Player of the Week - Peyton Manning (QB - DEN)
Who else? Peyton Manning is now 3-1 in AFC Championship Games, and in those three wins, he's put up one performance better than the other. The first was The Comeback against New England. Then his picture-perfect demolition of the Jets' top-ranked pass defense in 2009. And now this. This was the weakest defense he's played, but he never gave them a chance. Peyton was masterful spreading the ball around, hitting deep throws, short throws, medium throws, every throw. There was a lot of pressure on Peyton Manning to perform, and he did that and more, shredding a Belichick defense to a degree that has rarely ever happened.
It's boring to keep praising the Seahawks pass defense over and over again, but it is amazing how good they are each week. They're the best pass defense since the 2009 Jets, if not the 2002 Buccaneers (who are historically good), and they've done this without having a dominant pass rush (similar to the Jets in that way) and just incredible secondary play. Sure, some of it is pushing the boundaries, but it is not like they're reenacting the Patriots from the 2003 AFC Championship Game. What's more amazing is losing Brandon Browner hasn't hurt them at all. Walter Thurmond, Byron Maxwell, it doesn't matter.
The offense of the Patriots wasn't good, but the defense wasn't much better. Even their two good defensive stands in the red zone were more about Julius Thomas dropping an easy TD and an uncalled-penalty. The Broncos averaged 60 yards per drive, which is just insane, and while some of that is about how good the Broncos were, the Patriots made it easy. They got zero pressure. Literally, they had no hits on Manning. They couldn't cover anyone, they couldn't stop anyone. Another banner performance by that defensive genius's unit.
Runner-Up - Michael Bennett (DE - SEA)
Many players on defense from that game deserve mention, but I thought Bennett was the best on the field. Consistent pressure on Kaepernick, great work in the run game. Bennett was a sneaky great free agent signing by the Seahawks in the offseason, still paying dividends.
Goat of the Week - Colin Kaepernick (QB - SF)
For 45 minutes, Kaepernick might have qualified for the runner-up for Player of the Week. He was that strong rushing, and made enough throws including an absolute laser to Boldin for the TD to go up 17-10. That 4th quarter, though, was just bad. The first pick was an awful read and worse throw. He showed little pocket awareness on the strip-sack. And his final throw was rushed after wasting too much time on the two-minute drive. Colin Kaepernick played his first bad playoff game - it was due to happen sooner or later.
Runner-Up - The Patriots Running Game
All week long we had to hear about how incredible the Patriots running game was, about how the Patriots were so versatile on offense, that they could beat you in multiple ways. The Patriots power-running game was going to make the Patriots more dynamic. Well, none of that happened, as LeGarrette Blount had just 6 yards. Their only rushing TD was by Tom Brady.
Surprise of the Week - The Broncos O-Line
The Broncos gave up the fewest sacks because they have Peyton Manning. They are not a great O-Line, especially after losing Ryan Clady and being on their 3rd string tackle. Well, they were incredible. Their run blocking was great, but Peyton puts them in advantageous positions. The real brilliance was their job protecting Peyton. The Patriots had 48 sacks this year, and they hit Manning once. What a job by a unit that has allowed more pressure on Peyton than in previous years.
Runner-Up - Marshawn Lynch Getting a Run
At this point, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise, but Marshawn Lynch became the first play in roughly 30 years to get 100 yards rushing against the 49ers defense. 40% of it came on one run, but he was still great throughout the game, especially in the 2nd half. What a game by Lynch. That trade was so ridiculed when it was made, but he's paid back the Seahawks four-times-over.
At this point, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise, but Marshawn Lynch became the first play in roughly 30 years to get 100 yards rushing against the 49ers defense. 40% of it came on one run, but he was still great throughout the game, especially in the 2nd half. What a game by Lynch. That trade was so ridiculed when it was made, but he's paid back the Seahawks four-times-over.
Disappointment of the Week - The Patriots deciding to not really show up
There's a crazy stat about the Jets being outscored 48-0 over a 60:20 span from the middle of the 2009 AFC Championship to the middle of the 2010 AFC Championship, while outscoring their opponent 36-6 in the time around it. Well, the Patriots did something similar. They were up 13-7 at halftime of the 2012 AFC Championship, and then proceeded to get outscored 44-3 over the next five quarters of Title Game action. Of course, because they won a Super Bowl 9 years ago, no one will give them shit for failing to show up again.
There's a crazy stat about the Jets being outscored 48-0 over a 60:20 span from the middle of the 2009 AFC Championship to the middle of the 2010 AFC Championship, while outscoring their opponent 36-6 in the time around it. Well, the Patriots did something similar. They were up 13-7 at halftime of the 2012 AFC Championship, and then proceeded to get outscored 44-3 over the next five quarters of Title Game action. Of course, because they won a Super Bowl 9 years ago, no one will give them shit for failing to show up again.
Runner-Up - Seahawks Ability to not let Kaepernick run.
Really
guys, you let the one big weapon the 49ers have beat you that badly?
Kaepernick running is the biggest X-Factor the 49ers have, and the
Seahawks seemed totally unprepared to stop it at all. They took terrible
angles, their 'spy' was worse at his job than Edward Snowden. Just a
shameful performance. Where was their preparation. They stopped the
49ers passing game, but that doesn't mean they have to be absolutely
helpless against Kaepernick running.
Team Performance of the Week - Denver Defense
The Broncos defense's best performance in their first 14 games was giving up 17 points to the Chiefs. Then, mid-way through game #15 they lose Von Miller, one of the five best defensive players in the NFL. Well, since then they've given up 13, 14, 17 and 16 points. The last two games were against two of the six best offenses in the NFL (San Diego and New England), and those two combined for a total of three points through their respective first three quarters. The defense on Sunday eliminated the Patriots running game completely, manufactured enough pressure on Brady, and didn't let anyone get behind them except for one play. For a team missing a bunch of guys on defense, that was a great performance.
The Broncos defense's best performance in their first 14 games was giving up 17 points to the Chiefs. Then, mid-way through game #15 they lose Von Miller, one of the five best defensive players in the NFL. Well, since then they've given up 13, 14, 17 and 16 points. The last two games were against two of the six best offenses in the NFL (San Diego and New England), and those two combined for a total of three points through their respective first three quarters. The defense on Sunday eliminated the Patriots running game completely, manufactured enough pressure on Brady, and didn't let anyone get behind them except for one play. For a team missing a bunch of guys on defense, that was a great performance.
Runner-Up -Seattle Seahawks Pass Defense
It's boring to keep praising the Seahawks pass defense over and over again, but it is amazing how good they are each week. They're the best pass defense since the 2009 Jets, if not the 2002 Buccaneers (who are historically good), and they've done this without having a dominant pass rush (similar to the Jets in that way) and just incredible secondary play. Sure, some of it is pushing the boundaries, but it is not like they're reenacting the Patriots from the 2003 AFC Championship Game. What's more amazing is losing Brandon Browner hasn't hurt them at all. Walter Thurmond, Byron Maxwell, it doesn't matter.
Team Laydown of the Week - New England Patriots Defensive Scheme
The offense of the Patriots wasn't good, but the defense wasn't much better. Even their two good defensive stands in the red zone were more about Julius Thomas dropping an easy TD and an uncalled-penalty. The Broncos averaged 60 yards per drive, which is just insane, and while some of that is about how good the Broncos were, the Patriots made it easy. They got zero pressure. Literally, they had no hits on Manning. They couldn't cover anyone, they couldn't stop anyone. Another banner performance by that defensive genius's unit.
Runner-Up - Nothing. Nothing even compares to the Patriots futility.
Storyline that will be Beat Into the Ground for 2 Weeks - Can Manning Win in the Cold
The Superbowl is outdoors this years. Did you know that? Did you know it might be cold, and Peyton Manning is roughly 2-132 in the cold in his NFL Career. He can't complete a pass. He can't do anything. He'll be powerless to stop the Seahawks pass defense from picking him off six times. He'll basically be a sitting, shivering duck.
The Superbowl is outdoors this years. Did you know that? Did you know it might be cold, and Peyton Manning is roughly 2-132 in the cold in his NFL Career. He can't complete a pass. He can't do anything. He'll be powerless to stop the Seahawks pass defense from picking him off six times. He'll basically be a sitting, shivering duck.
Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground for 2 Weeks - Can the Great Offense beat the Great Defense
The weather may play an impact, but assuming the weather is OK, this is a great matchup. Here we have the best passing offense of hte year, and one of the five to six best passing offenses ever matching up with a Top-10 pass defense over the past 24 years (per Football Outsiders). The matchups are great. Sherman vs. Demaryius. Maxwell vs. Welker. Smith and Wagner vs. Julius Thomas (the Seahawks have dominated opposing TEs). All the matchups are great. In recent years the Great Defense has won these battles ('02 TB over OAK, '08 PIT over ARZ, '05 PIT over SEA), except for one, when the Colts massively underrated passing attack in 2006 systematically destroyed the Bears defense.
A lot of Super Bowl related stuff in the next 12 days.
A lot of Super Bowl related stuff in the next 12 days.
