Divisional Thoughts

After the season that the Minnesota Vikings just had, it’s difficult to believe that they were playing in the Divisional round last season. Here are some thoughts on the games that took place this season. 

Rams-Packers

1. This game felt like all Packers throughout. It felt like a blowout. Until Aaron Rodgers’ 58-yard touchdown toss to Alan Lazard with about seven minutes to play the Rams were right there. 

2. If the A.J. Dillon fumble hadn’t bounced as if on a string right to Rodgers maybe it’s a different game. The Rams could’ve had the ball, down seven, at about the Packers’ 30-yard line. Instead, the ball only had eyes for Rodgers. Three plays later Rodgers is throwing deep to Lazard for the game-sealing score. 

3. Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff leading their teams in this game had me thinking about the Cal quarterback presence in Super Bowls. Five Golden Bear quarterbacks have started in a Super Bowl.

Joe Kapp

Craig Morton

Vince Ferragamo

Aaron Rodgers

Jared Goff

That’s two more quarterbacks than the schools with the next most. 

Alabama-Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler

Notre Dame-Daryle Lamonica, Joe Montana, Joe Theisman

Purdue-Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Drew Brees

Cal might have the most Super Bowl starters but they haven’t had much Super Bowl success. Only Rodgers has led his team to a win in the big game. All three Alabama quarterbacks won. Two of the three Notre Dame quarterbacks won. All three Purdue quarterbacks won. 

Not only does Cal have five quarterbacks that started in the Super Bowl, they have one quarterback that went to five straight. Gale Gilbert was a backup for the Buffalo Bills when they went to four straight Super Bowls. Then he moved to the San Diego Chargers for their lone Super Bowl season. Gilbert saw as much success as the other Cal quarterbacks not named Rodgers. His teams lost all five. 

Ravens-Bills

1. This game turned on a single play. The Ravens were on the doorstep of tying the game at 10-10 late in the third quarter. Instead of a touchdown, Lamar Jackson threw an interception in the end zone. Taron Johnson returned that interception 101 yards for a Bills touchdown. In a blink what could’ve been 10-10 was 17-3. 

2. It sure would’ve been fun to see Lamar Jackson play in the fourth quarter. A concussion took him out of the game with five seconds to play in the third quarter. 

3. Tyler Huntley did an admirable job in Jackson’s place. He even had a real shot at getting the two touchdowns that the Ravens needed. On his first full possession, he overthrew Marquise Brown on what would’ve been a 71-yard touchdown. On his second full possession, he drove the Ravens to the Bills 8-yard line. He couldn’t get any further on the Ravens’ final four plays of the season. 

4. I miss Stefon Diggs. He’s such a fun football player. It’d be a lot harder watching him play for Buffalo if Justin Jefferson wasn’t playing in Minnesota. 

Browns-Chiefs

1. Chad Henne leads the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game! 

2. Andy Reid’s play call on 4th and inches with the game in the balance was brilliant. 

3. I was on the Browns side of things after they were robbed late in the first half by the worst rule in football. A fumble through the end zone should not go to the defense. Possession of the ball is a foundation of the game. It’s as fundamental as blocking and tackling. The defense never possessed the ball so they shouldn’t be gifted the ball. 

4. I was on the Browns side until Patrick Mahomes was knocked out of the game with a concussion. The Browns winning because Mahomes was taken away didn’t feel right. 

5. Chiefs safety/nickel/linebacker/whatever Tyrann Matthieu was great. There were times when it looked like four of him were on the field. 

Buccaneers-Saints

1. Saints turnovers served up a Buccaneers win. 

2. The Saints gave the ball away four times. Three of those giveaways gave the Buccaneers the ball in the shadow of the Saints goal posts. The fourth was at midfield and sealed the win. With that sort of field position the Buccaneers didn’t have to move the ball very far to score points. Good thing as they struggled to move the ball. 

3. Everything that the Buccaneers have done this season has been about Tom Brady. No surprise there. This win wasn’t much about him. 

Championship Sunday

AFC Championship

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs

NFC Championship

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers