Random Notes Part II

More random thoughts regarding last Sunday's Wild Card matchups....

Baltimore defeats New England 33-14

1) The Ravens justified their entry into the playoffs with their performance on Sunday. Ray Rice's 83 yard touchdown run on the first play of the game set the tone, and the game wasn't even as close as the score.

2) Ray Lewis was fantastic on Sunday. If you doing a Mount Rushmore of greatest defensive players in NFL history, Lewis has to be in that discussion.

3) We live in a world where Joe Flacco beats Tom Brady in a playoff game, while throwing for 34 yards. Unbelievable.

4) Turnovers change any game in the playoffs, and the Ravens got three in the first quarter, but they were clearly the more physical and better team in this game.

5) I'm not ready to announce that this is the end of the Patriots' run. They obviously still have to retool and reload, but with Brady and Belichick you will always have a chance. Don't pour the dirt on the Patriots grave just yet. They will be back with a vengenance.

Arizona defeats Green Bay 51-45

1) A fun game and easily one of the most exciting playoff games in a long time. A wild shootout that explemified the new NFL. If you have a great QB, then the game is set up for big plays in the passing game, and both teams took advantage of that.

2) Kurt Warner solidified his spot as a Hall of Famer in my mind after his game on Sunday.

3) Give Aaron Rodgers credit. His was fantastic in this game, and the Packers are set up to be a contender in the NFC for a long time. We might look back on the Packers as their signature game in their run this decade. He will regret missing Greg Jennings on a long bomb to start overtime. That will bother him all offseason.

4) Mike McCarthy did a great job on Sunday. His decision to go for an onside kick at 31-17 was the perfect move at the right time. That is the responsibility of a NFL head coach. He understood how the game was playing out and he made a decision that best suited the team and the type of game they were in.

5) The Cardinals are scary and they could very easily go into New Orleans this week and beat the Saints. They are very dangerous this week on the road.