Teams Race to the Super Bowl

Teams battle for the chance to acquire the Lombardi trophy. Photography by Austin Kirk [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Lucas Dimler, Reporter
January 17, 2019

The National Football League (NFL) playoff race is heating up in the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC).

According to ESPN, the teams in the AFC playoffs include the high flying passing attack Kansas City Chiefs, sitting with a record of 12-4 and a first round bye.

The New England Patriots are also making a playoff run with the greatest head coach quarterback duo of all-time: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

The quarterback of the Patriots is Tom Brady. Photograph by Jeffrey Beall [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Together, they sit with a record of 11-5 and a first round bye as well.

Starting the season with an 0-3 starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Texans have a tough physical defense that has led to a winning streak. They won the division with a record of 11-5, and their elimination game was against the Colts.

In addition, the Colts leader quarterback Andrew Luck had a big game to push his team past the Texans.

The results of the Colts and Texans game was a big Colts first half of scoring 21 unanswered points which was too much for the Texans, and the Texans lost 7-21.

Also, the Ravens made the playoffs, and the Ravens have been on a tear with the recent move to make Lamar Jackson starting quarterback.

The Ravens have been gashing teams in the running game, keeping offenses confused and frustrated with the number one defense in the league.

The Ravens first elimination game was against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Recently, the Ravens beat the Chargers in a regular season game, but this time around the Chargers won, 23-17.

The results of the Chargers and Ravens game was the Chargers mainly dominated the whole game with getting four fumbles, and an interception.

Also, the main reason the Chargers won is they have a quarterback advantage with the more experienced and better overall quarterback Philip Rivers.

The Chargers lead the NFL in total efficiency on the road with a record of 7-1.

In the NFC, the two teams with first round byes are the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams with both teams looking very impressive throughout the season and making some big playoff runs.

Then there is the Chicago Bears who have been hotter than a firecracker this season with the Bears new coach, offense-minded Matt Nagy, and the Bears impressive defense led by the destructive force Khalil Mack.

The Bears’ first elimination game was against the reigning Super Bowl Champion, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The result of the Bears and Eagles game was a shocker when late in the game the Bears were down one. Mitch Trubisky drove Chicago down the field to put his team into the field goal range. The first kick attempt was good, but the Eagles coach called a timeout and iced the kicker. Cody Parkey’s second kick attempt was no good.

The ball hit off the upright and the crossbar, leaving everyone in Chicago shocked and in disbelief when the Bears lost 15-16.

Another team division leader is the Dallas Cowboys who have been scorching hot lately on offense.

Their first elimination game was against the Seattle Seahawks.

This was a great matchup because both are so powerful in the run game.

The Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott lead the NFL in rushing yards with 1,434 yards this season.

The Seahawks lead the NFL in rushing yards per game with 160 yards per game.

The Cowboys won this game, 24-22, in a tight one because they were at home and had the better running game.

The game came down to which quarterback made the bigger play, and that was Dak Prescott. Late in the fourth quarter on third and 14, Dak made a great play running for 16 yards and a touchdown sealing the game.

The next games coming up are the divisional round playoffs.

The Colts and Chiefs squared off in a fun battle.

The Chiefs won this game in dominating fashion, 31-13.

The quarterback of the Chiefs is Patrick Mahomes. Photograph by Jeffrey Beall [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Next up in the AFC is the Chargers versus Patriots, and the Patriots won this game with ease, 41-28, moving on to the AFC championship game for the eighth straight time.

Also, the Saints beat the Eagles on Jan. 13, 20-14, this time around.

The quarterback of the Saints is Drew Brees. Photograph by Keith Allison [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
 Also, the most enticing matchup is between the Cowboys and Rams.

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys went up against the Rams in a fun high flying passing attack type of game. According to USA today, the Rams recent struggles have been that their offense is just slowing down ever since their explosive regular season game with the Chiefs and the Rams winning 54-51. The Rams are slowing down in statistical categories like Jared Goff throwing 7 interceptions combined in two games.

The Rams Recent struggles did not matter as they beat the Cowboys 30-22.

Next up are the championship games. First  the AFC championship game between Chiefs and Patriots occurs on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 6:40 p.m. This matchup is one for the ages because  the young breakout superstar Patrick Mahomes goes up against the 41 year old icon Tom Brady.

Tom Brady is going to head to  another Super Bowl by beating the Chiefs in a very close game.

Next up is the Rams versus the Saints on Saturday, Jan. 19.

This time the Rams will keep it closer, but the Saints will get the victory because Drew Brees at home will be too much for the Rams.