NFL Playoff Update

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Matt Kalie, Staff Writer

The 2023 NFL playoffs have been one of the most memorable years of playoffs we have seen in a few years. Throughout the first two weeks of playoffs, only a few games have been blowouts. Other than that, pretty much every game has been a good close game. The first round of games in the AFC were all really good and had many fans on the edge of their seats.

The Jaguars were down 17-0 at the end of the first quarter, and Trevor Lawerence led them back and ended up driving them down the field late in the 4th quarter and they kicked a field goal as the clock expired to take the game away from Justin Herbert and the Chargers.

The Dolphins and Bills squared off in Buffalo. The Dolphins came in with their third string quarterback having to start. The Bills jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Miami slowly crawled back into the game by the end of the half. It was close all the way through, but the Bills staved off the Miami comeback, and Sean McDermott’s Bills had yet another playoff win.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals were almost knocked off by the Ravens on Sunday night, but Sam Hubbard forced a fumble and ran it back 98 yards for a go ahead touchdown.

On the NFC side of things, the Cowboys took down Tom Brady and the Bucs. Dallas pretty much dominated both sides of the ball all game, and now fans wonder what Brady will be doing next year, if there is a next year for him. The New York football Giants shocked a lot of people beating the Vikings in Minnesota. Daniel Jones has now shown that he’s a good quarterback and can lead this team in the future as he has been as good as anyone over the past seven weeks. The Seahawks season came to an end when they had to go into San Francisco to play the high powered 49ers. Geno Smith kept them in the game for a little while but the 49ers pulled away.

The second week of playoffs was a little bit more disappointing than the first week because there were a few more blowouts. Jacksonville went into Arrowhead Stadium, and Trevor Lawerence lost his first ever football game on a Saturday. The Chiefs’ offense still showed how good they are. The Jags all raised some eyebrows this season and are excited to see what they can do in the future. Analyst Chris Simms pretty much summed up what Mahomes is doing so far.

“Watching Patrick Mahomes in warmups is like watching Steph Curry shoot three pointers (and) Bo Jackson take batting practice,” Simms said.

The Bengals went into Ralph Wilson Stadium and physically dominated the trenches on both sides of the football against the Bills. Josh Allen struggled big time, and now it’s time to ask what Stephon Diggs’ future in Buffalo will look like. The Eagles pounded the Giants in Philly, but no one saw this season from the Giants coming. And lastly, the legend season from Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy continues his winning with the 49ers. Dallas kicker Brett Maher was much better this week, but he still had an extra point blocked.

Championship Sunday upcoming will probably be the best championship Sunday fans have had in a very long time. The four teams left are undoubtedly the best four teams in the NFL. The top two from each conference. Questions and predictions are rising as to which two will be in it for the the Lombardi Trophy.

Can “Joe Shiesty” go back into Arrowhead and beat Mahomes again? The Bengals beat Kansas City three times in 2022, including the AFC Championship game. Or can Mahomes get back to the Super Bowl and possibly win another ring?

In the NFC, the 49ers, one of the most talented teams on both sides of the ball, ranking at the top of the league in both offensive and defensive categories (with the legend Brock Purdy leading them) will travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles who have one of the most unstoppable/smooth offensive in the league. There are many possibilities. Will it be a rematch of Mahomes against the 49ers or will there be a different outcome?