THE SEAHAWKS DO the world a favour and leave quietly through the side door while Tom Brady has nothing to look forward to next weekend except spending time with his supermodel wife.
AFC Playoffs:
New York Jets 28 @ New England Patriots 21
There’s a quote attributed to Muhammad Ali that states ‘it’s not bragging if you can back it up.’ Even if you don’t like Rex Ryan’s trash-talking, you have to admit it’s effective.
Having said that they would, his team has now gone on the road and beaten the Colts and Patriots. Walking the walk is always much harder than talking the talk but the Jets have been impressive by any standard.
Having been humiliated by 42 points in week 13, I certainly couldn’t see a way the Jets could close the door on a Patriots offence that have been led with laser like precision by Tom Brady over recent weeks. But while Rex Ryan likes to play the clown, he is a smart coach and he made it almost impossible for New England to read his defensive coverage.
They also forced five sacks and three fumbles, one of which came from a fake punt attempt by the Patriots in the second quarter, a sign of how desperate Bill Belichick and his team were, even at that early stage.
Baltimore Ravens 24 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 31
The Ravens, taking a well-deserved 21-7 lead into half-time, somehow contrived to throw away a game that most analysts felt would be won by the first team to reach the 20 point mark.
Instead, dropped passes, fumbles and interceptions – as well as their inability defend third down and long situations – meant that Baltimore left Heinz Field empty handed on Saturday night.
For the Steelers, the win means they will now contest their third AFC Championship game in six years – and fifth in 10 – after QB Ben Roethlisberger took advantage of the Ravens’ mistakes to throw for over 100 yards more than Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco. While this was not the defensive master class that many assumed it would be, Steelers fans will know, especially with the Patriots out of the way, they’ve taken a giant step towards Super Bowl XLV.
Green Bay Packers 48 @ Atlanta Falcons 21
Aaron Rogers must really hate Matt Ryan. Why else would he have stepped into the Georgia Dome on Saturday night, ignored logic, and took ‘Matty Ice’ on in a shootout.
Rogers – who threw three touchdown passes and ran for one himself – put in the best performance of his career, belying the Packers’ status as number six seeds in the NFC.
Atlanta just had no answer for Green Bay who totted up 35 unanswered points, scored on all except two drives – their first and their last – and didn’t use their punter once. The Falcons just couldn’t establish a running game – so often the bedrock of their success this season – and left themselves with too much to do by half time. For Packers’ fans, there’s certainly a new hero in town. Brett who?
Seattle Seahawks 24 @ Chicago Bears 35
As expected, the Seahawks finally did the decent thing and put in the kind of performance that resulted in them being the first divisional winners in postseason history to have a losing record.
Don’t let the score line fool you either, the Bears had packed up and were preparing for their NFC Championship game next weekend by the time the Seahawks scored 21 fourth quarter points.
Jay Cutler had obviously been watching Aaron Rogers on Saturday night as he put in a marquee performance – running for two touchdowns while throwing two more – which saw the Bears reach the endzone on three of their first four possessions. The win sets up a 182nd meeting with their bitter rivals from Green Bay.
Remarkably, it will be the first with the NFC Championship on the line.
Steven O’Rourke is the offensive coordinator of Tullamore Phoenix American Football Club. When not obsessing with football he can be found at 4fortyfour.
