Let me just say, that was a treat, wasn’t it? Those games were the best of times and the worst of times. The actual game play was amazing. Two overtime games for the first time ever? My goodness, it was almost too much to ask for. Almost.
Then came the refs.. If the players were that good, the refs were that bad. In the AFC game, there were phantom roughing the passer calls and the inconsistency with offensive/defensive pass interference was difficult to stomach. But before all that, we had to stomach the worst no-call in playoff history.
In what world in this not PI:
Um, hello? Is this real life? Most of us know that refs don’t decide every game with one call, but this one did. This game all but seals the victory for the Saint. I know, I know, they still had to score (field goal or TD), and nothing is a given in football. But let’s be real here. Their win % at that point would have been something like 99%, a statistical reality. The Rams were gifted that game. Did I pick the Rams? Sure. It just doesn’t feel like they won it. Still, the Rams found a way to stay close and scratch out a win in OT. They didn’t make the call, but they certainly made the most of what happened. Even without Todd Gurley in a useful role throughout the game, the Rams stayed in the fight. The Saints just couldn’t put them away (maybe that’s because of a blow PI call or two).
The Pats-Chiefs game was beautiful. For a quick second, though, let’s appreciate Tony Romo. The guy was calling the play calls before they happened. He lets the viewers into the mind of the play callers and like this is Madden. He’s the best in the business right now, no doubt about it. To the game, we saw a heck of a game between Brady and Mahomes. This is the type of game that players can grow from, and hopefully the young MVP (to be) will do just that. Just a note* – you cannot give Tom Brady 2 minutes and 3 timeouts left on the clock and think it’ll all be okay. Death by 1000 cuts. It was classic TB12, and it worked to perfection. You have to beat Brady and Belichick, because they aren’t going to just give you a game in the playoffs. The Chiefs couldn’t take this one. The Patriots did, and they have a heck of a shot in Atlanta in two weeks.
Rams-Patriots Super Bowl LIII
It’s going to be a doozy.
Divine Interception 