Six Takeaways from the NFL Divisional Playoff Games: Allen gets it done, Lamar Chokes again, Daniels is special, Hurts is overrated and more

1. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson change the narrative

The Bills were embarrassed by the Ravens in Baltimore at the end of September in a 35-10 thrashing. Against the Ravens this time, the Bills had a chance to atone and responded accordingly. Baltimore opened the game with a smooth eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. In response, the Bills orchestrated an 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive of their own, then scored again to take a 14–7 lead. By halftime, they had extended their lead to 21–10, which was narrowed to 21–19 after a strong performance from Baltimore in the third quarter. The Bills managed to grind out a few first downs to regain momentum, and Tyler Bass nailed a 51-yard field goal to help stabilize their lead. A series of turnovers in the game highlighted the Bills’ defensive execution.

Lamar Jackson threw an interception picked off by Taylor Rapp, and a sack by Damar Hamlin led to a fumble that Von Miller recovered and returned. Additionally, Terrel Bernard forced a fumble from Mark Andrews and recovered it himself. Implicit in these plays was the belief that if the Bills continued to play hard, opportunities would arise, and any one of their players would seize them.

This year, Josh Allen has taken on a more vocal role as a leader. Each week, his message differs, but this week was particularly clear: he recognized the outside doubts about his team. The players discussed this before the game, and Allen emphasized it again at halftime. “Before we went back out there,” head coach Sean McDermott recalls, “he just said, ‘Hey, all we hear all week is that we’re not good enough, not big enough, or strong enough.’” This message was tested in the third quarter and again at the end of the game when Jackson led an intense eight-play, 88-yard drive to cut the Bills’ lead to just two points. After that, they attempted a two-point conversion, with Andrews open in the end zone—only to drop the ball, effectively securing a win for the Bills.

Lamar Jackson is a great regular season Quarterback, but in the playoffs, he has been a mere mortal, on Sunday he made some great plays, but unlike the regular season he turned the ball over and he did it at the worst possible times leading to another early playoff exit.

This game showed that the best team doesn’t always win, and Josh Allen showed us that he has the ability to lead a lesser team to a win in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson showed us that he is ordinary still when it comes to playoff time.

2. Can the Refs win a third straight Super Bowl?

On Saturday the NFL showed why it has a conspiracy problem, as always, the officiating was atrocious in Kansas City! The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes got gifted a playoff game. The Texans outplayed the Chiefs and held them to barely over two hundred yards of offense. I know the Texans did not help themselves with missed field goals etc… But the NFL needs to stop protecting the Golden Boy Patrick Mahomes. The two personal foul calls were jokes and if you watched the other three playoff games this weekend you saw every other quarterback take a huge shot or two worse than the hits Mahomes took, and no flags were thrown!

Plus, the NFL gets the added benefit of now Taylor Swift friend Caitlin Clark at the games. The two are so close now that every time Travis makes a play the two can be seen hugging like best friends. This whole Chiefs thing seems a little to WWE in the 1980s.

3. The Lions are still the Lions, but Jayden Daniels IS really good

I know the Lions have been a great story, but they came up short against a team they were nine-point favorites again. They looked unprepared on defense and Jared Goff choked and threw three interceptions. In the Lions defense they do have about a third of their team on Injured Reserve this season, but at this point that while being true is also just an excuse. Ot’s football people get hurt and you have to overcome injuries to win in the playoffs.

Jayden Daniels is the real deal, and the Chicago Bears have to be kicking themselves for choosing Caleb Williams over Daniels. The pressure seems to not affect Daniels at all and now he is one win from taking his team to the Super Bowl in his rookie year, which is unheard of.

4. Jalen Hurts exposed again

Jalen Hurts won a playoff game on Sunday, but it was won in spite of him, not because of him. Jalen Hurts struggled against the Rams, throwing for only 128 yards. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for just six catches totaling 35 yards. Just when it looked like the Eagles might put the game away with a 16–13 lead and possession of the ball, Hurts took a sack that resulted in a safety. Even after Saquon Barkley’s impressive 78-yard run, the Rams managed to go 70 yards, closing the gap to six points. With 1:25 left in the game, they had a first down at the Eagles’ 21-yard line and a chance to take the lead.

The Eagles talent advantage as a team over the Rams is wide. But the lack of a quarterback is holding this Eagles team back. No, Jalen Hurts is not terrible, but he is NOT an elite quarterback. He takes to many hits and sacks; he refuses for the most part to just throw the ball away. Because of holding on to the ball to long he gets hurt a lot, and on Sunday he looked to have issues again, I do not know if that will affect him in the NFC Championship game or not, but I do not like the Eagles chance with Hurts at the helm.

5. Josh Allen is heading for the Super Bowl this season

The Bills handled the Chiefs in Buffalo already this season and if they can beat the Chiefs again, this time in Kansas City Josh Allen will finally get to a Super Bowl. Beating the Chiefs even in KC doesn’t seem quite the task it used to, but if history tells us anything it will be a chore. You have to overcome what many say is the loudest crowd in the NFL, but the biggest issue may be facing the officials who seem to always be firmly on the Chiefs side.

I think that the Bills are a better team than the Chiefs and I think they are about to prove it in a major way! The Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots have both beaten Mahomes and Reid in AFC Championship games at Kansas City, now it’s Allen’s turn!!!

6. Jayden Daniels becomes first rookie Quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles have the best team in football, but that is not true at the quarterback position where they are led by an erratic and often-injured quarterback who is about to get outplayed by a rookie Quarterback this weekend. Daniels shines as the pressure intensifies, Jalen hurts does not. Yes, it’s possible Saquon Barkley runs for 250 yards and the Eagles make it to another Super Bowl, but my bet is Daniels balls out next Sunday, while Jalen Hurts just balls up.

My Top Five NFL Quarterbacks in the NFL Right now!

Here you go, in order!

1. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

2. Josh Allen Buffalo Bills

3, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens

5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Climbing fast)