Championship Sunday didn’t disappoint, with two more very close games, including yet another overtime thriller at Arrowhead. Let’s quickly catch up on the NFL happenings this morning, before getting back to the team we actually care about around here.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs again jumped out to a big lead on the Bengals, just as they did when the teams met in Week 17. The home team lead 21-3 and looked to go up 28-10 just before the half. At worst, they should have been up 24-10. Instead, Patrick Mahomes, after being his usual otherworldly self for the game’s first 29-plus minutes, made the first of what would waterfall into many costly mistakes that left #ChiefsKingdom in disbelief this Monday morning.
Needed that one. 😤
Watch on CBS pic.twitter.com/ow5LCbmk5u
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2022
Instead of 24-10 or 28-10, it was 21-10. But surely KC wouldn’t blow the lead at home (Week 17 was in Cincy), not with this playoff-tested coach, quarterback, and team, right?
Wrong.
Mahomes was completely out of sorts for the entire second half, and KC managed just a field goal, which came at the very end of regulation to force overtime. The Chiefs again won the toss, giving everyone flashbacks of a week ago, and it looked like Reid & Paddy were again going to escape and advance. Instead, the football gods laughed, Mahomes was promptly intercepted (again), and the Bengals…yes, the Cincinnati Bengals…will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
EVAN MCPHERSON SENDS CINCY TO THE SUPER BOWL. #NFLPlayoffs #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/lcWku1eYpt
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
While it’s nice to see the Chiefs, who should have lost a week ago (why haven’t any Bills coaches been fired yet, seriously?), knocked out, I am certainly not enthused to see the Bengals suddenly *this* competent. While I’m happy for those long-suffering fans, the idea of dealing with this version of Joe Burrow for a decade, right when Fat Ben retires, as a fan of an AFC North rival, is really annoying. I guess I’ll take some consolation in the fact that Mike Brown is one of the cheapest owners in sports, and won’t put the kind of money into that team that other owners would, so hopefully that will hold them down a bit? I dunno man. If I’d told you in September – or December! – that an AFC North team would be playing in the Super Bowl, but it wouldn’t be the Steelers…or Browns…you’d have been booking tickets to Los Angeles.
The Bengals. Crazy…
In the NFC, the Rams skirted past the 49ers, despite trailing 17-7 in the second half, in what seemed like a road home game thanks to the hordes of San Francisco fans that made the trip south. This was likely Jimmy Garoppolo’s last pass as a Niner.
AARON DONALD CREATES THE TURNOVER. #RamsHouse #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/pcltmPm9EP— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
Here’s something cool to celebrate, and another reason to root for the Rams in two weeks: Eric Weddle is playing!
So @weddlesbeard came out of a 2-year retirement at age 37 for one reason and one reason only: Super Bowl
Then he played EVERY snap yesterday and led the Rams in tackles to help make his dream come true.
So happy for him. GREAT dude!
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 31, 2022
Expected to just bit a rotational player when he came out of retirement, Weddle instead played every snap (last week too, I think). Holding it down out there for us old dudes. Get that ring, Beard!
Alright, back to the purple and black.
The Ravens signed a new coach last week, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, but lost one just hours later.
With TEs coach Bobby Engram departing for Wisconsin OC, John Harbaugh has at least one opening on his staff to fill. But there very well could be more before all is said than done, particularly on the defensive side of the ball with Mike Macdonald coming in.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 29, 2022
Engram may not be the only one to go. After being passed up for the DC job, Anthony Weaver is being interviewed for that position in Denver.
Denver submitted a slip for Ravens’ asst. coach Anthony Weaver to interview for defensive coordinator, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2022
Unfortunately for #RavensFlock, it doesn’t seem like anyone has asked to interview Greg Roman. We’ll likely hear that Roman is staying on board when John Harbaugh addresses the media later today at One Winning Drive.
Ravens also announce timing of three press conferences next week.
Monday: John Harbaugh's season-ending PC
Tuesday: Mike Macdonald's introductory PC
Friday: Eric DeCosta's season-ending PC— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 28, 2022
If anything of note comes out of Harbaugh’s press conference, we’ll have quick reactions from our staff here at Russell Street Report. Knowing the continuity-loving Steve Bisciotti, Eric DeCosta, and Harbaugh, however, any earth-shattering news would come as a pretty big surprise.
Tuesday’s presser could actually be the more interesting of the two, as Macdonald lays out his vision for the future of the Baltimore defense. Friday’s DeCosta musings will be must-see as well.
Until then, enjoy your week, Flock!
