Wildcard Weekend Thoughts and Reaction

The playoffs began with an amazing Wildcard Weekend. Three road teams won and three out of the four games were nailbiters that came down to the end. It really sets up a very interesting Divisional Round next weekend. Here are my thoughts and reactions to the games in sequential order…..

(4) Indianapolis-45 (5) Kansas City-44

-What can you say about Andrew Luck? After a terrible first half, he came alive with the Colts down 38-10 in the third quarter. His game-winning throw to T.Y. Hilton was one of the best throws I have seen all year long. He was absolutely amazing in the second half, and it was his moment where he officially arrived as the next big thing as far as NFL QBs are concerned.

-The story of this game was the collapse of the Chiefs. This is about as bad as it gets for the Chiefs and their fans. To blow a lead like that in a playoff game is inexcusable. KC hasn’t won a playoff game since 1993, and this might be as close as you can get to win a playoff game. You have to wonder about the level of frustration for the Chiefs and the fanbase after another heartbreaking playoff defeat.

-To be fair to the Chiefs, they were really banged up as this game went on. They had injuries in their secondary and Luck and the Colts were able to exploit it.

-The problem was that the Colts were able to score so quickly, so every time you looked up there was still so much time left in the game that the Colts still had more than enough time to get back into the game.

-This was a classic game that really set the tone for the weekend. What a comeback and what a finish.

(6) New Orleans-26 (3) Philly-24

-The Saints gameplan was fantastic. They were able to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage with Mark Ingram and their running game. It allowed them to keep the down and distance at a manageable margin.

-Give the Eagles credit for coming back down 20-7 late in the third quarter. I thought the Saints took control of the game, and then Philly was able to get it back. Eventually, they were able to take a 24-23 lead with just over five minutes to go.

-The big play in this game was when Darren Sproles took a short kickoff and got a big return with the Saints down 24-23. Throw in a horse collar tackle and now the Saints were in great field position with Drew Brees at the helm. Naturally, Brees and the Saints moved the ball the rest of the way and won the game on a walkoff field goal.

-It wasn't a classic game, but it was a really good game that came down to the wire. The Saints were able to get their road woes off their back, and now head to Seattle for a rematch with the Seahawks.

(6) San Diego-27 (3) Cincy-10

-The story of this game is the terrible job by Cincy and Andy Dalton. The Bengals were a 7 point favorite and many people had them penciled in for a run to the Super Bowl. They came up really flat in this game. It was served up for them and they completely botched it. Dalton will still have to deal with the criticism, but the whole offense was just poor all game. The Bengals and Marvin Lewis are now 0-5 together in the playoffs and that includes three home losses. This is a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 1990. This looked like the game that they were going to breakthrough. What a bitter pill this will be for them in the offseason and what a disappointing finish to the season.

-I thought the Chargers really took over in the second half. Their defense just swarmed and attacked the Bengals offense, and they forced three second half turnovers. Credit the Chargers defense for putting on a show in the second half.

-Phillip Rivers wasn’t asked to do a lot, but he managed the game well, and he made three throws that were absolutely crucial in the second half. He is playing great and this team is very dangerous. I wasn’t surprised at all that they won this game.

-The turning point for me was when the game was tied at 7 and Cincy was driving deep in San Diego territory. Dalton hit Giovanni Bernard for a checkdown that Bernard looked like he was going to put the ball inside the five for a 1^st and goal, but he was hit from behind and fumbled. It took away a possible 14-7 lead for Cincy at the half. It seemed like they never recovered from that play.

(5) San Francisco-23 (4) Green Bay-20

-What an atmosphere in frigid Green Bay on Sunday. The temps were like -15 degrees. Nothing is better than watching playoff football in January in Lambeau Field. This game went back and forth all game long. Just a fun game to watch.

-The Niners dominated the first half, and they were only up 13-10 at halftime. It was weird because it just felt that Green Bay would find a way to win the game late.

-The Packers and Aaron Rodgers were valiant, but I thought they missed a key opportunity late in the game. Down 20-17 late in the game, they couldn’t convert with a 1^st and Goal situation, and they settled for a field goal. You just had a feeling that would come back to haunt them.

-Green Bay’s Micah Hyde dropped a surefire interception and if he makes that pick on the last SF drive, then Green Bay probably wins this game. It will be a play that will haunt the Packers all offseason.

-Credit Colin Kaepernick on the final drive. He made a huge throw to Michael Crabtree, and the made another huge third down run to get them into field goal range. That play basically won the game for the Niners.

-SF is a gutty and gritty team. They remind of the Ravens of recent memory. They now have 4 playoff wins in the last three years, and they head to Carolina next Sunday as a favorite on the road.