11 Grueling Truth’s we learned during the Divisional Playoff games

1) Lamar Jackson is a good QB, not great!

Lamar Jackson is a special QB when running with the ball, but to win a Super Bowl you have to be able to throw the ball. He is just average when it comes to passing. The Bills played zone and got after Jackson with a strong pass rush, and Jackson could not find an answer.

The Ravens basically ignored the pass through much of the game and the pick-6 he threw in the third quarter was the death knell for Baltimore’s season. Jackson locked on to his receiver and made up his mind where he was throwing the ball from the start. In the NFL, you can’t just do that.

2) It’s not all on Lamar

The center position has been a sore spot all season for the Ravens, and Saturday was no different. Even the snaps that got to Lamar had him reaching and was throwing off the timing of the entire offense. The play-calling was horrendous, give Lamar a chance to throw the ball at least occasionally. I think this shows a lack of confidence with Jackson, despite him being a solid pocket-passer in college.

When all you do is run the ball it only takes one bad play or penalty in a series to throw you off schedule. It seems every time Jackson throws the ball it’s expected because it’s third and 12.

3) This Bills team can win the Super Bowl

The defense improved at the end of the season, and, while there were concerns about the way they were dominated up front by the Colts, the fact remains that was more the by-product of the Colts having a great offensive line more than anything else. The Bills will have the best defense in the AFC Championship Game and their offensive line is playing well. With two playoff wins, Josh Allen has proven his regular season wasn’t a fluke.

4) Aaron Rodgers really is a BAD MAN

The Packers offense ran circles around an excellent Rams defense on the ground and through the air. The Packers never really seemed in danger during the game. Rodgers ability to make pre-snap reads and get his team into the correct play is uncanny, and the Packers are a much better team than they were last year.

5) The Rams didn’t embarrass themselves

Jared Goff played well and the Rams offense wasn’t bad, but the defense just could not get off the field. I thought offensively the Rams were prepared and played well, but defensively they were just out-coached.

The Rams will have a lot of questions heading into next year, especially at quarterback. Goff may never be a franchise quarterback, but he is good enough to get it done with enough talent surrounding him. Now, does get it done mean he can win you a Super Bowl? Probably not, but where do you find a better quarterback if you are the Rams?

6) Andy Reid has the biggest balls of them all

It’s 4th and 1, and your backup quarterback is in with a little over a minute left in the Divisional Round. What do you do? Easy answer, punt the ball right? Not if you are a coach that believes in playing to win the game, and that’s exactly what Andy Reid is. Chad Henne, yes Chad Henne, completes a quick pass to Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs are on their way to a third straight AFC Championship game.

7) Cleveland blew this game

Coach Kevin Stefanski may be the Coach of the Year, but Sunday’s play-calling, especially in the first half, has to make you wonder what he was doing. The best way to attack the Chiefs defense is to run between the tackles, but for some reason the Browns decided to run on the edges playing into Kansas City’s hands.

Now Browns fans will complain about the end of the first half, and they should. It should have been a penalty, but the Browns had plenty of chances to take the bull by the horns and they just didn’t get it done. With that being said, the Browns are trending in the right direction and absolutely deserved to be a playoff team. Browns fans should be proud of the season their team had.

8) A sad ending for a Legend

Drew Brees is no longer Drew Brees, as his three interceptions can attest on Sunday. It wasn’t just the three interceptions, anybody can have a bad game, it was more of the fact that he didn’t even attempt a pass of more than 20 yards the entire game.

9) Tom Brady is ageless

No, Brady is not the same player he once was, but he is still a top five Quarterback in the NFL. He is on the perfect team to end his career with. Don’t be surprised if Brady is playing in his tenth Super Bowl in a few weeks.

10) Tampa Bay is peaking at the right time

They have two stud running backs, an ever-improving offensive line, and every wide receivers seems to be a threat to score at any time. On defense, the front seven was devastating against a very good Saints offensive line. With all of the talent on the field Sunday, the Buccaneers stood out as a dominating force.

11) Sean Payton has failed in New Orleans

Yes, he is a good coach and I know he won a Super Bowl a decade ago, but the past three years have led to three straight home losses in the playoffs. A case could be made that in all three years he had the most talented team in the league.