This Is A Rookie QB Leading The Way?

Before the season began, I predicted the Houston Texans would finish second in their division. I didn’t have them making the playoffs, but wouldn’t be surprised by it. What I was surprised by is the fact that they won their division in the first year with DeMeco Ryans as their head coach. He has done a masterful job of taking the bull by its horns and having a commanding presence. The results have shown themselves to be fruitful with their Wild Card victory over the Cleveland Browns. It began to shape up to be a back and forth affair with the Texans and Browns exchanging scores in the first half. When the second half began, it quickly became all for Houston as they returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The injuries had finally become too much for Cleveland to overcome and QB Joe Flacco, while I was signing his praises a few weeks ago had to channel his former Super Bowl winning self to propel the Browns further. That didn’t happen and the Texans took advantage. QB C.J. Stroud isn’t playing like a rookie and really didn’t for most of the season. He’ll get a chance at redemption against Baltimore which was his first start of the 2023 season.

Way Too Cold

There probably wasn’t a more predictable outcome during Wild Card Weekend than the Miami Dolphins losing on the road with the temperatures way below freezing. Other than a prayer thrown to WR Tyreek Hill that resulted in a touchdown, the Dolphins had nothing. That doesn’t mean the Kansas City Chiefs did a lot better, but they were moving the ball consistently with the cold temperatures. Miami had numerous amounts of injuries on defense and that probably played a role in the outcome, but I’ll maintain that this team had no chance with those freezing temps. Also head coach Mike McDaniel had a horrible gameplan on offense. Not a great combination.

Where Should I Start?

Ignore the score of this one. It was never close. The game was over at halftime. When Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw that interception for a touchdown before halftime that was it. What has been the Cowboys achilles heel all season long? Their run defense and boy did it show in this one. It’s almost as if Dallas just ignored the elephant in the room all week long in preparation and when it was happening in real time they thought, ‘nah, it’ll be fine.’ The Green Bay Packers played a flawless game on offense and while their defense played their best game of the season, they did have moments of concern, but the game was well in hand when that happened. RB Aaron Jones ran for 118 yards and scored three touchdowns. For Dallas this is another round of deja vu with early playoff exits. If anyone needs to go it has to start on the defense. With all that talk of their ‘vaunted’ defense the last three seasons it blew up in their face at the worst time. If head coach Mike McCarthy and QB Dak Prescott are the next ones to go, it’ll be an interesting time in Dallas. The way owner Jerry Jones has been running things lately I would be surprised if he blows it up when he should have so many other times before.

A Close Contest

It certainly started to look like it would be a track meet with how quickly the Detroit Lions were marching down the field scoring points. Then it got interesting as the Rams were beginning to creep back into the game to make things interesting down the stretch. In the end, the Lions defense made a key stop and walked away with a home playoff win. The first of its kind at Ford Field. The outcome might have been different if the Rams hadn’t squandered two of their timeouts early in the second half, which is a custom of theres since Sean McVay has been their head coach. In the end this was the closest contest of the weekend and with the most intrigue surrounding it.

Delayed One Day, But The Result Was The Same

There was a moment where I thought the Pittsburgh Steelers could have taken control of this game. That was before the turnovers happened and Bills QB Josh Allen sort of deked, but in reality the Steelers defense didn’t want a penalty to be called by tackling him as he ran for a 50-yard touchdown run. If the game was played on Sunday rather than Monday due to a snowstorm, there probably would have been no way the Steelers would be given a chance. The one day delay gave it to them, but the Bills are too good and they weren’t going to let this opportunity go to waste.

Nothing To Show For Themselves

Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have caught fire of late. They won five of their last six games to win the worst division in football, the NFC South. QB Baker Mayfield was on fire in the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles. And by no fault of the Bucs, the Eagles were ripe for a blowout loss with how they finished the season. Counting their loss to Tampa Bay, the Eagles lost six of their last seven games to end the year. A team that was 10-1 gong into Week 13, lost six of seven to finish the year. Rightfully there are a lot of questions going around the organization, but for now the blame falls solely on the coaches and players. There was no life in this team from the opening kickoff. I’m amazed they were able to score 9 points. This team will be mocked appropriately for many years to come. So much potential as a team that was in the Super Bowl last year and this is what you have to show for it the next season?