By: Nick LaPorte, 1/6/2020
With each of the 4 Wild Card matchups decided by 1 score, and 2 games won in overtime, the 2020s are off to a roaring start with competitive, intensely watchable NFL playoff games. Longtime contenders like the Patriots and Saints fell, each to their conference’s 6-seed. And the 4/5 matchups provided more ridiculous coaching decisions, some signature moments for MVP-level QBs, and a chance for the field-goal kickers to show off their legs. Before we head in to Divisional Round matchups, let’s run down what we learned from this year’s Wild Card weekend.
1. Deshaun Watson is Calm and Cool
In the early Saturday game, the Texans hosted the Bills in a… very weird matchup. The Texans trailed 13-0 at half, and nearly handed the Bills more points on the 2nd half kickoff before common sense prevailed. At any rate, the Texans didn’t play great for 3 quarters period, but their defense held the Bills to FG’s for the majority of the game, and that was what allowed Deshaun Watson to make another late comeback materialize. Watson led the Texans down late and tossed a TD to Carlos Hyde, giving Houston a 19-16 lead. Josh Allen was sacked twice to knock the Bills out of FG range late, but they were able to get the ball back and kick a last-second FG to send it to OT at 19-19.
After a pair of possessions that didn’t lead to any points, the Texans were able to find just enough room to get into field goal range thanks to Watson’s heroic scramble on 3rd down. Facing pressure from each side, Watson absorbed both hits and stayed up, before rolling right and finding a check down that led them to field-goal range. On a day where coaches and quarterbacks were losing their minds under pressure, Watson echoed his National Championship performance by leading his team down late to win at the last moment. Watson is as calm under pressure as any elite QB, and while the Texans team may be less talented than Baltimore or Kansas City, Watson makes you feel like you have a chance. And that’s about all you can ask from your QB.
2. What’s Next for Tom Brady?
After a 20-13 loss at home to the Titans, the future is murky for Tom Brady and the Patriots. It’s no secret Brady was frustrated with the lack of talent on offense this year; their passing game was comprised of Julian Edelman in a hospital bed, a couple of rookies that tried their best to lead the league in drops, James White maybe 3 times a game, and the worst TE group in football. Brady also isn’t the only free agent; the Pats have 20 other players, primarily on their elite defense, that are due for a contract. Bill Belichick will have to find a way to keep that defense paid, add some players in the front-7, revamp their passing game and offensive line, and keep Brady at a market-level deal. A few weeks ago the notion that Brady would leave New England was laughable, but now it looks a little more possible.
The Bears make some sense, with their staunch defense and decent receiving corps. The Bears would have to bench Mitch Trubisky to sign Brady, but that’s probably a good thing if you ask me. Chicago is also a fairly strong market, which is something we have to mention even though in 2020 no one cares if you’re in a big market in the NFL (but for some reason NBA player all want NY or LA. Hey guys, Aaron Rodgers plays in Green Bay, Wisconsin and his personal brand is better than anyone this side of Lebron James. Newsflash: you don’t need a big market to make money!). Anyway, the Bears seem loaded, with a championship window wide open. Brady would instantly make them NFC contenders next year.
Another potential landing spot is the LA Chargers, who have the kind of offense Brady would love to play in. RBs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are both 1,500-level all-purpose Yard guys, and WR Keenan Allen is the best wideout Brady would have played with since Randy Moss in 2007. Not to mention they have Hunter Henry, a big-bodied TE in the mold of Rob Gronkowski which is, and I don’t say this lightly, Brady’s absolute favorite weapon. Beyond that, you have the Raiders, Browns, Titans, Broncos, and Colts that all make some sense, but really it doesn’t seem likely that Brady will leave. The Patriots won 12 games this year and had an elite defense, they’re a good draft and 1-2 signings/trades from being Super Bowl contenders again.
3. Another disappointment for the Saints
Since 2009, the Saints have played in a lot of playoff games. That year, if you recall, Brees and the Saints went 3-0, and beat Peyton Manning’s Colts to win Brees his only Super Bowl ring to date. Outside that playoff run, Brees is 5-8 in his playoff career, and for the last 3 seasons the Saints have lost on the final play of the game, not to mention their last 6 playoff losses are all by one score. They won the big one just 10 years ago, so while their fanbase isn’t Browns/Lions/Bills/etc. level tortured, it must suck to see Brees be so good year after year and still come up short. Brees, and Brady who I mentioned earlier, are part of the old guard at QB. Both in their 40s now, the end is coming soon enough. Brady will be 43 come August, and Brees will turn 41 before next year’s playoffs. The two of them have made their case in history as two of the best to ever do it, but the end is coming.
As we saw this weekend, some of the young QBs look ready to take over the league. In the AFC, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, and Lamar Jackson look like the future of the position (with the possibility that Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, or others could join them). In the NFC, while you still have Aaron Rodgers (another old guy that may be leaving soon), you have Russel Wilson, Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Jimmy Garoppolo, and a few other potential great ones. The QB position is absolutely stacked in the NFL right now, and for the first time in a long, long time, the old guys look vulnerable. Look no further than the AFC: we are guaranteed to see either Mahomes, Jackson, Watson, or Ryan Tannehill in the Super Bowl. The last time we saw someone besides Brady, Manning, or Big Ben Roethlesberger was 2012 (Joe Flacco), and before that it wasn’t since that Raiders vs. Buccaneers Super Bowl. In other words, it’s out with the old and in with the new.
I’ll write more on the upcoming divisional round later this week. For now let’s continue to speculate on Brady’s future, congratulate the Cowboys on finally firing Jason Garrett, and marvel at the fact that Ryan Tannehill is the second QB to knock the Patriots out in the Wild Card round while throwing <100 passing yards (Joe Flacco did it in 2009 with <40. Playoffs can be weird sometimes).
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