The following wave of the NFL playoffs has swept us. The divisional spherical kicked off Saturday with a pair of standard season video games – the heads edging on Jaguar With the troubled Patrick Mahomes, and the Eagles scroll on giants to brush their sequence in 2022. On Sunday, the AFC and NFC championship video games have been determined because of the weekend’s slate ultimate matches, with Bengals Steering Invoicesand the 49ers edging on Cowboys.
Listed below are some instant, massive takeaways from day two of the Divisional Spherical:
The 49ers want their protection to carry them
San Francisco obtained the job finished to safe a visit to the NFC title recreation, however not primarily as a result of Kyle Shanahan’s offense was firing on all cylinders. George Keitel definitely excelled, simply as Travis Kelsey did for the Chiefs on Saturday. And Brock Purdy not less than did not flip the ball round. However the rookie quarterback was extra distracting than typical, pocketed within the face of a very good move rush, and arguably a greater unit awaited in Philadelphia. Shanahan’s situational decision-making additionally left so much to be desired, as he performed it protected on a number of events. All that mentioned, stingy “D” DeMeco Ryans definitely looks like the catalyst who’s on the highway for an opportunity on the Tremendous Bowl. He would have the entrance seven to dunk Jalen Hurts and get a “W.”
Prescott, McCarthy isn’t constructed for the large stage
Mike McCarthy owns a Tremendous Bowl ring from his time in Inexperienced Bay, and it’ll by no means be stripped away. However as head coach of Dallas, he has now overseen two consecutive 12-to-5 groups that didn’t advance previous the divisional spherical. Not solely that, however after having one recreation towards San Francisco in 2021, he grew to become extra conservative on the important thing factors on Sunday, choosing a late discipline aim slightly than making an attempt fourth down whereas trailing by seven, and kicking the ball huge. with minutes remaining. His design for the ultimate play was additionally thematically humorous, asking Ezekiel Elliott to function Duck Prescott’s solely blocker as a substitute of ordering the normal Hail Mary. Prescott, in the meantime, could possibly be extra outrageous, throwing a few ugly catches, practically taking the protection on the ultimate drive and usually wanting on the mark. Seven years later, it is now 2-4 in playoff video games.
The Bengals, not the Payments, are the Chiefs’ greatest menace
Who Dey Nation has in all probability advised you this earlier than, however Sunday’s recreation confirmed it: Joe Burrow is the most important factor standing in Patrick Mahomes’ means within the AFC. That is true not solely as a result of Burrow is 3-0 by killer numbers in his profession towards Kansas Metropolis, however as a result of in three seasons, he is already surpassed Payments star Josh Allen on the large stage, bettering his playoff document to 5-1 and securing a second look within the title recreation. Asian for a number of years. Allen is the closest factor to Mahomes when it comes to off-script playmaking, however Burrow’s imaginative and prescient, together with Sensei’s deep receiver group and bodily protection, prevails. With Mahomes banged in KCChiefs cannot relaxation straightforward.
Buffalo wants assist in the again finish, on the again finish
The Payments should stay within the main spherical dialog so long as Josh Allen is at middle. However the MVP candidate nonetheless places loads of balls in hurt’s means whereas drawing on his pure skills. Greater than that, it was evident in Sunday’s heavy loss to the Bengals that Buffalo requires renewed weapons and/or technique on the bottom and within the secondary. Allen had no assist in the working recreation towards Cincy, Devin Singletary and James Prepare dinner have been no-factors, and gamers like Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer have been hit deep earlier than strolling out with accidents. After two years of flirting with the Tremendous Bowl present, maybe it is time for a deeper expertise shake-up.
Sean McDermott remains to be wanting
There is no doubt the coach helped flip Buffalo right into a perennial contender: They’ve gone from 47 to 18, with 4 consecutive playoff appearances, since 2019. However even with the rise of Josh Allen and loads of funding in protection, his Payments have now fallen brief. in progress. Divisional spherical playoffs in 5 of McDermott’s six seasons on the helm. It did not assist that Buffalo was utterly outplayed and handed at house in Sunday’s loss, when the Payments have been unusually conservative on a number of fourth-downer choices and obtained just a little creativity from coordinators Ken Dorsey and Leslie Frazier.