AFC Divisional Round Recap
New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans
Final Score 34–16
Don’t let the final score fool you, the game was actually close (don’t ask me how). Tom Brady, in his seventh straight divisional round playoff game, was cruising in the first quarter with a quick 2 play touchdown pass to Dion Lewis for 13 yarder. The Texans then had a 14 play drive only to finish with 33 yard field goal from Nick Novak which they felt good about until… A few seconds later, Dion Lewis returned a kickoff return for 98 yards.
The Texans, now down, 14–3 picked up their game in the second quarter. They intercepted Brady (only his 3rd of the season 😱) and got 18 yards on 6 plays only to end up with a 27 yard field goal. But they didn’t have to wait long to get the ball back- 7 seconds later they force Lewis to fumble. Two plays later Brock Osweiler threw a touchdown to C.J. Fiedorowicz. The score is 14–13 (who the fuck ever thought this would be a close game)!!!!! The Patriots finished the quarter with a field goal to bring the score at half to 17–13! The Patriots must have felt embarrassed because after the half they picked their game up significantly. Tom Brady threw a 19 yard touchdown to James White on a drive that went 90 yards in only 9 plays. Then we saw the real Osweiler. He threw 3 picks in the half. One led to a punt, one led to a Lewis 1 yard rushing touchdown (first player ever to have a running, catching and returning touchdown in a playoff game), and the other just gave the Patriots the win.
This game was just a warm up for the Patriots. The Texans never really had a chance against them and everyone in the world knew it (even the Texans). I don’t even know what’s more embarrassing: allowing a kick return for a touchdown or throwing 3 interceptions to an OK defense? The Texans do have the talent to compete but with Brock Osweiler playing like a pile of manure this team won’t get far, unless J.J. Watt plays like a God next year. The Patriots will always be great with Darth Vader and the Emperor controlling the team. Can they beat the Steelers next week? Maybe. But stopping Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell will be very very, very tough.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Final Score: 18–16
Well to start things off: HOLY SHIT! This game was just a.m.a.z.i.n.g. The game set a primetime playoff watched record of 21.9. This game did not disappoint despite including only one touchdown, scored by the losing team, and a bunch of field goals (7). Le’veon Bell went OFF! He had 170 yards on 30 carries, that 5.7 yards per carry! He is about to get PAID. Even though the Steelers didn’t score a touchdown their passing game was very effective, captained, as always, by Antonio Brown who caught a 52 yard pass in the first quarter which brought them within one point. Jesse James had the game of his life and looked like Heath Miller. He had 5 catches for 83 yards and many of them led to field goals. Chiefs did have a lead when they ran a fantastic play-action fake that led to an Albert Wilson 5 yard reception for a touchdown. But that didn’t last long because the Steelers kept getting field goals. The game even got feisty when Travis Kelce got a 15 yard penalty (which was hilarious) for pushing Ross Cockrell to the floor for no apparent reason. He was still frustrated from two plays before when he dropped an easy pass that would have put the Chiefs in the red zone. Then came the drive of the day, with the Steelers up 18–10, the Chiefs only needed a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to tie the game. Alex Smith led a fantastic 13 play for 75 yard drive, which ended with Spencer Ware 1 yard rushing touchdown. Then came the biggest play of the game: the 2-point conversion. Alex Smith threw a great pass to Demetrius Harris to tie the game at 18…….NOPE, it was called back because of a holding call on the former first overall pick Eric Fischer.
So they had to go for 2 again on the 12 yard line. And of course they didn’t get it. With one timeout, the Chiefs still have a chance to save the game IF (and thats a big if) they stop the Steelers from getting a first down. On first down the Steelers ran for 2 yards and the clock stopped. On second down the Steelers risked a pass and got 5 yards and the clock stopped at the two minute warning. On third down Big Ben, with great protection, completed a pass to Antonio Brown (who else?) which sealed the game for the Steelers.
The Chiefs just can’t win in the playoffs. After an amazing season, 12–4, being the 2 seed and getting a first round by, we saw the classic Chiefs. A team that struggles in the playoffs. The Steelers shut down the big play makers on the Chiefs in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs don’t have a great team on paper but they play very well together. There isn’t much to fix on their team except finding another receiver to put on the other side of Maclin. The bright side of this is next year they get Jamaal Charles and Derrick Johnson back and they should once again be a dynamic team. But the question remains: can they ever get over the hump? While the Chiefs are at home sitting on their couches, the Steelers and their talented offense will travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the Mighty Patriots. Can the Steelers weak secondary stop Tom Brady? Probably not, but they can match fire with fire with their own offense. This matchup could go down as one of the greatest of all-time.
