by Ryan Mercier
This Time is Different for the Packers
One year ago, the 13-3 Green Bay Packers’ trip to the NFC title game felt doomed before it began. This season, the 13-3 Packers are a completely different team, ready to make a real Super Bowl run.
Against the league’s No. 1 ranked defense in the L.A. Rams, Green Bay put up 32 points with nearly 500 yards and 28 first downs. This year’s clear MVP, Aaron Rodgers, slowly took what he could all day but also hit a 58-yard TD bomb to Allen Lazard. It was the ground game, however, that made for a truly lethal combo. Led by Aaron Jones with sidekicks Jamaal Williams and rookie AJ Dillon, the Packers rumbled for 188 yards on the ground at 5.2 yards per pop.
The Rams fought hard and even the injured, much-maligned QB Jared Goff was getting it done most of the day. While Los Angeles may have the best D, do not confuse this unit with greats like the Broncos (2015), Seahawks (2013), or even more recently the Bears (2018) or Jaguars (2017). It was a good unit fit to be the best in 2020, where defense was hard to find.
Green Bay’s running game bodes well for a chance to earn another Lombardi trophy. The running defense, however, may be the Achilles heel.
Buffalo Bills Back in the AFC Championship
Alright, that game is not going to be seen on ESPN Classic. With a lot of built up excitement, the juicy matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Bills was a total dud. For the great fans of Buffalo, though, a 17-3 snoozer never felt so good. The Bills are now one win away from the Super Bowl, words which have not been uttered since the 1993 season.
Don’t be mistaken, a game with great energy and hard fought defense can still be fantastic even with a low score. This was not one of those games. A windy day saw many missed throws, fumbles and TWO (!) missed kicks by Justin Tucker of all people. The Bills were outgained by the Ravens 340 to 220 in total yards and Baltimore’s offense looked far from smooth. The key play in the game was a 101-yard pick six by Buffalo’s Taron Johnson off of a regrettable red zone throw from Lamar Jackson.
Buffalo does not run the ball. It’s weird. Excluding kneel downs, the Bills ran the ball 13 times in the entire game. Josh Allen had a great season, but let’s slow down on the Patrick Mahomes comparisons. Running the ball so little can work in today’s game, but not if the offense only produces 10 points.
The Bills are not exactly surging toward championship glory. Still, this is time for celebration for their loyal fans.
Struggling Actor Sports 