Bucs, Chiefs Advance To Super Bowl LV

Tom Brady is going to his 10th Super Bowl.

 The old pro and the new "face of the NFL" will square off in Super Bowl  LV in Tampa, Florida in two weeks. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes helped lead their teams to victory in the conference championship games on Sunday. 

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Green Bay Packers, 31-26 to win the NFC title while the Kansas City Chiefs crushed the Buffalo Bills, 38-24 in the AFC Championship Game. The two teams met back in Week 12 in Tampa Bay and the Chiefs won that game, 27-24. This time it will be for all the marbles as the Chiefs seek to become the first repeat champion in the Super Bowl since Brady and the New England Patriots won back-to-back titles back in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Both Brady and Mahomes have been the winning quarterbacks in the last two Super Bowls as well. 

 

TAMPA BAY 31, GREEN BAY 26 - The Buccaneers made it three consecutive road wins this post-season as Brady had three touchdown passes along with three interceptions and running back Leonard Fournette (12 carries, 55 rushing yards) added a 20-yard touchdown run to help provide the final outcome. On the other end, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw for three scores and had one interception and was sacked five times, but it was a decision by Green Bay Head Coach Greg LaFleur with his team trailing, 31-23 to kick a 26-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining in the game rather than trying to score on fourth-and-goal from the Bucs' eight-yard line. 

Tampa Bay got the ball back and was able to run out the game clock and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. The Buccaneers will be the first team in the history of the Super Bowl to play in the game in their home stadium. The Bucs defense came up big with two three-and-out stops after Brady's interceptions in the second half. Linebacker Shaq Barrett had three of the five sacks for the Buccaneers. In addition, Tampa Bay scored 14 points off two Green Bay turnovers, including a 39-yard TD pass from Brady to wide receiver Scotty Miller with just one second left in the first half, which gave the Buccaneers a 21-10 halftime lead.

KANSAS CITY 38, BUFFALO 24 - In Kansas City, the Chiefs routed the Buffalo Bills, 38-24 with QB Patrick Mahomes passing for three touchdowns and 325 yards while running backs Darrel Williams (13 carries, 52 rushing yards) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire each had a rushing touchdown. Two of Mahomes' scoring passes went to tight end Travis Kelce, who had 13 receptions for 118 yards in the win.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes celebrates another AFC crown.

The Bills raced out to a 9-0 lead thanks to the first of two 51-yard field goals by kicker Tyler Bass and then scored on a three-yard TD pass from QB Josh Allen (287 passing yards, two TD, one INT) to tight end Dawson Knox following a fumbled punt return by the Chiefs Mecole Hardman, who also had a TD reception later in the game. From there, the Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points and led 21-12 at the half before building a 38-15 lead in the fourth quarter.

 

Hank Aaron - RIP To A Baseball Legend

Hank Aaron, an absolute baseball legend, has died. 

Henry "Hank" Aaron was 86 years old and he is still revered by many as the all time home run king of Major League Baseball with 755 dingers. 

On April 8, 1974, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all time home run record of 714 when he cracked his 715th home run off Dodgers pitcher Al Downing in the Atlanta Braves first home game that season. He obviously became a first ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee in Cooperstown, NY after his retirement. 

RIP Hank. 

 

NFL Playoffs - AFC and NFC Championship Game Previews

It is down to just four teams in the NFL Playoffs for the 2020 season and this Sunday, the winners of the AFC and NFC Championship games move along to Super Bowl LV on February 7th in Tampa, Florida. The following provides a brief look at each conference championship game and the predictions for the winners of the games. 

 

 

 

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -  Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers 

The Buccaneers knocked off the New Orleans Saints, 30-20 in the divisional round and will now face the Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay throttled the Los Angeles Rams, 32-18 last week and quarterback Aaron Rodgers sliced and diced the Rams rugged defense while the Packers ground game also had their way in the victory. 

Bucs QB Tom Brady has been playing at his best at the right time and needs to keep it going against a Packers defense that has steadily improved since the beginning of the season. The same can also be said of the Buccaneers defense. Both Brady and Rodgers had two touchdown passes along with a touchdown run in their team's victories last week. 

Many people are pointing out the fact the Bucs crushed Rodgers and the Packers back in Week Six by a 38-10 score as their defense intercepted two Rodgers passes in the rout. That much is true, but it does not mean they can do it again. The regular season game was in Tampa Bay and this time the cold climate of Green Bay, Wisconsin will set a different tone for the game. 

If the Buccaneers can get pressure on Rodgers (five sacks in the Week Six game) and once again disguise their coverages against the pass, they can enjoy success against the highest scoring team in the NFL this past season. But Rodgers is an elite quarterback and it will be tough to fool him again. Odds are this game will be a tight one and will most likely come down to the final possession. Perhaps this one could go into overtime. 

Prediction -  Green Bay 30, Tampa Bay 24  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -  Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs 

The key to this game will be Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes being ready to go as he has been in the league's concussion protocol since leaving last week's 22-17 win against Cleveland in the second half on a legit, but rough tackle while scrambling. Mahomes has been bothered by a foot injury as well, but if he is ready to go, the Chiefs should be able to repeat the success they had against the Bills back in Week Six when they won, 26-17 in Buffalo. 

Since that loss, the Bills have gone 11-1 and quarterback Josh Allen has been just as good as any other QB in pro football. The Bills beat Baltimore, 17-3 last week in the divisional round and their defense was outstanding, limiting the vaunted Ravens running game and knocking out QB Lamar Jackson with a concussion late in the third quarter. If they can limit Mahomes and company this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, they could be on the way to their first Super Bowl appearance in 27 years. 

Slowing down the Chiefs attack is no easy task and the Bills know this. There are simply too many weapons and if rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is able to play, it is just another headache for the Buffalo defense. Both teams have seen steady improvement with their defenses this past season and that will need to continue in this huge game. 

This game could be a high scoring one in Kansas City and whoever has the ball last will go a long way in determining the winner. 

Prediction -  Kansas City 31, Buffalo 28 

 

Last Week's Record -  3-1 

Playoffs Record -  7-3 

 

 

Here We Go America - Onward And Upward

 

Today, Joe Biden is the new President of the United States and Kamala Harris is the new Vice President. 

 

As Biden and Harris, the first ever female VP, take over at the White House, the United States of America is ready to move onward and upward, with or without those who still support the outgoing Donald Trump. 

It's time. 

 

The last four years have been long and tenuous for most Americans as the freak show went on and on, in particular in 2020. But now we have a new start and a fresh beginning and it's time to move on from the past four years of the selfishness that was. 

It's time!

Joe Biden - The 46th President of the United States of America. 

Here we go America - Onward and upward!

God Bless the United States of America!

NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round Review

The AFC and NFC Championship games are set. 

Next Sunday, the Green Bay Packers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC while the Buffalo Bills will travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game. 

 

GREEN BAY 32, L.A. RAMS 18 - Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ran for a touchdown and passed for two more scores along with 296 passing yards to lead the way. Green Bay running back Aaron Jones added 99 yards on the ground and a rushing score as the Packers used a balanced attack (188 rushing and 296 passing) to the tune of 484 total yards in offense against the Rams defense, which was number-one in the NFL this past season. Los Angeles running back Cam Akers had a TD run for the Rams while QB Jared Goff (who was sacked four times) had a touchdown pass in the loss. 

 

BUFFALO 17, BALTIMORE 3 - The Bills defense stifled Ravens QB Lamar Jackson along with the  vaunted ground game and also scored a touchdown when Taron Johnson raced 101 yards with an interception return to put the game away. Jackson was limited to only 34 rushing yards and threw the costly interception before leaving the game in the second half with a concussion. The Bills scored on a three-yard TD pass from QB Josh Allen to wide receiver Stefon Diggs to break a 3-3 tie in the third quarter. It will be Buffalo's first appearance in the AFC title game since the 1993 season.

 

KANSAS CITY 22, CLEVELAND 17 - The Chiefs held off the Browns as reserve QB Chad Henne scrambled to set up a fourth down-and-one yard situation which they converted on a pass play from Henne to WR Tyreek Hill to clinch the win. Kansas led 19-3 at the half behind QB Patrick Mahomes (who left the game in the third quarter with a concussion) with a 20-yard scoring pass to tight end Travis Kelce and a one-yard TD run. Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker made three field goals to help with the victory. 

The Browns had a crucial lost fumble late in the first half as WR Rashard Higgins made a reception but lost the ball at the goal line and it went out of bounds in the end zone for the automatic touchback and turnover. Browns QB Baker Mayfield had a TD pass and RB Kareem Hunt scored on a three-yard run in the second half to help provide the final score. 

 

TAMPA BAY 30, NEW ORLEANS 20 - Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady (pictured at upper right) passed for two touchdowns and 199 yards and also scored on a one-yard run to put the game away with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to send the Buccaneers to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 18 years with the road victory. 

The Bucs defense forced four turnovers on a fumble recovery and intercepted Saints QB Drew Brees three times. Brees and backup QB Jameis Winston each threw a touchdown pass in defeat before the Buccaneers scored the final ten points in the fourth quarter to break a 20-20 deadlock. Tampa Bay kicker Ryan Succop added three field goals to help provide the winning outcome.

 

Saturday's Results 

Green Bay 32, L.A. Rams 18

Buffalo 17, Baltimore 3 

 

Sunday's Results 

Kansas City 22, Cleveland 17 

Tampa Bay 30, New Orleans 20

 

 

 

NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round Preview

 The NFL Playoffs are down to eight teams and the action this weekend features two games on Saturday and Sunday, including the number-one seeds from the AFC and NFC in action. 

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers while the Baltimore Ravens will travel to Buffalo and face the Bills. The Sunday games include the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Cleveland Browns. The final game this weekend will take place Sunday evening in New Orleans with the Saints playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

 

 

Saturday, January 16

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers - The Packers have been rolling hot heading into the playoffs, winning their final six games this season. That Rams defense though will make it tough for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company to simply have it their way.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - Two good teams that haven't lost since November go at it in what could be a snowy evening in Buffalo. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Bills QB Josh Allen should make this game an exciting and close one, which will likely come down to the final possession.

 

Sunday, January 17 

Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs - The Browns have been on a magic carpet ride this season and now they face their toughest foe. The Chiefs, led by QB Patrick Mahomes, will be ready and waiting and should advance to the AFC Championship Game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints - This is the third meeting between these two NFC South division foes and the Saints have rolled in the other two games while their defense intercepted Bucs QB Tom Brady five times during those victories. This should be a great game as Brady and Saints QB Drew Brees finally meet in the post-season. 

The Heftyinfo predictions for the Divisional Round games  . . . . .  (Home teams are listed in bold)

Green Bay over Los Angeles Rams 

Baltimore over Buffalo 

Kansas City over Cleveland 

Tampa Bay over New Orleans 

 

Last Week's Record -  4-2 

Playoffs Record -  4-2 

REGULAR SEASON RECORD -  181-74-1 

Trump - The Sequel

President Donald J. Trump has been impeached yet again. 

But don't say we didn't tell you so.