NFL Playoffs Conversation: Championship Week

by Eric Fulton & Julian Spivey

Julian Spivey: You know the divisional round game between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills was mostly a great game - but the ending left a sour taste in my mouth for a couple of reasons 1) it felt like the officials involved themselves too much with pass interference calls and 2) it feels like a hollow win for the Broncos because even though they’re going to the AFC Championship game, they lose their QB Bo Nix to a broken bone in his ankle and it feels like their Super Bowl hopes go out the window. How did you come away feeling about that game?

Eric Fulton: You hate to see a really good game, especially in the playoffs, when it is decided by the officials, and for the Buffalo Bills and their fans, they have seen way too much heartbreak in the postseason, and now you can add today's game to that list. On the Denver side, you have to feel awful for Bo Nix. What looked like a harmless play probably cost them a trip to the Super Bowl, depending on who their opponent in the AFC Championship will be, but you also feel heartbroken for Nix.

JS: So, the second divisional game on Saturday between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers was so unwatchable that I gave up on it before the first quarter was over. The Seahawks trounced San Francisco 41-6. Was San Fran just too injured to compete, or was Seattle just this good either way?

EF: I could say that both of these things are true. The 49ers had a great season despite all the injuries. But I feel right now, as we get closer to the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks are the best team remaining in these playoffs.

JS: The New England Patriots are heading to the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos after defeating the Houston Texans 28-16 in an ugly, turnover-filled game. Texans quarterback CJ Stroud threw four interceptions and was sacked three times. Have you ever seen a worse playoff performance?

EF: CJ Stroud's performance was not great at all. I thought he would develop into a great quarterback when he was drafted first overall. But the one thing I keep thinking about is when you look at the development at a place like Ohio State, they have had great players come through that program. However, they have never developed a great quarterback. Most of them have been busts. I am not saying Stroud will finish his career as a bust, but he knows, and we all know he has to be much better than that performance against the Patriots.

JS: The divisional round began with an OT thriller with the Broncos defeating the Bills and ended with an OT thriller with the Los Angeles Rams defeating the Chicago Bears, after Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a miraculous play to get the Bears to OT. Did Rams/Bears wind up being the game of the weekend?

EF: To me, this was the best game of the weekend because these two teams are very good. It lived up to expectations. The Bears are for real and should be able to get better under Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. The Rams are scary good, and they will give Seattle everything they can handle next week.

JS: At least we should have one good championship game with the inner-division rivals Seahawks and Rams, because with Bo Nix's injury, the AFC title game feels like it could be a cake walk for the Patriots.

EF: I would not say it will be a cake walk for the Patriots against the Broncos. Drake Maye has to play much better than he did against the Texans. I know he was not the worst quarterback the whole weekend. But going to Denver and that tough environment will not be easy for Maye.

JS: Which player was your MVP for the Divisional Round?

EF: MVP for the Divisional round for me is Kenneth Walker III. He had 22 touches for 145 total yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't used much during the regular season, but he was huge in the Seahawks' blowout win.

JS: The AFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 25, has the New England Patriots traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos. That game will air on CBS and Paramount+ at 2 p.m. (CST). How do you see this one playing out, Eric?

EF: I don't know if we have seen a possible disappointment matchup in a conference title game than this one. The only reason I would say that is that Bo Nix will not be available to play this game. This should be a low-scoring game for sure, as both defenses are very good. If the Broncos can pull off this win with a backup quarterback who really hasn't had a major moment, it would be one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. But I am taking the Patriots to win and go to the Super Bowl.

JS: Yeah, this could've been a really fun matchup if it hadn't been for the ankle injury to Nix. As it is, it's a game I don't have much interest in. I think it's just too much to ask of Jarrett Stidham to come in and send the team to the Super Bowl. Pats for the win.

The NFC Championship game will feature the Los Angeles Rams traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks. That game will be on Fox at 5:30 p.m. (CST. These teams played each other twice this season as NFC West rivals, and they split the series 1-1 in two games that were about as close as games can be. The Rams won 21-19 in mid-November, and the Seahawks won in overtime 38-37 in mid-December. How do you see the third matchup playing out?

EF: I believe that this game will probably be better than the Super Bowl, as these two teams are very good. I like both teams, but there is something about Seattle that plays really well, especially at home. This is the hardest game of all of the playoff matchups to pick. I am going with the home team and the home field advantage they have in Seattle.

JS: This is such a hard game for me to predict because of how even the two games between these teams were during the season. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have been here before, though, whereas Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald have not. That might mean something. I'll take the Rams to make things interesting.