow played out of his mind and had to be helped off the field due to exhaustion and dehydration. It simply amazing that the Chargers had to play in 76 degree weather one week -9/-59 degree weather the next. It's no surprise that the Bengals defeated the Chargers, one of the most explosive offensive teams in league history, and moved on to the Super Bowl.
It should be noted that these are the coldest recorded games. It's entirely possible that the first forty years of the NFL might have included games that were played in temperatures that dipped below 0. Before the Super Bowl era the league usually completed it's season before Christmas but all of the games were played in cold climates because all of the teams played in cold climates.
While the forecast for today's Packers-49ers seems to get warmer as we get closer to the game, this game is going to be cold.
The most unfortunate result of this cold game will be the uproar over the potential for a very cold Super Bowl played in New Jersey next month. Gimmeeabreak!!! It's football!
According to various reports from those that supposedly hear things, the Minnesota Vikings have/had four interviews scheduled for their vacant head coaching position. Here they are:
Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewed yesterday.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was/will be interviewed.
Seahawks coaches were available for interviews through today as they had first round byes in the playoffs. I never saw a date for Bevell's interview but it had to be done either yesterday or today. These interviews are pretty long (at least 6-8 hours) so I doubt that the Vikings could have interviewed both Quinn and Bevell yesterday. Considering the fact that Bevell was the Vikings offensive coordinator while general manager Rick Spielman was in the building maybe the Bevell interview wouldn't take long. Anyway, the Seahawks coordinators kickoff the Vikings head coach interviews. It sounds like the Vikings brass are taking these interviews on the road. Seattle was obviously their first stop. They're next stop is Arizona.
Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will interview tomorrow.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton will interview Tuesday.
There have been reports that the Vikings are interested in Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. Neither can be interviewed until the Bengals finish their playoff days. Zimmer is my top choice. He has been since it looked like Leslie Frazier's job was in jeopardy. I doubt that tips the Vikings scales any but Zimmer is the coach that I most want leading the Vikings into the future. I actually like all but one of the coaches that the Vikings are interviewing. For some reason, Bevell worries me. I like the idea of a defensive-minded coach head coach as long as that defensive-minded head coach brings in a strong, innovative offensive coordinator. Is that asking too much? No!
Speaking of coaching vacancies. We have another one. A day after the 2013 regular season, there were six teams without a head football coach. Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins. The Tennessee Titans joined the group when they fired Mike Munchak yesterday. This must have been a difficult decision. Munchak was a Hall of Fame player for the team for 12 years, an assistant coach for 17 years, and the head coach for three years. 32 years with one team.
I was amused to see that New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo has put his name on a product that simply makes sense:
Jerod's All-Pro Mayo
It comes in three flavors: Kickin' Buffalo, Bruisin' Bacon, and Crushin Chipotle
Mayo plans to donate a portion of his proceeds from his mayo to the Boston Medical Center.
A recent issue of Sports Illustrated had a terrific article on Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. I got a kick out of some of the comments from Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry.
Berry on Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver and Olympic gold medal winning sprinter Bob Hayes:
"I have every move known to man," recalls Berry of his arsenal of fakes and feints to shake defenders."Do you know what Bob Hayes had to do to get open?" Pause. "He left the line of scrimmage."
Berry on Calvin Johnson:
"Good grief!"
"I've watched a lot of great receivers over the years. That guy is off the charts, an absolute physical phenomenon."
Congratulations to Vikings rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson on his selection as the All-Pro kick returner. The kid is dynamite.
All-Pro honors are far more selective than Pro Bowl honors. Pro Bowl gets more attention due to there being an actual game and a trip to Hawaii. Despite the attention, game, and trip, All-Pro is the greater honor.
The greatest flaw of the Pro Bowl selections is revealed in instances like last year. Seahawks corner Richard Sherman failed to get any Pro Bowl appreciation but was selected 1st team All-Pro. This mess happened again this year. Tampa Bay Buccaneers terrific linebacker Lavonte David was left off of the Pro Bowl roster. He was selected 1st team All-Pro. The same was true for Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis.
All three coaches in Houton Texans history, Dom Capers, Gary Kubiak, and now Bill O'Brien, started their Houston tenure with the top pick in the draft. David Carr and Mario Williams came before. Who will it be this time?
The Vikings fired Leslie Frazier last Monday. He wasn't without a job for very long. New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith hired Frazier as his defensive coordinator. Cal fired Jeff Tedford last year. Smith hired Tedford as his offensive coordinator.
I'm hoping that the playoff thrills of yesterday carry over to today. That would be grand.
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