WOW!!! What a weekend. Drama, Big Plays, overtimes, and controversy. Both the AFC and NFC Championship games provided a ton of excitement for fans. The games were action packed and both came down to the wire. Kickers, refs and coaches all had a role to play and every inch mattered when it was all said and done. I can honestly say that I can only hope that the Super Bowl is as entertaining as the games were yesterday.
Source
The NFC Championship was a wild affair that left a bad taste in the mouth of many fans, even if they didn't have a stake int he game. The Saints came out fast and quickly put up a 13 point lead in the 1st quarter but the Rams fought and clawed their way back into the game and came out of the half only down 13-10. After trading touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, the Rams were able to tie the game on a 24-yard field goal with 5 minutes left in the game. This is when all the drama started. The Saints responded by marching down the field and getting into Rams territory on a beauty 43-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr with 2:07 in the game.
Source
Three plays later on a 3rd and 10 the refs missed what might have been the most obvious pass interference call I have ever seen in my life. Nickell Robey-Coleman hit TommyLee Lewis on a pass play from Drew Brees. The only problem is that he hit him about 4 seconds before the ball arrived and without even making an attempt to look back at the ball. Robey-Coleman himself admitted after the game that he knew he was beaten on the play and was trying to do whatever he could to stop a catch that might have led to a touchdown.
Source
The penalty call would have given the Saints a 1st down and they would have easily been able to run a few more plays and kill the clock before kicking the FG or even score a touchdown. Unfortunately, the call was missed and the Saints were forced to kick a FG and give the ball back to the Rams. The Rams would turn around and tie the game on a late FG and then win it with a huge Greg Zuerlein kick in OT. Fans have been outraged today about the atrocious non-call and how it cost the Saints a shot at going to the Super Bowl. The discussion took up 90% of the air time today on sports talk radio. I agree that the call was absolutely horrible but I can't help but think about the horrible play calling and clock management that led to the situation. What on earth was Sean Peyton thinking by throwing the ball twice? After the Ginn catch, the Saints were already in FG range. It was time to start running the ball and killing the clock and forcing the Rams to use up their timeouts. By throwing the ball twice and not making a completion, the Saints allowed the Rams to save their timeouts for the game-tying drive. Instead, they gave the ball back with almost two minutes and timeouts to get it done. Don't get me wrong, the call was brutal but Peyton dropped the ball.
Source
In the AFC Championship, it was status quo for Tom Brady and the hoodie. The Patriots came out and were the same old clockwork team they are known to be defeating the Chiefs to advance to an unprecedented 9th Super Bowl. The game went to overtime but it really was a one-sided contest for most of the game. The Patriots were methodical on offence and surgically worked their way down the field against a Chiefs defence that had no answers. It took a heroic effort by Mahomes in the 4th quarter to lead the Chiefs back and give them a shot to win but the Patriots were unflappable. Each time they were faced with the possibility of defeat they simply marched back down the field and put the ball in the endzone. Mahomes was able to help set up a last-second Butker FG to send the game into overtime but it would only lead to a bigger heartbreak.
Source
The Patriots came out in overtime with the same mentality that they started the game. They were machine-like as they pushed their way down the field, imposing their will on the Chiefs defence. Every time they were faced with a 3rd and 1o they were able to complete that same slant pass to Edelman and the Chiefs still couldn't stop them. An untimely offside penalty by the defence helped to continue the drive and the Pats would eventually end it on a 2 yard TD run. The Chiefs offence didn't even get to touch the field in overtime. The greatest dynasty in NFL history continues to become bigger and the dynamic duo will be looking to become legends by winning another Super Bowl in two weeks.
Source
I am so looking forward to what is shaping up to be an exciting Super Bowl. The Patriots and Rams should be a fun game and if the games are half as good as the games were this weekend then we are going to be in for quite the treat.