Was This the Best NFL Playoff Weekend Ever?
Was this the best NFL Playoff weekend ever? Considering all four Divisional round playoff games came down to the final seconds, and even overtime for that matter, and the fact all four games were a thrill a minute, the answer quiet possibly is, yes, it was the best we have ever seen.
And that is saying a lot.
The keynote came Sunday night when the Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in overtime in a game that featured two of the games most gifted quarterbacks go toe-to-toe, and literary throw-for-throw in a game that featured seven lead changes. In the fourth quarter and overtime alone, the Chiefs and Bills combined to score 34 points.
25 of those points came in the final 1:54 of regulation as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen turned the game into an NFL version of half-court basketball, as they zipped in and around defenders and threw lasers to wide open receivers all over the field.
First, Allen put the Bills in front 29-26 when he bought time in the pocket, rolled to his left and somehow found Gabriel Davis wide open in the end zone from 27-yards out for the score. Allen would find Stefon Diggs on a similar broken play on the two-point conversion to give Buffalo a 3-point lead.
JOSH ALLEN. CLUTCH. 😮@NFL | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/K0tCNj1wEI
— FanSided (@FanSided) January 24, 2022
That lead didn’t last long as Patrick Mahomes answered with a 64-yard catch-and-run to Tyreek Hill that put KC back in front 33-26 with 1;02 to go.
Tyreek Hill Gone ✌🏾pic.twitter.com/aupFPyepu9
— DARIUS A. (@IAMDARIUSALFORD) January 24, 2022
Just when you thought the game might be over, the Bills answered when Allen hit Davis in stride for his third touchdown reception with 13 seconds left to give Buffalo a stunning 36-33 lead. It looked like the Bills were well on their way to hosting next week’s AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals. But, once again, never count Mahomes and the Chiefs out.
Josh Allen throw his fourth touchdown to Gabriel Davis to give the Bills the lead with 13 seconds left😦
— Jake “Iggy” Ignaszewski (@JakeIggy) January 24, 2022
This game is MADNESS#Bills #BillsMafia #BillsvsChiefs
pic.twitter.com/nWsjro49li
Somehow Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was left wide open in the middle of the field for a 25-yard gain to the Buffalo 31-yard line to set up Harrison Butker with the game-tying field goal.
In OT, the Bills quickly scored the game winning touchdown on a Mahomes pass to Kelce in the corner of the endzone, ending a thriller. Of course many people were upset the game ended in OT, but the fact remains, we saw one of the best quarterback duels of all time regardless of the finish.
We need a seven game Bills-Chiefs series.
— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2022
Bills didn’t lose. Chiefs won. Overtime rules need to change.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 24, 2022
The Bills let the Chiefs get into field goal range in seconds. Can’t cry about the overtime rules if you’re the team or a fan. It is what it is. Play defense. #NFLPlayoffs
— Peter Schwartz (@SchwartzSports) January 24, 2022
Earlier on Sunday, the Rams stunned the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27. Rams wide reciever Cooper Kupp had a monster day, hauling in nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. None were bigger than the 44-yard pass he caught from quarterback Matthew Stafford that set up the Rams winning field goal with six seconds to play.
The catch came just moments after Tom Brady led another Bucs comeback from 27-3 down to tie the game at 27 late in the fourth quarter.
And speaking of Tom Brady, there are fresh rumors that he is considering retirement. Brady was non-committal about his future, something unusual for him. In the past he has always been definite on his return.
“I haven’t put a lot of thought into it. So, we’ll just take it day by day and see where we’re at.”
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 24, 2022
Tom Brady assesses their loss, and discusses his future in the @NFL. pic.twitter.com/XvlsCopqn3
Meanwhile on Saturday, the Green Bay Packers, the perceived favorite to win the Super Bowl, were downed by the San Francisco 49ers in the most stunning result of the weekend, 13-10. Two huge stories came out of that game.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 22: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks skyward during the 4th quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on January 22, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
1) Green Bay’s special teams once again was a major concern. A missed field goal by Mason Crosby and a blocked punt that resulted in a 49ers touchdown proved to be the difference in the game. Special Teams had been an issue for Green Bay all season.
2) Aaron Rodgers future. The future Hall of Famer was non-committal about the future, saying he would need time to think things over. Rodgers future is interesting because of the apart discord he had with the Packers front office last off-season, led to rumors he wanted to be traded. Will he request a trade again? Or will he retire? Stay tuned.
Aaron Rodgers weighs in on his future with the Packers. pic.twitter.com/fBsMFiXnrb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 23, 2022
Finally, the Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the AFC title game for the first time since 1990 when they outlasted the Tennessee Titans 19-16. Joe Burrow found a way to lead his team to victory despite being sacked nine times! As for Tennessee the loss has been pinned on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who tossed three interceptions in defeat, leading many to wonder if the Titans should go after a veteran quarterback in the off-season.
Titans need to get Russell Wilson & draft some mid & late round talent at QB…yeah I said it 🤷🏾♂️ #NoBull
— keith bulluck (@kbull53) January 23, 2022
