Divisional Playoff Reaction

 AFC Divisional Playoff Game

Cincinnati-19 Tennessee-16

1) Ryan Tannehill threw an interception on the first play of the game, and it was a foreshadowing of things to come. He ended up throwing three interceptions on the day and the last one was the killer and gave Cincy a chance to win at the end.

2) The Titans sacked Joe Burrow nine times and still lost the game. That is going to sting the Titans all offseason.

3) Why did Mike Vrabel go for two after a Cincy penalty with the score 6-6 in the second quarter? Just kick the extra point and go up 7-6. Of course, the Titans didn't get it and it was 6-6 tie.

4) The Bengals were up 16-9 in the third quarter, and Tennessee picked off Joe Burrow for an apparent interception. It looked like the ball hit the ground and it was incomplete, but somehow the call stood and the Titans tied it up on a Tannehill TD pass to make it 16-16. At that point, I thought the Titans were winning this game.

5) After getting stopped on a 4th and 1 midway through the 4th quarter, but then getting a sack on Burrow, the Titans had the ball late in the game, but Tannehill threw a ball into coverage and it was tipped and intercepted. Burrow hit Jamar Chase on a corner route and rookie kicker Evan McPherson nailed the game-winning field goal as time expired.

6) The Titans have to be really disappointed in the way they lost. Ryan Tannehill and Mike Vrabel did not have their best day, and it cost the Titans. It will be a tough offseason for Tennessee.

7) The Bengals miraculous run continues as they advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1988. They were fortunate to win, but they got it done, and it is remarkable what they have done this season. 

NFC Divisional Playoff Game

San Francisco-13 Green Bay-10

1) The Packers special teams really killed them in this game. A blocked field goal at the end of the half kept the score 7-0. Then, Green Bay is up 10-3 in the 4th quarter, and a blocked punt touchdown by the Niners tied it at 10 and turned the whole game. You could feel the air come out of the crowd at Lambeau Field after that play.

2) The Packers went down the field on the first drive and scored to make it 7-0 but they didn't score another touchdown the rest of the game and only produced 10 points. That has to be in the conversation when you talk about this game.

3) Aaron Rodgers deserves the MVP award, but he wasn't good enough again in the postseason for the Packers. That's the bottom line. He didn't do enough to get it done-even at home.

4) The Packers were up 7-3 in the 4th quarter, and they were inside the 10 of SF. A touchdown there to make it 14-3 would have sealed the game in my opinion. But, the Niners defense came up big and forced the field goal and it gave them a chance to tie the game-which they did. The Niners defense deserves a lot of credit for how they stopped the Packers offense all night. 

5) Give Jimmy Garrapolo credit. He made a couple of big throws down the stretch to George Kittle and Deebo Samuel had some big runs to keep the chains moving and set up the game-winning field goal. Great job by HC Kyle Shanahan, and this was a classic win for the Niners. They head back to the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years.

6) Who knows if this was Aaron Rodgers' last game in Green Bay. It feels like they are headed for a divorce. Rodgers is amazing, but this is just another bitter playoff loss he has suffered the last few years with the Packers. 

NFC Divisional Playoff Game

Los Angeles Rams-30 Tampa Bay-27

1) This game was all Rams in the beginning. They built a 20-3 halftime lead and they were up 27-3 in the third quarter and completely dominating. They literally almost gave the game away. A fumble, a bad snap to Matt Stafford led to a fumble, a missed field goal, and another Akers fumble in the 4th quarter gave the Bucs life and a chance at an all-time comeback. 

2) Give Stafford a lot of credit. With the game tied at 27, he hits Cooper Kupp on the long bomb down the middle to set up the game-winning field goal with no time left. What a big-time play for a guy who is getting his playoff moment.

3) Tom Brady and the Bucs looked like they were sleepwalking through the first three quarters, but then they turned it on in the 4th quarter and almost pulled it out. Brady's throw to Mike Evans to make it 27-20 late in the 4th quarter was great, and the fact that they tied at 27 was remarkable. They just couldn't finish off the comeback.

4) The Rams advanced and were the better team for most of the game on Sunday. Now, they get to host the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. This is why they traded for Stafford and Von Miller and signed OBJ. So far it has paid off, but they have to win this week at home to really validate.

5) Brady was non-committal about coming back for next year, and he will take time to figure out what he wants to do. I can see it going either way with him. In any event, his run with the Bucs has been a success, and his team somehow found a way to get back into that game yesterday. It was a crazy game and you can't fault Brady if he wants to retire-even after that loss to the Rams. 

AFC Divisional Playoff Game

Kansas City-42 Buffalo-36 (OT)

1) This was the most anticipated game of the weekend and it lived up to the hype. 25 points were scored in the last two minutes of the game. It was just an incredible display. It was like a boxing match with two fighters going toe to toe.

2) Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen showed that they are the two best young QBs in the league. Allen was amazing in defeat. He threw for four touchdowns, made countless plays with his feet, and converted multiple 4th downs. He brought his team back twice to take the lead late, only to lose it to Mahomes.

3) Mahomes continues to show why he is the face of the league and next superstar QB. He rallied his team twice at the end of the game and somehow got KC in field goal range to tie it at 36 on the last play of the game. Of course, he wins the coin toss and hits Travis Kelce with a touchdown pass to win it in overtime. Just amazing. Mahomes is heading to his fourth straight AFC Championship Game in four years as a starter, and he is now 8-2 in the playoffs. Just incredible. It is the era of Mahomes.

4) The Bills have to be sick to their stomachs all offseason. After Allen threw the TD pass to Gabriel Davis and take a 36-33 lead with only 13 seconds left, they allowed KC to hit two big throws and tie up the game. How they let Kelce just run straight down the field untouched is just unbelievable to me.

5) This was a classic between two great QBs who will probably rule the AFC for the next 10 years. It looks like Mahomes-Allen will become the new Brady-Manning in terms of rivalry and big games.

6) This is tough pill to swallow for the Bills. They were good enough to win a Super Bowl with this team. They had the game won in Arrowhead over the Chiefs and yet somehow they lost. I have a feeling they will be back very soon with this group, but this is such a bitter defeat. They will be thinking about this game all offseason.

7) The Chiefs pulled out a miraculous win and now they head to their fourth straight AFC Championship Game at home next week against the Bengals. It is hard to see them losing that game and look for them to get to their third straight Super Bowl.