The NFL is a fickle league. Some teams are in constant chaos and rebuilds (Lions, Jets). Some teams perennially disappoint (Browns). Some teams have their Super Bowl dreams die in an instant (Cardinals). My piece today will go over the public narratives for the final 8 teams. The four that are still in the party and the other four that parties came to a crashing halt this week. Let’s take a look shall we.
Four to Bow Out
Titans
The Titans season came to a crashing end as Ryan Tannehill threw an interception with 20 seconds left to Logan Wilson on a tipped pass by Eli Apple which resulted in a game winning field goal from Evan McPherson in a 19-16 loss to the Bengals. It was an unnecessary throw as an incompletion would have almost certainly ensured overtime. The Titans overachieved without offensive stars Derrick Henry and A.J Brown for much of the second half of the season and getting the number one seed in the AFC was an impressive accomplishment. With that being said losing to a young Bengals team at home was a bad ending to a good season, no matter what the expectations were. Ryan Tannehill will certainly be back in 2022. But do some Titans fans feel like he’s not going to be the guy who takes them over the top, my initial response is a big fat yes!!
Packers
Ouch, Aaron Rodgers is now 11-10 in his playoff career. To make matters worse the team that passed on him first overall in 2005 he’s now 0-4 against in the playoffs. He has now lost twice to Jimmy Garoppolo and twice to Colin Kapernick (remember him? I’m being facetious). Now the question is where does Rodgers go in the offseason. Does he retire to travel with Shailene Woodley? Does he try to replace Steve Harvey as the host of Family Feud? Does he go back to Green Bay after another six months or ranting? Or does he try to go to another team (Broncos good luck in that division or Saints good luck with a new coach and salary cap hell). Of the three playoffs defeats, losing to the 49ers in sub zero temperatures while not allowing an offensive touchdown is somehow ten times worse then getting blown out by the 49ers in a game Jimmy G only threw the ball 8 times.
Bucs
God maybe doesn’t love Tom Brady as much as we thought. The Bucs biazrro season ended on a Matt Gay 30 yard field goal after the Rams tried to fumble the game away (four times to be exact). The Bucs have more questions than answers for this upcoming offseason. Tom Brady has put out some tea leaves early on that this may be it. It is sounding like his wife wants him to take his ball and come home. If Tom Brady comes home will will find Rob Schnieder somewhere popping out from behind a Florida palm tree screaming, “oh no we suck again”!! The season went about as Bucs fans may have expected after a little bit of Florida hangover.
Bills
Bills fans are devastated and excited at the same time. Let’s depress Bills fans for a minute with some history lessons. The 1966 AFL Championship game, Jim Kelly in the 88 AFC Championship game, Scott Norwood, Wade Phillips decision to start Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie, the Music City Miracle, losing to the Steelers backups, J.P Losman, Tom Brady… Okay I’ll stop now and change the mood with some happy Bills things. Josh Allen is 6’5, 240 but still runs like a gazelle, Josh Allen has the strongest arm in the game, Josh Allen is only 25 years old, Josh Allen is only getting better, Josh Allen is the new Mayor of Buffalo. Josh Allen, Josh Allen, Josh Allen, Josh Allen, Josh Allen, you feel better now? Give it a week, it will be okay Buffalo, always next season :-).
The Final Four
Bengals
It’s all gravy from here on out in the Queen City. Before 10 days ago the last Bengals playoff win came when Bo Jackson was the best athlete in the world (thanks Bengals! again being facetious), and Vanilla Ice was slicing up MC’s like a pound of Bacon. So if the Bengals lose 45-6 to the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon in the city of fountains there will only be happy tears shed from Bengals fans. Joe Burrow just turned 25 years old and is more slick than Kevin McCallister. Things are in the up and up in Cincy.
Chiefs
It’s a revenge tour of epic proportions in K.C. The Chiefs looked like the latest Super Bowl loser to be more drunk than a Bachlorette Party after a 3-4 start. Patrick Mahomes and company has gone 11-1 since that start with one lone loss in Week 17 to… you guessed it the Bengals. So the Chiefs can continue their revenge tour with a win over the Bengals. Then finish it off with a win over the 49ers (which is not revenge at all actually but would just be making Jimmy and Kyle the bridesmaid again) or the Rams (maybe revenge for a 2018 54-51 loss in arguably the greatest regular season game ever). Let’s just not hear Patrick Mahomes wife scream anymore please. Chiefs are in a Super Bowl or bust scenario.
49ers
The Niners started 3-5 and are in the NFC Championship game so yeah things are very sunny in San Francisco right now. The question in the offseason will be do they keep Jimmy G for another year or give the keys to the Jean factory to Trey Lance. That is a question for another day as Kyle Shanahan and company are one win away from a potential rematch with Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs. First things first they must beat a team that Jimmy, Kyle and company are owners of, the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams
Having a chance to host the final two games of the 2022 NFL Season is exactly where the Rams wanted to be. For good measures they get to exact revenge on the team who has been kicking their ass for three straight season (the 49ers). Sometimes it’s not about the road traveled but the final destination. The Rams midseason were getting blown out and Matthew Stafford was throwing pick sixes at will. Sean McVay was beginning to make vows to never go to Cabo again and Von Miller was wondering if he could retire before the season ended. Then the Cards collapsed, the Rams were finding ways to win games. Then they got the gift getting the aforementioned Cards in the first game and the Bucs with a retired Tom Brady in the second game. Maybe it is in the stars for a Hollywood ending, regardless I cannot wait to see who this movie unfolds. Get your popcorn ready!