(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, (1) Green Bay Packers 26
We have been robbed of the “State Farm Bowl,” as QB Aaron Rodgers won’t be playing in the Super Bowl against fellow insurance icon QB Patrick Mahomes. We can thank QB Tom Brady for this, who will be playing in his 10th Super Bowl after taking care of the top-seeded Packers.
Brady, actually, didn’t play all that well, and even gave the Packers multiple opportunities to take the lead. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, Green Bay couldn’t capitalize on opportunities, and frankly, choked the game away.
Tampa Bay’s offense was led by Brady, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns against three interceptions. RB Leonard Fournette led the Bucs’ ground game with 55 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
The star of the Bucs’ receiving corps was without a doubt wide receiver (WR) Chris Godwin, who amassed 110 yards on five receptions. WRs Mike Evans, Scotty Miller and tight end (TE) Cameron Brate all caught touchdown passes.
Defensively, it was linebacker (LB) Devin White’s show, as he once again led the defense with 15 total tackles. The rest of Tampa Bay’s elite front seven also came out to play, as LB Shaquil Barrett (three sacks) and defensive end (DE) Jason Pierre-Paul (two sacks) both managed to take down Green Bay’s signal caller behind the line of scrimmage.
Green Bay’s elite offense fizzled out, though QB Aaron Rodger’s stat line didn’t look that bad. Rodgers completed 33 of 48 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Star RB Aaron Jones failed to get much going, as he led all rushers with 27 yards on six carries.
Rodger’s top receiver wasn’t WR Davantae Adams (67 yards, touchdown, nine receptions) this time around. This time, it was WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who caught four passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, nose tackle Kenny Clark led the way with eight total tackles and a sack. Cornerback (CB) Jaire Alexander (2) and safety Ardian (1) Amos pitched in with three total interceptions.
Green Bay, for the fourth time since 2014, has lost the NFC Championship game. This organization routinely pumps out a winning squad year in and year out, but it seems like they always stumble upon a better squad right when they’re at the precipice of the Super Bowl, whether it be an unfortunate collapse against the Seahawks (2014) or running into a red-hot Falcons (2016) or 49ers (2019) team. Why can’t the Packers get over the hump like they did in 2010? I feel as if the Packers are in the same boat as the Saints at this point (solid team, great offense, lagging defense that holds franchise back).
Packers’ biggest offseason need: DE/LB
(1) Kansas City Chiefs 38, (2) Buffalo Bills 24
The Bills’ incredible season has come to a close, as the Chiefs took care of business in Kansas City and are heading back to the Super Bowl.
For the Bills, QB Josh Allen didn’t perform as well as he had in his last two outings. Allen completed 28 of 48 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Allen also led the run game with 88 yards on seven carries.
Buffalo’s two-headed monster receiving corps of WRs Stefon Diggs (77 yards, six receptions) and Cole Beasley (88 yards, seven receptions) was affective at moving the ball, but not at producing points. TE Dawson Knox and WR Isaiah McKenzie both had touchdown catches. Safety Jordan Poyer led Buffalo’s defense with eight total tackles. Aside from LB Jerry Hughe’s lone sack, Buffalo’s defense couldn’t do much to QB Patrick Mahomes.
For the Chiefs, Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Even KC’s ground game was dominant as RB Darrel Williams (52 yards, 13 carries) and WR Mecole Hardman (50 yards) combined for 102 yards on 14 carries.
Once again, the Chiefs’ receiving corps had an absolute field day. WR Tyreek Hill (172 yards, nine receptions) and TE Travis Kelce (118 yards, 13 receptions, two touchdowns) were unstoppable. Defensively, LB Anthony Hitchens led the squad in tackles with eight total, while safety L’Jarius Sneed and CB Rashad Fenton notched the only sack and interception for KC, respectively.
The Chiefs at this point are inevitable. That offense, led by Mahomes, Kelce and Hill is unmatched by anybody in the league. The Bills simply didn’t have the firepower to keep up with them, despite having a better defense on paper.
There in which lies the only vulnerability for the Chiefs – their middle of the pack defense. If an opposing team’s offense matches up well with the Chiefs’ defense, they may be able to go shot-for-shot with KC. Is Tampa Bay capable for that?
Bills’ biggest offseason need: Defensive line
