Was This One of the Best Football Weekends Ever?
Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (#10) with the San Francisco 49ers in the huddle during a game in 2019. Photo by AlexanderJonesi via wikimedia commons
It’s Monday morning michelada time San Francisco and “I don’t know what I’ve been told, but San Francisco’s going to the Supe…..” Not quite yet, but they did get one step closer. As did those pretty kids in the tiger stripes from Cincinnati, along with the Kansas Chiefs, in what might be the game of the year. And last but not least, those billy goats from the south, the Rams, who will face the 49ers next Sunday at 3:30 in San Francisco South’s Sofi Stadium. What a wild weekend all but three games were decided by 3 points and game winning field goals with the fourth and final being decided in overtime. There is a lot to unpack here so let’s dig in.
Bengals vs. Titans
Saturday kicked off the divisional round weekend with the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the number one seed Tennessee Titans who had Derrik Henry, a bowling ball in shoulder pads, back from injury. That was not going to be enough as Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase were once again up to their normal shenanigans, connecting on 5 passes for 109 yards. But hold up, with time running down in the third, Ryan Tannenhill connected with A.J. Brown for a 41 yard “I can’t believe he caught that” game tying touchdown. It was all for not as a late Tennessee drive was halted by a “should have been caught” deflection that landed in the arms of Cincy linebacker Logan Wilson, setting up Money McPherson’s game winning 52 yard field goal as time expired. Did you know they are calling Burrow and Chase the Montana to Rice connection of the future? Pump your breaks Queen City. 19-16 Bengals.
Rams vs Buccaneers
Down in Florida the Ram’s were taking on the most hated man outside of San Mateo and New England: Tom Brady and the Bucs. The Rams were dominating this game up 20-3 at the half. Then after a few touchdowns Brady connected with receiver Mike Evans on a 55 yard in stride strike for a touchdown, burning Jalen Ramsey with 3 and some change on the clock, making it a one score game at 27-20. With 2:26 remaining, the Rams were attempting to run time off of the clock when running back Cam Ackers fumbled the football on their own thirty giving Brady another shot. After a few plays and some poor tackling by LA, Leonard Fournette found himself in the end zone on a right side sweep. The Rams and Stafford however would have the last laugh as Stafford hit Cooper Kupp down the middle setting up a, you guessed it, game winning field goal. 30-27 Rams
Bills vs. Chiefs
The game of the year was played in Kansas City as the Bills took on the Chiefs at Arrowhead. On my left at Crestas 2211 Club was my buddy Joe who needed the Chiefs by 4 to complete his 3 team parlay, and on my phone was my ever stressed best friend in upstate New York. I’ll skip the details on all the scoring but if you had the over, good on you. Fast forward and buckle up, we’re in for a wild one.
With the score 21-26 in favor of the Chiefs with 1:56 to go, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen hit Gabriel Davis on a 27 yard touchdown pass making it 27-26. The Bills elected to go for two and Allen found Stefon Diggs in the back of the end zone, making it a 3 point game. 29-26 Bills. Happy best friend and a very sullen looking Joe.
With 1:04 left, Pattrick Mahomes found the slipperiest man in football, Tyreek Hill, short over the middle in which he broke multiple tackles and turned on the jets for a 64 yard go ahead touchdown and the 4 points Joe was looking for. “But but but wait it gets worse.” 6 plays and 49 seconds later Josh Allen once again found Gabriel Davis for the touchdown putting the Bills up 36-33 with 13 seconds remaining. We’re done right? Not yet Jack. After 3 quick plays and poor defense by the Bills, Harrison Butker trotted out to drill a 49 yard game tying field goal to force, in my best Chris Berman voice, “overtime.” The Chiefs won the old game of heads or tails and that was about it for the Bills but wait Joe still needs 4 points to complete his parlay. 8 plays and 6 minutes later Mahomes found Kelce for the final, final touchdown of the game. Chiefs win 36-42 and for those counting at home 6 is better than 4, drinks on Joe.
49ers vs. Packers
If you were like me and working Saturday night all praise be to you, what a shit show. At 14 degrees and what the 100,000 folks of Green Bay, Wisconsin call a beach day, the 49ers rolled into Lambeau Field to take on the NFC favorite Packers. Let’s be honest there was not a whole lot of offense to report on with the lone score of the first half coming on an AJ Dillon run for a Packers touchdown. The Niners got on the board midway through the 3rd on which pretty much sums up the game, a 10 play whopping 39 yard drive that managed to eat up 7 minutes of clock for a Robbie Gould 29 yarder. More on him later. Mason Crosby answered back with a field goal of his own giving the Pack a 10-3 lead.
Then it happened. If you were anywhere within city limits or Sebastopol for that matter you for sure heard the roar. With Green Bay punting from their own 19, defensive lineman Jordan Willis blew up the middle and got a hand on the ball allowing Talanoa Hufanga to scoop it up and run it in for a game tying miracle of a touchdown. The 49ers D, which was there all night, held Aaron Rodgers and the Pack to a quick and much needed 3 and out. Time to run it back to my man Robbie Gould. After a 9 play 44 yard drive by Jimmy G and the gang, Robbie stepped up to kick that block of cement called a football 44 yards straight through the uprights for yet the savoriest game winner of them all. Bring on the Rams 13-10 Niner gang.
So the real question is, where is everybody watching next weekend? Shout out your neighborhood wateringhole in the comments, I got the day off let’s rip!
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