My two most lasting impressions from Super Bowl Sunday:
1) The Pats secondary. For the most part their downfield coverage was fabulous. Most of Darnold's completions in that first half were pinpoint. They had the Seahawks' receivers smothered, and made some spectacular plays. Otherwise the game would have been a complete blow out very early.
2) Penalty free play for the first 28 minutes. When was the last time we've seen that?
Credit to Seattle's defence... their blitzing reminded me of the Legion of Boom. Maye was so discombobulated by the end of the game I'm not sure he knew which way was up. All in all, I really enjoyed the game, because I love great defence as much as I do great offence.
Speaking of offence, how does someone go from full stop to full speed in two strides?
I'm still wondering how that Rams at Seahawks Conference Final would have played out had the referees caught that blatant face mask infraction on Matthew Stafford on a 3rd & 10 at Seattle's 23 yard line late in second quarter, resulting in the Rams settling for a field goal instead of a possible TD from deep within the red zone had the infraction been called.
Had the Rams scored a TD on that drive instead of just a FG, the Rams would have been up 14-3 instead of 10-3. All things unfolding in exactly the same way thereafter would have led to yet another overtime game, 31-31, between these two great teams, instead of a 31-27 Rams loss. Stafford didn't get the face masking call, but he did get league MVP. So there's that. And yes, he will be back next season, at the ripe young age of 39, to continue being the best QB in NFL history who is still in uniform.
The other factor that clearly lost the Rams the game was punt returner Xavier Smith. He fumbled the ball, not once, but twice! The first fumble was in the second quarter, but he managed to recover the football. The second fumble wasn't even a bobble, it was a gross misjudgement in fielding the ball at all, as it bounced off his left shoulder pad as he was falling backwards with virtually no chance of catching it. Seattle easily recovered the ball and took full advantage, scoring at 17 yard TD on the next play to put them up 24-13. McVay noted the obvious: "it was costly." He was kind then to state "It's tough because X-Man has been so reliable." Hmm. Whatever, eh. I'm not exactly sure what I would call two fumbled punt receptions in a Conference final, but the last word that would come to my mind would be "reliable." I'm not insinuating, mind you, some players just aren't up to the moment.
Some players are up to the moment, and Cooper Kupp proved it with a catch at the end of the game that put the nail in the coffin for the Rams this year. And, yes, it was a catch, not a fumble, as he took three steps while in possession of the ball so he didn't have to survive the ground. Given what he went through being let go from the Rams, what can I say? Karma? In any case, Seattle is rightfully favoured over the Pats.
I'm not going to comment on the Pats beating the Broncos, except to say they are a much better team than I thought they were going into these playoffs. So the Superbowl might turn out to be a pretty good game after all. Even though I still expect the Seahawks to win, I get the feeling turnovers are going to decide it. But if Darnold plays like he did against the Rams, the Pats have no chance in the world to win, especially if they can't score more than 20 points.
Well, the Bills beat themselves last weekend, as Josh Allen so painfully knows. I couldn't believe the Bills weren't blitzing on third and long. McDermott's head rolled as a result of not getting the Bills to the Super Bowl. If any year was the year, this was the year. Too bad the Broncos lost Nix for the season at the end of the game. At least the Bills and Allen didn't stink as much as the cringe-worthy Stroud and the Texans. That game was hard to watch. Pats weren't that impressive either. So how is the AFC championship likely to play out?
From what I hear, the Broncos, playing at home without Nix, are now the underdogs. I have it on good authority that Jarrett Stidham might perform surprisingly well. If he does, I think the Broncos will win, but this is America's 250th anniversary, so if anything favours the Patriots, I suppose that would be it. If the Pats win and go on to beat either the 'hawks or Rams, I'm going to think something is fishy. The Pats might beat the Broncos, but no way can they legitimately beat the NFC champ, whatever team it is.
Other factors at play: How well is Denver's cornerback Patrick Surtain II after the concussion he got against the Bills? Even though he's been cleared to play this week, is he 100%? How well can the Bronco linebackers keep Maye contained? A Denver win will likely require either some points from their defence (e.g., another pick-six from Surtain if the Pats test him), and/or keeping the Pats to 20 points or less.
Speaking of the NFC championship game with the L.A. Rams at Seattle Seahawks, this game is for the Super Bowl, imho. Moreover, it is a rematch of one of the wildest games of the 2025 season. The Seahawks overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Rams 38-37 in overtime on Thursday Night Football (Week 16). Instead of kicking the extra point to tie in OT, Seattle successfully went for a "walk-off" two-point conversion to steal the win and control of the NFC West. Is there any way the meeting of these two teams on Sunday can top that? I doubt it, but I also can't wait to find out.
I've been predicting the Rams to win it all this year, but after just squeaking by in their last two games against the Packers and Bears, I think it will be a battle-hardened toss up for them against Seattle. Which ever way it goes, this game could be an all-time classic. We'll see how well Stafford can handle the 'hawks' pass rush. Quick releases for short 1st down yardage to Nacua is likely the key to a Rams win.
Other factors at play: Watch for a game-clinching pass to Devante Adams for the Rams late in the game (or a game-clinching pass to Cooper Kupp late in the game for the Seahawks). And of course, there is my favourite player to watch this season, Seattle's rookie left guard, Grey Zabel. Will he be up to protecting Darnold from Fiske's explosiveness and Verse's stunts?
Super Bowl LX Mic'd Up! Great insights into the game within the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0nQr3TCLYc
My two most lasting impressions from Super Bowl Sunday:
1) The Pats secondary. For the most part their downfield coverage was fabulous. Most of Darnold's completions in that first half were pinpoint. They had the Seahawks' receivers smothered, and made some spectacular plays. Otherwise the game would have been a complete blow out very early.
2) Penalty free play for the first 28 minutes. When was the last time we've seen that?
Credit to Seattle's defence... their blitzing reminded me of the Legion of Boom. Maye was so discombobulated by the end of the game I'm not sure he knew which way was up. All in all, I really enjoyed the game, because I love great defence as much as I do great offence.
Speaking of offence, how does someone go from full stop to full speed in two strides?
Walker is a misnomer, but full value for MVP.
I'm still wondering how that Rams at Seahawks Conference Final would have played out had the referees caught that blatant face mask infraction on Matthew Stafford on a 3rd & 10 at Seattle's 23 yard line late in second quarter, resulting in the Rams settling for a field goal instead of a possible TD from deep within the red zone had the infraction been called.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1cNMellDjOs
Had the Rams scored a TD on that drive instead of just a FG, the Rams would have been up 14-3 instead of 10-3. All things unfolding in exactly the same way thereafter would have led to yet another overtime game, 31-31, between these two great teams, instead of a 31-27 Rams loss. Stafford didn't get the face masking call, but he did get league MVP. So there's that. And yes, he will be back next season, at the ripe young age of 39, to continue being the best QB in NFL history who is still in uniform.
https://www.nfl.com/news/matthew-stafford-rams-qb-most-valuable-player-2025
The other factor that clearly lost the Rams the game was punt returner Xavier Smith. He fumbled the ball, not once, but twice! The first fumble was in the second quarter, but he managed to recover the football. The second fumble wasn't even a bobble, it was a gross misjudgement in fielding the ball at all, as it bounced off his left shoulder pad as he was falling backwards with virtually no chance of catching it. Seattle easily recovered the ball and took full advantage, scoring at 17 yard TD on the next play to put them up 24-13. McVay noted the obvious: "it was costly." He was kind then to state "It's tough because X-Man has been so reliable." Hmm. Whatever, eh. I'm not exactly sure what I would call two fumbled punt receptions in a Conference final, but the last word that would come to my mind would be "reliable." I'm not insinuating, mind you, some players just aren't up to the moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7R6IxagYzA
Some players are up to the moment, and Cooper Kupp proved it with a catch at the end of the game that put the nail in the coffin for the Rams this year. And, yes, it was a catch, not a fumble, as he took three steps while in possession of the ball so he didn't have to survive the ground. Given what he went through being let go from the Rams, what can I say? Karma? In any case, Seattle is rightfully favoured over the Pats.
I'm not going to comment on the Pats beating the Broncos, except to say they are a much better team than I thought they were going into these playoffs. So the Superbowl might turn out to be a pretty good game after all. Even though I still expect the Seahawks to win, I get the feeling turnovers are going to decide it. But if Darnold plays like he did against the Rams, the Pats have no chance in the world to win, especially if they can't score more than 20 points.
Well, the Bills beat themselves last weekend, as Josh Allen so painfully knows. I couldn't believe the Bills weren't blitzing on third and long. McDermott's head rolled as a result of not getting the Bills to the Super Bowl. If any year was the year, this was the year. Too bad the Broncos lost Nix for the season at the end of the game. At least the Bills and Allen didn't stink as much as the cringe-worthy Stroud and the Texans. That game was hard to watch. Pats weren't that impressive either. So how is the AFC championship likely to play out?
From what I hear, the Broncos, playing at home without Nix, are now the underdogs. I have it on good authority that Jarrett Stidham might perform surprisingly well. If he does, I think the Broncos will win, but this is America's 250th anniversary, so if anything favours the Patriots, I suppose that would be it. If the Pats win and go on to beat either the 'hawks or Rams, I'm going to think something is fishy. The Pats might beat the Broncos, but no way can they legitimately beat the NFC champ, whatever team it is.
Other factors at play: How well is Denver's cornerback Patrick Surtain II after the concussion he got against the Bills? Even though he's been cleared to play this week, is he 100%? How well can the Bronco linebackers keep Maye contained? A Denver win will likely require either some points from their defence (e.g., another pick-six from Surtain if the Pats test him), and/or keeping the Pats to 20 points or less.
Speaking of the NFC championship game with the L.A. Rams at Seattle Seahawks, this game is for the Super Bowl, imho. Moreover, it is a rematch of one of the wildest games of the 2025 season. The Seahawks overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Rams 38-37 in overtime on Thursday Night Football (Week 16). Instead of kicking the extra point to tie in OT, Seattle successfully went for a "walk-off" two-point conversion to steal the win and control of the NFC West. Is there any way the meeting of these two teams on Sunday can top that? I doubt it, but I also can't wait to find out.
I've been predicting the Rams to win it all this year, but after just squeaking by in their last two games against the Packers and Bears, I think it will be a battle-hardened toss up for them against Seattle. Which ever way it goes, this game could be an all-time classic. We'll see how well Stafford can handle the 'hawks' pass rush. Quick releases for short 1st down yardage to Nacua is likely the key to a Rams win.
Other factors at play: Watch for a game-clinching pass to Devante Adams for the Rams late in the game (or a game-clinching pass to Cooper Kupp late in the game for the Seahawks). And of course, there is my favourite player to watch this season, Seattle's rookie left guard, Grey Zabel. Will he be up to protecting Darnold from Fiske's explosiveness and Verse's stunts?
My sense of the Divisional Round
AFC
Bills at Broncos: Toss up... pick 'em
Texans at Pats: The only potential upset I can see, but Pats likely win
NFC
49ers at Seahawks: Kudos to the '9ers to get this far, but no further... 'hawks win easily
Rams at Bears: Kudos to the Bears to get this far, but no further... Rams win, maybe not easily