What a weekend for the NFL. Four playoff games that end in walk-off fashion topped off by one of the best playoff games of all time between the Chiefs and Bills. SU’s Super Bowl prediction of Rams over the Bills took a hit last night but better than most years. Certainly not a great weekend for getting your steps in but well-suited for riding out the latest COVID variant. SU was on the case (or make that the couch) and here are my observations:

1. Bad week for the anti-vaxxers. First Djokovic sent packing and then Aaron Rodgers and his stadium-sized ego follows suit. You can’t deny that Rodgers is an All-Pro quarterback and he puts up great numbers every season. But his playoff record pales in comparison to others, and most seasons seem to end in disappointing fashion. This year, they are the #1 seed, playing at home in 5 degree weather, in the snow, against a California-based team with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. And Garoppolo is guaranteed to make at least a couple of killer, game crippling throws every game. He did his best Saturday night but the Packers couldn’t hold onto about 3 pick-6 throws. The Niners had 6 points on offense. SU says that loss is on Rodgers. Blame the special teams but he only led the team to 10 points. And 65% of the country rejoiced. The other 35% said the final score was rigged.
2. Lots of talk on Twitter about the Bills not squibbing the kick-off with 13 seconds left in regulation. It’s true that the risk is that a line drive hits one of the up-blockers and they start with great field position. But the more likely outcome is several seconds being used up by the returner running forward for what you assume is a modest return. On the other hand, the defense can’t allow that- even if it’s Mahomes.
3. SU asks this question. Why is that Mahomes and Chiefs (and really the Bills as well) are dinking and dunking with short passes all game and then, in the final 2 minutes, they have no problem playing wide open football? Is it the pass rush or lack thereof in the last 2 minutes? Is it the defense playing prevent which is counter to what they did all game long? In hindsight, should the Bills have employed the same defense that had worked well most of the night?
4. Of course, the counter argument is what happened at the end of the Rams-Bucs game where Cooper Kupp is one on one with a long pass to set up the game winning field goal.
5. Is the NFL’s playoff overtime rule the best format? Is it fair that Buffalo doesn’t get a shot in OT? Some say their defense needs to step up there and at least hold the Chiefs to a field goal. That is true. But if you look at other sports, SU cannot think of one where both teams do not get a chance on offense with the ball. Soccer plays long extra time periods that don’t end on a goal. In baseball, both teams come to bat. Basketball, hockey, even tennis give both sides opportunities. Perhaps do the possession thing and in overtime, whoever had the ball last in regulation has to go on defense? Or get the choice? Or better yet, play a full 15 minutes and see who wins. SU knows that probably is a problem with television but the World Cup does it for the full time. I don’t think the college format is the answer but it feels like a better system is out there. If anything, perhaps NFL coaches should try and win in regulation – even if you get the ball with 40 seconds left? Credit to the Rams for doing that yesterday.
6. Watching the final 8 teams really highlights the difference in quality at the quarterback position. You have the elites QBs in Mahomes, Brady, Rodgers and Allen, and then you have Ryan Tannenhill and Garoppolo. Stafford is a notch above Garoppolo but also prone to the killer turnover. If you are a GM, what’s the ideal formula? The more traditional pocket passer, the scrambling type like Murray on the Cardinals, or the rugged, big dude like Allen? Most teams seem to opt for the poor man’s pocket passer and they make up half the league.
7. Is that the last we see of Brady? SU says if he had won the Super Bowl, he walks away. But the Bucs have a great nucleus in place and I think he comes back for one last season to soak up the praise for a full season.

Bottom line: great weekend for the NFL. The floor is open.