The weekend of the NFL Divisional round playoffs featured teams in which every underdog fell short of making it to the next round.
This First game was between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts. Many people were actually taking the Colts because they felt that their high-power offense could maintain a shoot-out with the even stronger Chiefs offense. The Chiefs defense has been lacking all year giving Andrew Luck the perfect chance to win the game. However, this game did not go as planned for the Colts and Luck. Luck had a very pedestrian game completing only 19-36 on passes for only 53% completion percentage. He continued to only throw for 203 yards with a poor 5.6 yards per attempt average. He was sacked three times after not being sacked once the week before. He threw for one touchdown and had a poor 78 quarterback rating. Luck has been working well with his new running back Marlon Mack, who has been averaging 100 yards a game his last three games. However, the Colts fell behind so quickly Mack only had nine rushes for an impressive 46 yards. No Colts receiver hit 100 yards and half the points were scored by the special teams. Even future legend kicker Adam Vinatieri had issues missing his one and only field goal attempt as well as one extra point.
The Chiefs offense was explosive as always putting up 31 points, however, it was not from Patrick Mahomes throwing. He too had an average night throwing for no touchdowns, under 300 yards and a 65% completion percentage. All the touchdowns were on the ground from Damien Williams, who also had a big 25 carry game for 129 yards for 5.4 yards per carry. Tyreek Hill rushed one for a 36-yard touchdown, and Darrel Williams had nine yards on three carries and also scored. Finally, Mahomes rushed for one of his own. Chiefs beat the Colts 31-13.
The next game was at night between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams. Again, another underdog team falls, however, this one was a closer game. The Cowboys were outscored 30-22 and the once red-hot defense was non-existent. The Rams had not one, but two 100-yard rushers. Todd Gurley had 16 rushes for 115 yards equaling an incredible 7.2 average yards per carry. The other rusher was CJ Anderson, and despite looking like he gained 100 pounds, he rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries for 5.3 yards per carry. Although it is said that quarterback Jared Goff is an up and coming star, his struggles continued as his night consisted of only a 53% completion percentage and under 200 yards with no touchdown passes. Goff was actually outplayed by Dak Prescott who’s night was a good one throwing for a touchdown pass and completing 62% of his passes for 266 yards. Rookie receiver Michael Gallup had a big night catching 6 passes for 119 yards. Amari Cooper had a decent night with 6 catches of his own for 65 yards and a touchdown. The biggest story of the night was Ezekiel Elliot being shut down completely. He had 20 carries for 47 yards and a terrible 2.4 yards per carry. The Cowboys loss falls on their star running back and what’s supposed to be a top ranked defense.
Sunday’s games continued the trend as the first game showed the Los Angeles Chargers once again being blown out by the New England Patriots 41-28. Philip Rivers continues to not have beaten Tom Brady as he had a bad night completing only 49% of his passes for 331 yards, but he did have three touchdowns and only one interception. Melvin Gordon was a no show as he only had 9 carries for 15 yards. No receiver reached 100 yards as well. Brady played well completing 77 percent of his passes for 343 yards and a touchdown. The real star was Sony Michel who had 129 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns.
The final game was a great one that featured the defending Super Bowl champs march into the superdome to play the power house New Orleans Saints. The Philadelphia Eagles fell short 20-14 as Nick Foles’ Magic ran out. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 201 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The running game was none existent as Wendell Smallwood only had 33 yards on 10 carries. No receiver went for 100 yards and Alshon Jeffery had the biggest heartbreak. Jeffery let a ball hit him in both hands and then dropped it and the Saints intercepted it to basically end the game. Drew Brees had a good game where he threw for 201 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, completing 73% of his passes. The run game was as good as usual because Alvin Kamara had another good game with 71 yards on 16 rushes and Mark Ingram had nine rushes for 53 yards. Michael Thomas was huge as he caught 12 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown.
Next up is Conference Championship where the Saints will host the Rams and the Chiefs will host the Patriots. My predictions are the Patriots will win 37-35 and the Saints will win 34-24.
