The Divisional Round of the National Football League Playoffs was both exhilarating and heartbreaking.

AFC Divisional Round at Buffalo

Bills 27, Ravens 25

The Ravens’ faithful’s patience is being wearing thin. The Lamar Jackson/John Harbaugh tenure is being questioned once again, as the Ravens fans are thinking and saying, “Can these two guys ever get it done?” But it was a spectacular contest with elite play from both Buffalo and Baltimore. The Bills were just a little better, and the Ravens turned the ball over three times, two of those turnovers resulted in a touchdown and a field goal, respectively. Lamar threw an interception and added a fumble that was converted into a TD. The usually reliable tight end Mark Andrews fumbled after a nice gain on a pass play late in the game, which led to a Bills’ field goal that put them up 27-25. And after Jackson threw for a TD with a minute and a half left to cut the deficit to 27-25, he rolled to his right and threw what looked like the game tying two point conversion pass. But Andrews shockingly dropped it. Reminded me of Bill Buckner in the 1986 World Series versus the Mets letting the third out roll right through his legs at first base giving the Mets life in the World Series in game six. If Buckner makes that play the Red Sox win the World Series. The Mets won in 7. He was a great player, but will be remembered for that mostly. If the Ravens never win a Super Bowl that play will haunt Andrews for the rest of his life. This is one of the elite tight ends in the NFL. It’s inexplicable. To his defense, it was a slick ball due to the snow in Buffalo. But the Bills didn’t drop key passes. And The Bills didn’t turn it over and won the game because of that. Josh Allen is a machine. The Bills quarterback is unstoppable with his arm and his legs. John Harbaugh has to shoulder part of the blame as well. After the Ravens scored a TD late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-19, Harbaugh decided to go for two and tie it. I like kicking there. The analytics say go for two, but I say a coach needs to use his common sense. You don’t need to go for two in the third quarter. Bama Golf brought that up about Steve Sarkisian after he went for it in the first half at fourth and four instead of kicking a field goal against Ohio State in the semis. These supposedly “elite” coaches don’t use common sense and it cost both their respective teams the games. So when the Bills kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter to gu up 27-19, the Ravens had to score and convert the two point try on their possession. They got the TD, but Andrews didn’t come through. That’s on Harbaugh in my opinion. The Bills move on to Kansas City next Sunday, while the Ravens try to figure out if they’re ever going to get over the top with Harbaugh, Lamar and company. Harbaugh has the 2012 Lombardi Trophy on his resume, but Baltimore natives have to be getting tired of this.

Chiefs 23, Texans 14 @ KC

The Chiefs look unbeatable at Arrowhead. Patrick Mahomes was 16 of 25 for 177 and a 7; not superb, but good enough. Travis Kelce with the ever present Swiftie in attendance (extremely tired of that like Bama and Derrick and many others are), caught 7 passes for 117 yards and a 7. He and their stellar defense were the difference. Can the Chiefs be defeated at home? It looks almost impossible.

Sunday, 1/26/25

AFC Conference Championship Game

Bills (15-4, 5-4 Away) @ Chiefs (16-2, 9-0 Home)

5:30 PM CT

CBS

Chiefs by 2

NFC Divisional Round

@Detroit

Commanders 45, Lions 31

This looked like it could be the Lions year to break through and win their first Super Bowl since the inception of the game in the 1966 season, when Vince Lombardi and the Packers won the first of their two consecutive Super Bowls. Lombardi didn’t have any trouble with it like the Lions and the Ravens do. Jayden Daniels was superb completing 22 of 31 for 299, for 2 TDs and 0 ints. His rating was 122.9, which is excellent. 158.3 is perfect, and anything above 120 is terrific. Daniels has ice packs in his veins. Just a cool customer, a completely confident player and a total winner as a rookie quarterback in the National Football League. Brian Robinson Jr. from? the University of Alabama, rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries and added 2 TDs. It was a tremendous effort from an organization that has been down for so long since the glory days of Joe Gibbs. With my favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals, boasting the best record in the National Hockey League through 46 games this season and their “Great 8,” Alex Ovechkin, 21 goals from breaking Wayne Gretsky’s, “the Great One’s” all time goals scored record—Gretsky finished his career with 894 and Ovechkin is now at 874, just 21 shy of breaking the record—these are exciting times in the nation’s capital; at least in sports. The Commanders have a tough assignment coming up, but I don’t put anything past Daniels.

@ Philly

Eagles 28, Rams 22

This was actually a pretty slow game until the fourth quarter. Then it got electric with the Rams having the ball and driving in to win it before Matthew Stafford was unable to complete his final two passes on third and fourth down thanks to the pass rush led by the Eagles’ great defensive tackle, Jalen Carter, from Georgia. Saquon Barkley is a phenom of phenoms. He rushed for 205 yards and two TDs, including a 78 yard house call that you just don’t see much in the NFL really ever except for Saquon and Derrick Henry. The Eagles held off the Rams in a classic. Saquon has a strong argument for MVP of the National Football League. The guy ran for 2,005 yards and 13 TDs this season and sat out the final game or he might have broken Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 record for a regular season. Of course, that would be in 17 games for Saquon versus 16 for Dickerson. Still, what a tremendous season by Barkley. The 50 voters vote at the end of the regular season before the playoffs start, but I wish they would wait until after the playoffs. Lamar threw for 41 TDs and 4 ints, and rushed for over 1,000 yards, which is very strong. And Josh Allen threw for 28 TDs and rushed for 12 more TDs, so both of those guys have good arguments. But can you project at least what will happen in the playoffs and understand that Lamar is going to gag, and Allen has to go to Kansas City, and that Saquon and the Eagles are outstanding? His talent, his work ethic and his humility are beyond reproach. Give me Saquon as my MVP. Lamar will probably win it, but Saquon may be playing for the ultimate award; the Lombardi Trophy.

Sunday, 1/26/25

Commanders (14-5, 7-3 Away) @ Eagles (16-3, 10-1 Home)

2 PM

FOX

Eagles by 5 1/2

Predictions coming up later this week Thursday or Saturday-paraphrasing Elvis Costello’s song, “Clubland,” in which he says, “Thursdays and Saturdays, money’s gone already.” Hope the Due Rights and the Bush Hogs don’t find this the case on Saturday for those who want to get out in colder weather and give it a whirl. The Due Rights and the Bush Hogs will need a couple of layers that day and some will need their wallets loaded up.

National Championship Prediction

Notre Dame (14-1) vs. Ohio State (13-2)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 75,000

6:30 PM CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Holly, Molly

Yella: SEC, Steve “Christopher” Marlowe. Christopher Marlowe was a 16th century playwright and poet who had a major influence on William Shakespeare. That’s my English/History tidbit for the day.

Buckeyes by 9

I just think the offensive arsenal of Ohio State and that defense that leads the country in scoring D at 12.1- although the Fighting Irish also have a tough defense and good running game–is too much for Notre Dame. I wish I could pick Marcus Freeman and the Irish. They are so likeable now, unlike Notre Dame teams of the past. But this unlikeable Ohio State team is loaded. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is once again saying to the media that he can’t be stopped in man to man coverage. He was wrong against Texas; they neutralized him. He finished with one reception for three yards. The Longhorns couldn’t stop Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Will Howard and Emeka Egbuka however, and the pass rushing tandem of JT Tuimoloau (11 1/2 sacks) and Jack Sawyer (9 sacks) was unstoppable as well. Maybe this is deception by Smith, so Notre Dame will concentrate on him. Maybe a little sandbagging. The great Caleb Downs is the X factor for the Buckeyes. The former University of Alabama safety is the leader on the Buckeyes defense, along with Sawyer, and makes key play after key play. Man, Nick Saban could really recruit. Look at the NFL. Kalen DeBoar has his work cut out for him this upcoming season. He didn’t take advantage of the talent that was given to him by Saban in 2024. He’ll have several Saban players back in 2025 and has added an excellent 2025 recruiting class, so he’ll be more under the radar in 2025.

Twenty-twenty five is a crucial year for Hugh as well. His recruiting was excellent. He landed 10 of the top 12 players in Alabama for 2025, and he also landed quarterback Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma, and today added quarterback Ashton Daniels from Stanford. Both are talented. So the pressure will mount for Hugh in 2025. He must produce. I think he will, actually. I know Alabama fans hope DeBoar will too. He needs to

Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 14