Player of the Week: Patrick Mahomes, QB-KC
That was the most inevitable 24-point comeback I've ever seen, because you just knew at some point his top guys would stop dropping passes (except for Demarcus Robinson, who probably should not see a pass again). And when they did, Mahomes was set-up to do something insane. Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in teh NFL. Jackson had a better season, but we saw a man unleashed, capable of any throw, capable of making 24-point comebacks turn into 20-point blowouts. That was truly special. Short fields helped expedite teh comeback, but you get the sense if they had to go 80 yards each time they probably would have done it. That was one of the most insane performances I've ever seen.
Runner-Up: Devante Adams, WR-GB
Aaron Rodgers was 8-16 when throwing to people not named Devante Adams. He was 8-8 when throwing to the seventh year player - someone who has somehow survived being a WR for Aaron Rodgers. Adams routes were fluid, he was great after the catch, he muscled through the few times the Seahawks tried to press. He expertly avoided the press on the basically game-sealing thrid down conversion. Rodgers is a lot better when he has the one trusted receiver, and Adams is that guy. There will be a lot of focus on him being able to win his battle with, one would assume, Richard Sherman on Sunday.
Goat of the Week: Vikings Coaching Staff
There was no clear goat - and no, i don't think Lamar Jackson is anywhere clear to goat status, so I'll go with teh team that seemed the most overmatched. The Vikings had zero adjustments all game. They never left more people into block when it became painfully obvious their OL was overmatched. All their creative stuff to get pressure against Brees, against a better OL, disappeared in this game, when facing a QB that if anything is more susceptible to pressure. I still think Mike Zimmer is a great coach, as are Gary Kubiak, but their weakness remains a stubborness (game against the Saints aside).
Runner-Up: Bill O'Brien
Look, I'll actually credit O'Brien for the fake punt. Generally that is a situation + look play - if the punt teams sees an advantageous matchup, they switch to it. The Texans probably deserved to conver it, getting stopped only due to an incredible open field tackle. O'Brien correctly realized 24 points was not going to be enough. That said, all his other decisions were baffling. Kicking a field goal on 4th and 1 in the red zone was ludicrous - especially so after burning a timeout to think it over. His explanation after the game, that they didn't have the play-call for that situation, was one of the worst excuses I've ever heard. His play-calling didn't make a whole lot of sense, relying on Deshaun being incredible to get any semblance of a comeback. It was't his worse playoff loss, that is still getting shutout 30-0 at home, but this is a memorable collapse.
Surprise of the Week: Tennessee Titans Secondary
The Titans have a very good rush defense. They've had that all year. What I didn't expect was theri secondary, to be fair long a talented group, playing so well. They were able to stop Lamar when he ran outside. They were able to flood zones. Yes, they were helped out by umpteen drops, but they also made Jackson's life confusing, and did a great job on Mark Andrews, Lamar's go-to option. The Titans secondary will have to play even better, but that was a great start as Baltimore wass a significantly more difficult challenge than New England, and Kansas City is significantly more difficult still/
Runner-Up: Kansas City Chiefs rush defense
Despite losing Chris Jones, the Chiefs did yoemans work against hte Texans rush offense (not a terrible unit), even when teh game was still close (or even when Houston was dominating). This becomes ridiculously crucial when facing the Titans next round. It is the biggest weakness of the Chiefs matching up with the Titans greatest strength, so the fact their linebackers and non-Chris Jones lineman did a great job setting the edge and pushing up the middle, is a great start.
Disappointment of the Week: The Baltimore Ravens, in totality
The Ravens weren't the first great team to lose a playoff game. Their loss had similarities to both the 2010 Patriots or 2009 Chargers, who of course both lost to the Jets, a running-based team with a Vrabel-esque figure in Rex Ryan. But I don't know I've seen a team to so many small things wrong. The two failed fourth-downs. The dropped passes. The penalty on the touchback to turn 1st down from teh 20 to 1st down from teh five. The lack of ball security. So many issues that easily could have been avoided. We've also seen recent great teams have harrowing losses and come back just fine (2005 Colts, those same 2010 Patriots) but this will be tough to live down.
Runner-Up: Nothing
One last note about that Ravens loss - if anything this was slight karma for the Ravens, who twice defeated the Titans in the playoffs when the Titans were 13-3 #1 seeds, despite being massively outplayed. In 2000, the Ravens had less than 200 yards of offense, but returned a bobbled-interception and a blocked field goal for touchdowns. In 2008, the Titans outgained Baltimore by 183 yards, but turned it over twice inside the five yard line and lost 13-10. This was delayed payback.
Team Performance of the Week: San Francisco 49ers Defensive Line
There's nothing surprising or shocking about what the 49ers D-Line did on Saturday. They are the league's best front when fully healthy, and with Dee Ford back, they were fully healthy, and my god were they dominant. Cousins was pressured 17 times on 35 dropbacks - an insane rate. Bosa was great, but Armstead, Buckner, Ford (and long forgotten #3 pick Solomon Thomas) were all excellent. The 49ers absolutely swallowed a run-game that was great agaisnt New Orleans, and forced Cousins to throw early, which he hates to do. That was an incredible performance/
Runner-Up: Green Bay Packers secondary
The Seahawks moved the ball well in teh second half for basically two reasons: because Russell Wilson is awesome, and because he ran around a lot until his guys got open. However, on the whole the Packers secondary did a great job limiting WIlson early. Jaire Alexander was a rock in coverage all game, especially when he was man-up against DK Metcalf. Kevin King was great, when not dropping easy interceptions. They also did a good job of contain against Wilson. The pass rush was fierce, but the biggest key when playing the Seahawks is the patience to stay with receivers when the play breaks down and the Packers did a wonderful job of that.
Team Laydown of the Week: The Texans Defense
Yes, I know the Chiefs offense is capable of raising Holy Hell, and I know the Texans don't have a good defense to begin with, but they literally made one stop all game. The first two Chiefs drives ended because of clear drops on would-be first downs. The only real stop also featured a drop before maybe the only good defensive play of the game, breaking up a deep pass to Tyreek Hill for a 4th down. After that they were literally incapable. Romeo Crennel had no adjustments at all, even when it was clear simple-double team wans't going to be eough. Yes, I understand he has a near impossible situation to face, but it was still astoundingly bad.
Runner-Up: The Seattle Seahawks pass defense
While the Packers defense was overperforming, the Seahawks defense was infuriantingly unable to stop Devante Adams over and over again. Shaq Griffen (the corner) had a great year, but was awful in this game trying to press Adams. The Seahawks are usually able to scheme up competence, but it just wasn't there in this game.
Storyline that will Beat Into the Ground: The miracle Titans running over KC
The amount we are going to hear about KC's porous rush defense getting mauled by the Titans and Derrick Henry is going to be nauseating, if ti wasn't largely true. That all said, people are going to focus on that side (despite the Titans not actualyl doing that well against Baltimore aside from three big plays - important to be sure). I feel like the other side, the Chiefs incredible offense against a porous Titans pass defense is almost being overlooked. Yes, we see these images of Henry running over and over and over again, but we have to remember if the Chiefs can get up early it takes away so much of what the Titans want to do.
Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground: Can the Packers pull off another miracle change in a rematch
What my comparison point is a game the Packers ended up losing, but there are some interesting similarities heading into this game with their 2015 NFC Divisional loss to teh Cardinals. That year, the Packers late in teh regular season went to Arizona and got hammered 38-8. Rodgers was sacked 8 times, went just 15-28 for 151 yards. The Cardinals had 178 total yards (77 net passing yards). It was a massacre. That was actually 20 yards fewer than they had against the 49ers, who Rodgers went 20-33 for a hilariously low 104 yards against, getting sacked five times. In the 49ers game, it was 37-8. What happened in teh playoffs (and mind you, the 2015 game was a Week 16 affair)? The Packers lost 26-20 in OT. It took a miracle to get to OT, but even if Rodgers 4th and 20 hail mary (or the other Hail Mary) falls imcomplete, it was a great performance against a much better team. This could be that again. Hopefully.
That was the most inevitable 24-point comeback I've ever seen, because you just knew at some point his top guys would stop dropping passes (except for Demarcus Robinson, who probably should not see a pass again). And when they did, Mahomes was set-up to do something insane. Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in teh NFL. Jackson had a better season, but we saw a man unleashed, capable of any throw, capable of making 24-point comebacks turn into 20-point blowouts. That was truly special. Short fields helped expedite teh comeback, but you get the sense if they had to go 80 yards each time they probably would have done it. That was one of the most insane performances I've ever seen.
Runner-Up: Devante Adams, WR-GB
Aaron Rodgers was 8-16 when throwing to people not named Devante Adams. He was 8-8 when throwing to the seventh year player - someone who has somehow survived being a WR for Aaron Rodgers. Adams routes were fluid, he was great after the catch, he muscled through the few times the Seahawks tried to press. He expertly avoided the press on the basically game-sealing thrid down conversion. Rodgers is a lot better when he has the one trusted receiver, and Adams is that guy. There will be a lot of focus on him being able to win his battle with, one would assume, Richard Sherman on Sunday.
Goat of the Week: Vikings Coaching Staff
There was no clear goat - and no, i don't think Lamar Jackson is anywhere clear to goat status, so I'll go with teh team that seemed the most overmatched. The Vikings had zero adjustments all game. They never left more people into block when it became painfully obvious their OL was overmatched. All their creative stuff to get pressure against Brees, against a better OL, disappeared in this game, when facing a QB that if anything is more susceptible to pressure. I still think Mike Zimmer is a great coach, as are Gary Kubiak, but their weakness remains a stubborness (game against the Saints aside).
Runner-Up: Bill O'Brien
Look, I'll actually credit O'Brien for the fake punt. Generally that is a situation + look play - if the punt teams sees an advantageous matchup, they switch to it. The Texans probably deserved to conver it, getting stopped only due to an incredible open field tackle. O'Brien correctly realized 24 points was not going to be enough. That said, all his other decisions were baffling. Kicking a field goal on 4th and 1 in the red zone was ludicrous - especially so after burning a timeout to think it over. His explanation after the game, that they didn't have the play-call for that situation, was one of the worst excuses I've ever heard. His play-calling didn't make a whole lot of sense, relying on Deshaun being incredible to get any semblance of a comeback. It was't his worse playoff loss, that is still getting shutout 30-0 at home, but this is a memorable collapse.
Surprise of the Week: Tennessee Titans Secondary
The Titans have a very good rush defense. They've had that all year. What I didn't expect was theri secondary, to be fair long a talented group, playing so well. They were able to stop Lamar when he ran outside. They were able to flood zones. Yes, they were helped out by umpteen drops, but they also made Jackson's life confusing, and did a great job on Mark Andrews, Lamar's go-to option. The Titans secondary will have to play even better, but that was a great start as Baltimore wass a significantly more difficult challenge than New England, and Kansas City is significantly more difficult still/
Runner-Up: Kansas City Chiefs rush defense
Despite losing Chris Jones, the Chiefs did yoemans work against hte Texans rush offense (not a terrible unit), even when teh game was still close (or even when Houston was dominating). This becomes ridiculously crucial when facing the Titans next round. It is the biggest weakness of the Chiefs matching up with the Titans greatest strength, so the fact their linebackers and non-Chris Jones lineman did a great job setting the edge and pushing up the middle, is a great start.
Disappointment of the Week: The Baltimore Ravens, in totality
The Ravens weren't the first great team to lose a playoff game. Their loss had similarities to both the 2010 Patriots or 2009 Chargers, who of course both lost to the Jets, a running-based team with a Vrabel-esque figure in Rex Ryan. But I don't know I've seen a team to so many small things wrong. The two failed fourth-downs. The dropped passes. The penalty on the touchback to turn 1st down from teh 20 to 1st down from teh five. The lack of ball security. So many issues that easily could have been avoided. We've also seen recent great teams have harrowing losses and come back just fine (2005 Colts, those same 2010 Patriots) but this will be tough to live down.
Runner-Up: Nothing
One last note about that Ravens loss - if anything this was slight karma for the Ravens, who twice defeated the Titans in the playoffs when the Titans were 13-3 #1 seeds, despite being massively outplayed. In 2000, the Ravens had less than 200 yards of offense, but returned a bobbled-interception and a blocked field goal for touchdowns. In 2008, the Titans outgained Baltimore by 183 yards, but turned it over twice inside the five yard line and lost 13-10. This was delayed payback.
Team Performance of the Week: San Francisco 49ers Defensive Line
There's nothing surprising or shocking about what the 49ers D-Line did on Saturday. They are the league's best front when fully healthy, and with Dee Ford back, they were fully healthy, and my god were they dominant. Cousins was pressured 17 times on 35 dropbacks - an insane rate. Bosa was great, but Armstead, Buckner, Ford (and long forgotten #3 pick Solomon Thomas) were all excellent. The 49ers absolutely swallowed a run-game that was great agaisnt New Orleans, and forced Cousins to throw early, which he hates to do. That was an incredible performance/
Runner-Up: Green Bay Packers secondary
The Seahawks moved the ball well in teh second half for basically two reasons: because Russell Wilson is awesome, and because he ran around a lot until his guys got open. However, on the whole the Packers secondary did a great job limiting WIlson early. Jaire Alexander was a rock in coverage all game, especially when he was man-up against DK Metcalf. Kevin King was great, when not dropping easy interceptions. They also did a good job of contain against Wilson. The pass rush was fierce, but the biggest key when playing the Seahawks is the patience to stay with receivers when the play breaks down and the Packers did a wonderful job of that.
Team Laydown of the Week: The Texans Defense
Yes, I know the Chiefs offense is capable of raising Holy Hell, and I know the Texans don't have a good defense to begin with, but they literally made one stop all game. The first two Chiefs drives ended because of clear drops on would-be first downs. The only real stop also featured a drop before maybe the only good defensive play of the game, breaking up a deep pass to Tyreek Hill for a 4th down. After that they were literally incapable. Romeo Crennel had no adjustments at all, even when it was clear simple-double team wans't going to be eough. Yes, I understand he has a near impossible situation to face, but it was still astoundingly bad.
Runner-Up: The Seattle Seahawks pass defense
While the Packers defense was overperforming, the Seahawks defense was infuriantingly unable to stop Devante Adams over and over again. Shaq Griffen (the corner) had a great year, but was awful in this game trying to press Adams. The Seahawks are usually able to scheme up competence, but it just wasn't there in this game.
Storyline that will Beat Into the Ground: The miracle Titans running over KC
The amount we are going to hear about KC's porous rush defense getting mauled by the Titans and Derrick Henry is going to be nauseating, if ti wasn't largely true. That all said, people are going to focus on that side (despite the Titans not actualyl doing that well against Baltimore aside from three big plays - important to be sure). I feel like the other side, the Chiefs incredible offense against a porous Titans pass defense is almost being overlooked. Yes, we see these images of Henry running over and over and over again, but we have to remember if the Chiefs can get up early it takes away so much of what the Titans want to do.
Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground: Can the Packers pull off another miracle change in a rematch
What my comparison point is a game the Packers ended up losing, but there are some interesting similarities heading into this game with their 2015 NFC Divisional loss to teh Cardinals. That year, the Packers late in teh regular season went to Arizona and got hammered 38-8. Rodgers was sacked 8 times, went just 15-28 for 151 yards. The Cardinals had 178 total yards (77 net passing yards). It was a massacre. That was actually 20 yards fewer than they had against the 49ers, who Rodgers went 20-33 for a hilariously low 104 yards against, getting sacked five times. In the 49ers game, it was 37-8. What happened in teh playoffs (and mind you, the 2015 game was a Week 16 affair)? The Packers lost 26-20 in OT. It took a miracle to get to OT, but even if Rodgers 4th and 20 hail mary (or the other Hail Mary) falls imcomplete, it was a great performance against a much better team. This could be that again. Hopefully.
