Sound Good: 6 Observations From the NFL Divisional Spherical

[ad_1] Soldier Subject (Chicago) — You noticed the Los Angeles Rams edge the Chicago Bears in a thriller and the Seattle Seahawks annihilate the depleted San Francisco 49ers. You noticed the Denver Broncos prevail towards the Buffalo Payments in controversial trend and the New England Patriots outlast the Houston Texans.

You most likely didn’t see Broncos quarterback Bo Nix break his ankle, however you realize by now that it occurred.

So let's attempt to spin it ahead, dive deeper and assume exterior the field about what we witnessed within the divisional spherical of the playoffs. That is "Sound Good," the place we put together you for Monday morning with six observations from the second spherical of the postseason. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent within the NFL’s playoff motion.

1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW Ben Johnson’s message concerning the Bears’ season was spot-on, however his gamers would possibly’ve missed the purpose: They missed a chance.

Given the way in which Johnson’s tenure with the Detroit Lions went (and the way the Lions' season went this 12 months), the Bears head coach should have appreciated how shut his staff was. How they let the victory slip via their fingers of their 20-17 extra time loss to the Rams. How this type of particular run is difficult to duplicate.

Take a look at what occurred to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2025 after their theatrical run of slender victories in 2024.

Take a look at what occurred to the Minnesota Vikings from final season to this one.

It’s not simple to win one playoff recreation. It’s not simple to get right into a place to take down Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and the Rams within the postseason. Ask Josh Allen about what number of pictures he’s gotten to play within the convention title recreation. And so I discovered one quote from Johnson to be salient throughout his postgame press convention.

A reporter requested whether or not Johnson felt momentum constructing into subsequent 12 months.

"Subsequent season is subsequent season. It’s a brand new chapter," Johnson stated on the postgame podium in Chicago. "We’ll have to jot down a complete model new story. That’s the factor about this, you set in all this work and also you sacrifice and also you belief the folks round you and you may’t take any shortcuts. I want I might say that is momentum from 12 months one. It doesn’t work that manner. It doesn’t work that manner. And truthfully, I don’t need to discuss subsequent 12 months but."

The momentum for subsequent 12 months is as actual because the momentum that Chicago felt after tight finish Cole Kmet caught Caleb Williams' miraculous heave to the tip zone on fourth down within the closing moments of regulation. At that time, the Bears thought they have been profitable Sunday, defensive deal with Grady Jarrett admitted. Williams stated he was visualizing the completely different eventualities the place the Bears would win in extra time.

None of his imaginations got here true.

Caleb Williams made the 2 greatest throws within the Bears' loss to the Rams: a last-second TD cross within the fourth quarter and an interception late in extra time. (Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures)

Simply as shortly as Soldier Subject flooded with momentum, it dried up with Williams’ extra time interception. A couple of minutes later, the Rams kicked a subject purpose to win.

"That is what occurs. It ends abruptly," Johnson stated.

I used to be shocked upon listening to a selected phrase cropping up within the Bears locker room — after which additionally throughout Williams’ postgame press convention:

"Excited."

Excited?

"It’s a frustration. It’s a fireplace. These are the 2 phrases I’d go together with. I’m excited, although," Williams stated.

He added: "Yearly is its personal factor, however I'll say that … we’ve bought a very good core that the group’s carried out a very good job of constructing and so the expansion that we’ve had goes to be pleasant. … We’re going to be right here for just a little bit. I’m enthusiastic about it."

Pleasurable?

Williams wasn’t the one participant who was "excited" after what — not less than to me — appeared like a devastating defeat.

"I’m so excited to have [Williams] as my quarterback," Jarrett stated. "Simply the combat. Simply the resiliency. Simply the uncooked expertise and the assumption. The sky’s the restrict for him. I’m so happy with him to see the expansion from the primary day of OTAs to now. Do not get it twisted. We harm. … I am saying we harm, however we’re additionally happy with the hassle and the dedication that it took to even get thus far."

And what concerning the operating backs? That they had an particularly onerous time changing these third- and fourth-and-short performs versus the Rams.

"We took a step in the proper route this 12 months, and we’ve been counted out all 12 months," Bears RB D'Andre Swift stated. "It ain't no ethical victory. I perceive that, however I’m rattling happy with this group, this teaching workers — the work that all of us put in. No person is aware of, exterior of this constructing, what we do each single day. So we took a step in the proper route."

This wasn’t a rainbows-and-butterflies locker room. But it surely wasn’t what I’d anticipated. And from my vantage level, the gamers are lacking the purpose that their coach made at his press convention.

The Bears had greater than sufficient alternatives to win this recreation. You would possibly even argue that they need to have received this recreation. They missed so many probabilities to place themselves in a greater place to win. There was the fourth-and-2 on the opening drive that led to an interception. There was the second-quarter turnover on downs that got here after failed third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 makes an attempt. There have been the pink zone struggles, together with the truth that they got here away empty after a first-and-goal from the Rams’ 5-yard line within the fourth quarter.

And naturally, there was the interception in extra time, the place Williams made an unnecessarily dangerous throw on second-and-8 — he later referred to as it a "miscommunication" with D.J. Moore on how the route ought to’ve been run. Rams security Kam Curl ended up securing the back-breaking turnover.

Swift got here to Williams’ protection on that play.

"Man, that ain’t on Caleb," he stated when requested if he spoke to Williams after the ultimate interception. "Don’t fear about that. Play that sort of recreation — it ain’t on Caleb in any respect."

In any respect?

Williams made unbelievable performs — with the throw to Kmet being downright unimaginable for each different QB within the league and possibly within the historical past of the league. However that one throw can’t excuse the errors he made at different factors within the recreation. The blame right here hardly falls on Williams alone, even with three interceptions. Loads of Bears got here up quick, and it is comprehensible for them to again their 24-year-old QB.

The Bears have constructed a tradition round Johnson, who seems to be a particular coach.

In addition they belief Williams, given the unbelievable late-game work he did all season. His arm and creativity is in contrast to something I’ve seen.

That’s particular, too.

I simply surprise if the Bears (other than Johnson) notice the magnitude of their success this 12 months, as a result of I'm not completely positive they totally acknowledged the magnitude of their shortcomings on this recreation. It’s extremely unlikely that they'll do that once more. Groups just like the Bears — with all these late-game heroics — are extra weak to regression, even with an elite coach and a younger QB. Even with a formidable core.

The Bears ought to’ve received this recreation. Possibly it hasn’t hit them but. It may not hit them till each time they do not fall two performs in need of making the NFC title recreation, or miss the playoffs altogether. Possibly then they're going to actually perceive how far they bought — and what they left on the desk in extra time towards Stafford and the Rams.

2. WHAT IF … Payments QB Josh Allen by no means wins a Tremendous Bowl?

My coronary heart breaks for Buffalo.

When you’re a sports activities fan — a good-faith client of competitors — how might your coronary heart not break for the Payments and, specifically, for Allen?

With pink, teary eyes, he stood in entrance of the media and struggled to get phrases out about Buffalo's extra time loss to the Broncos. I hope you perceive my sympathy isn’t about bias or fanaticism. It’s about humanity.

And man, it harm to observe Allen face failure, once more.

The Payments' season, on the entire, was spectacular. It was a hit by most groups’ requirements. However when measured towards Allen’s final purpose — a Tremendous Bowl win — the season was a failure. That’s the devastating actuality of the NFL.

Solely 46 gamers will costume for the profitable staff within the Tremendous Bowl. Allen received’t be one in every of them.

"It’s extraordinarily troublesome," Alen instructed reporters. "Really feel like I let my teammates down tonight. … It’s been an extended season. I hate the way it ended. That’s going to stay with me for a very long time."

In the case of being his fault, he’s proper — and he’s fallacious.

And I’ll get into the methods he let his teammates down and the way they let him down — and the way it all added as much as a devastating calculus that possibly it’ll by no means occur for Allen. However first, I need to acknowledge the expectations and the stress which have smothered Allen. It’s why he's clearly extra upset than we’ve ever seen him as a professional.

You could know: Buffalo has by no means ended a postseason run with a win. You could know: Buffalo has ended each Tremendous Bowl pursuit with heartbreak.

Many — most likely Allen included — thought Buffalo might win the Tremendous Bowl on Allen’s expertise alone. The aggressive manner Allen performed in Denver (with 4 turnovers and three touchdowns) was proof that even he felt the Payments would solely win a Tremendous Bowl if he carried his staff there. We’ll by no means know for positive whether or not Allen’s play was overly aggressive.

We do know, nevertheless, that it was a delusion that made everybody consider in Allen and the Payments. Media members have been infatuated with the thought of Allen getting his shot. When you didn’t take a look at their roster, you'd assume: What higher alternative for Buffalo to win? No Patrick Mahomes. No Joe Burrow. No Lamar Jackson. However if you appeared on the roster rigorously, you might plainly see the methods this staff couldn't — and didn't — add as much as the others within the AFC.

Not except Allen was unsustainably wonderful. And there’s the rub: the unsustainability. As a result of this Payments staff is nice. However they’re positively not nice. They’re not a Tremendous Bowl roster with out the very best soccer participant on the planet taking part in like the very best soccer participant on the planet.

Josh Allen holds the NFL file for postseason wins (8) by a beginning quarterback with no Tremendous Bowl look. (Photograph by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

With Allen, they'd a shot. Till they didn’t.

"I believe all of us really feel that manner," Brandin Cooks stated via tears. "I look again and I’m like, ‘Man what might I've carried out to have the ability to alleviate a few of that stress from him?’ You simply love this recreation a lot and if you come up quick like this, it’s going to sting for a very long time."

The Payments’ loss to the Broncos was crammed with elation and deflation in ways in which solely Allen’s video games appear to supply. The throw to Cooks was one in every of many who got here underneath scrutiny, as a result of it ended with cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian intercepting the soccer by snatching it out of Cooks' fingers (extra on that within the subsequent part.) Cooks actually ought to by no means have been on the sphere for the Payments. He joined the staff in late November, and he was one in every of many pass-catchers who turned playmakers by necessity on a roster that didn’t have sufficient. And that thinning confirmed on that interception — and on the incompletion to Mecole Hardman (one other midseason addition) on the play earlier than the McMillan interception, the place Allen wasn’t in sync together with his receiver who ran too deep of a route.

Argue all you need over the interception. It was a 50-50 play the place the sweetness or horror is within the eye of the beholder. I, for one, assume the officers bought that play proper. I additionally assume they bought the opposite calls proper. If there was one ambiguous name, it was the primary defensive cross interference name on cornerback Taron Johnson, however provided that there was additionally a roughing the passer penalty, it actually didn’t matter that the DPI appeared questionable.

None of that would’ve mattered if Allen had merely hit Dawson Knox on the Payments’ closing throw of regulation. If Allen had hit Knox, the tight finish most likely would’ve scored. And that might’ve effectually determined the sport.

However within the second that mattered most, Allen missed Knox. An overthrow.

There have been extra logic-defying performs the place Allen got here up quick. In an inexcusable play on the finish of the primary half, he scrambled with 16 seconds left (and no timeouts) and fumbled the ball to arrange a Broncos subject purpose. It was three free factors for Denver and a number of the worst situational consciousness I’ve seen from Allen since his second season. (And that’s saying one thing.) Then Allen made issues worse with one other fumble on the second play of the second half. Within the third quarter, Allen threw an interception instantly after Bo Nix threw a decide — letting Denver off simple on the Broncos QB’s solely expensive mistake of the night time and the one takeaway from the Payments protection.

These errors made it clear as day: Nobody needed to win a Tremendous Bowl greater than Allen.

It will be foolish to say he needed it an excessive amount of. But it surely’s honest to say that he felt he needed to do an excessive amount of. And given the rating, he most likely might’ve carried out a complete lot much less and never turned the ball over 4 instances.

He should have seen the way in which Drake Maye is ascending within the AFC East. He is aware of that Burrow and Mahomes and Lamar might be again. He should have seen the way in which Nix appeared a complete lot like Allen on this recreation. Even Trevor Lawrence is taking part in his greatest soccer. Quarterbacks are the important thing to sustained success and there are plenty of groups geared as much as be aggressive for the foreseeable future, particularly within the AFC.

It’s solely going to get more durable for Allen to win a Tremendous Bowl.

This offseason might be about ensuring Allen has much less to hold — in the way in which of offense, expectations and stress — in 2026. However provided that he’ll be 30 years outdated and performs loads like Cam Newton, Allen may be operating out of time.

He have to be questioning: What if I by no means win one? Will each season finish in tears?

Sean McDermott needed to name a timeout to get officers to overview the Broncos' Ja'Quan McMillian's interception. (Photograph by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

3. HE SAID WHAT?! Sean McDermott referred to as The Buffalo Information late on Saturday night time to air out further grievances concerning the officiating — particularly the ruling on Denver defensive again Ja'Quan McMillian's interception.

McDermott felt a uncommon type of urgency to ship a second message about what occurred across the cross meant for Cooks, which led to an extra time interception. The Payments coach addressed the play on the press convention and questioned the officers' course of in making their ruling and sharing their details about that ruling: that Cooks didn’t possess the ball for lengthy sufficient to represent a downed catch. That meant it was a turnover.

Apparently, after rewatching it and pondering via it once more (and once more (and once more), McDermott determined to name up The Buffalo Information’ Jay Skurski to air out extra grievances.

Sure, this type of telephone name — which Skurski logged as a pool report — is extraordinarily uncommon.

McDermott repeatedly said: "That’s a catch all the way in which."

I nonetheless assume it was an interception.

The foundations say as a lot, even when our eyes make us assume possibly it was a catch.

"I believed the ball got here unfastened after they hit the bottom and McMillan ended up with it," FOX Sports activities guidelines analyst Dean Blandino texted me. "Cooks has to carry onto the ball till his total physique is on the bottom, and it didn’t seem like he did. When it’s that shut, I like going with survival of the fittest. I believed they need to have stopped the sport to do a full overview to eradicate any doubt that they checked out it intently. Finally, no matter manner they dominated on the sphere, to me, would stand."

Within the slow-mo replay period, this isn’t only a recreation of inches. It’s a recreation of milliseconds. It was the kind of play the place you possibly can solely say what you assume occurred. But it surely’s not definitive. That type of grey space drives followers insane.

It’s 2026. How can we not get it proper?

Effectively, that’s as a result of there was concurrently no proper or fallacious name. Even within the 12 months 2026 — with all of the know-how and thoroughly spelled-out guidelines — there'll at all times be ambiguity. It may be onerous to see at this precise second, nevertheless it’s a part of what makes this sport nice. That McDermott can’t see that's shocking.

That McDermott is refusing to take accountability within the warmth of the second is notable. He's, in any case, the identical man that stated this, only a month in the past.

"We go by what the officers name," McDermott stated after a controversial win over the Patriots.

The Payments coach will nearly positively face a effective for his feedback. He'll probably win over the Buffalo fan base for the criticism and earn respect inside his locker room. I don’t know the way possession will view the outspoken habits, nevertheless it stands to purpose that McDermott and common supervisor Brandon Beane might face job insecurity within the coming days. And never simply due to the criticisms of the officiating. McDermott and Beane have had six seasons of Allen in his prime. They don’t have a Tremendous Bowl to point out for it.

May or not it's time to provide another person a shot?

4. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY What the heck occurred to C.J. Stroud? Effectively …

In a 27-16 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, Stroud was the primary participant with 5 or extra interceptions and 5 or extra fumbles in a single postseason since not less than 1991, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. I’d name Stroud a practice wreck, however that might be ungenerous to coach wrecks.

So, what occurred?

The identical factor that occurred to Justin Herbert.

Mike Vrabel occurred.

Take heed to what Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane relayed after final week’s recreation when the Patriots put a hurting on Herbert and the L.A. Chargers at Gillette Stadium.

"After the sport, speaking to a couple of the fellows on the opposite staff, they'd no clue what we have been doing," Spillane instructed reporters in a postgame press convention.

The Patriots are taking part in undecipherable protection. Their blitzes are merciless and weird. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez appears to be like like one of many NFL’s greatest. Identical with defensive deal with Milton Williams. And so does — of all folks— pass-rusher Okay’Lavon Chaisson.

It’s a testomony to them. It’s a testomony to their chief, Vrabel.

New England was a number of steps forward of Stroud and offensive coordinator Nick Caley — a former mentee of Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.

C.J. Stroud threw 4 interceptions within the first half alone versus the Patriots. (Photograph by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

Stroud tried a tight-window throw on 14 of his 47 passes (29.8%), the best price pressured by a protection over the previous six postseasons, per Subsequent Gen Stats. New England’s protection added 27.8 anticipated factors throughout 5 turnovers, essentially the most by a playoff protection within the Subsequent Gen Stats period (since 2016).

Stroud has been streaky — at greatest — and downright unhealthy — at worst — over the previous 10 video games. It ought to come as no shock that he turned the ball over. The shock was simply how usually New England generated takeaways. The Patriots had a good-not-great protection for a lot of the common season. This unit is barely recognizable, abruptly wanting like top-of-the-line within the NFL.

5. ONE PLAY THAT SAYS IT ALL For all of the skepticism round Bo Nix and his skill, he delivered.

On the primary play of extra time, the Payments determined to ship two additional blitzers. It felt like when a brand new goalie steps in for the starter: You’ve bought to check him. However Nix was good on the play. He used a tough depend to undress the protection — revealing their blitz and protection. Nix set his safety correctly so he had sufficient time to hit his hot-route, an 11-yard acquire to Courtland Sutton.

Buffalo needed a giant play to open extra time. Nix made them pay.

It was exemplary of what Nix did all recreation lengthy. The Payments had a formidable recreation plan ready for the younger QB, and on third downs, they threw all kinds of surprising and inventive blitzes at Nix. It will be hyperbolic to say he didn’t flinch, given he threw an interception and accomplished fewer than 60% of his passes. However he carried out particularly properly regardless of the literal and emotional stress.

I anticipate that Nix’s unbelievable recreation will get misplaced within the shuffle as everybody turns their consideration to backup Jarrett Stidham, who will take over for Nix within the AFC Championship Recreation. I, for one, don’t assume the Broncos stand an opportunity anymore, given what the Patriots could have in retailer for Stidham. However I believe that’s all of the extra purpose to acknowledge what Nix has carried out quietly to determine himself as one of many NFL’s premier passers.

It’s a crowded house. It’s just a little early to name him elite.

However as a result of Nix is tucked away in Denver and underneath Sean Payton’s wing, the younger QB doesn’t get a lot love. He had an superior season. He bought considerably higher. And if he have been nonetheless wholesome, he might have even been a protected wager for Tremendous Bowl MVP.

6. EVERYONE’S AFRAID TO SAY IT … Half 1: Seahawks GM John Schneider has been sensible, and defensive guru Mike Macdonald may be a … QB whisperer.

Throughout a coaching camp joint follow, Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba carved aside the Inexperienced Bay Packers protection. I had an interview scheduled with Cooper Kupp, who had two catches within the follow — each on significant downs. However I knew I used to be set to talk to the fallacious WR. Smith-Njigba was about to be a famous person. His breakout 12 months began in coaching camp.

He's one in every of Seattle’s many success tales this 12 months. Due to him (and all the opposite success tales), Darnold has been wonderful. Due to all these success tales, Darnold is neglected.

This offseason, the Seahawks did what each analyst suggests a staff ought to do: exploit a worth alternative within the QB market. They discovered a veteran castoff and constructed round him.

It ran opposite to the prevailing knowledge, which is that the very best worth is a QB on his rookie contract. The issue with that concept is that younger QBs typically take time to develop — in the event that they develop in any respect. We speak loads concerning the unreliability of QB improvement, nevertheless it doesn’t appear to alter issues on draft day when groups spend first-rounders on QBs they assume they'll plug and play. By the point the QB has developed, he would possibly already be due for a megadeal. And such a contract creates challenges that the Payments and Chiefs now face. It’s onerous to construct a 53-man roster with a large contract taking over cap house. GMs should hit on draft picks and bargain-bin free brokers at a excessive price to construct round that QB.

When Sam Darnold performs mistake-free soccer, as he did versus the 49ers on Saturday, the Seahawks are significantly onerous to beat. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

So why not arrange a QB for fulfillment by giving him the whole lot he wants?

Why not snatch a veteran castoff who is definitely plug-and-play?

Why not store for a QB within the discount bin, somewhat than the opposite positions?

It’s simpler stated than carried out. And when the counterintuitive idea fails, the chief appears to be like idiotic. He’s a punching bag for criticism. He’s open for firing.

That’s why it’s vital to notice what Schneider did. And it’s not simply how he moved on from Geno Smith to Darnold, which is definitely the least vital of all the selections Schneider made. No, it’s about all the opposite issues: drafting stars like Smith-Njigba, CB Devon Witherspoon, OL Grey Zabel and Charles Cross, DB Nick Emmanwori and operating backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The record goes on. And in free company, the Seahawks accomplished the ultimate spots on the roster, with Darnold, Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence, amongst others. In addition they traded Rashid Shaheed, who scored the game-opening kickoff return landing towards the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night time.

It added up to an entire roster that’s harmful at each place.

For the second straight 12 months, the Seahawks quietly boasted one of many league's extra prolific passers. Solely this 12 months, the Seahawks have arrange their roster and their recreation plan to depend upon that QB as little as attainable. Whereas Macdonald is deservedly celebrated for his defensive acumen, he has been excellent in fostering a optimistic atmosphere for his QBs.

You don’t usually consider the defensive man as a QB guru. However possibly we should always.

As a result of whereas the 2018 draft class boasted Allen and Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, it’s Darnold (as soon as a Jets choice) who abruptly appears to be like like the very best candidate to win a Tremendous Bowl.

Half 2: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte is the reality.

The win over the Texans wasn’t an particularly good recreation from Drake Maye, who turned the ball over thrice (one interception and 4 fumbles with two misplaced). He accomplished 62.5% of his passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. And if not for Stroud’s efficiency, Maye’s shortcomings might need been a extra outstanding speaking level.

One man who didn't come up quick was Boutte.

Boutte ripped down a one-handed landing regardless of protection from cornerback Derek Stingley. And possibly Boutte had the boldness he’d make the catch as a result of he made a really related play towards Stingley earlier this 12 months. That’s proper, Boutte beat out one of many league’s greatest corners on the deep ball a number of instances this 12 months. As Maye has honed that a part of his recreation, Boutte has been proper there for his QB to optimize the downfield passing.

"He retains on making them. He retains on making performs, making me look good," Maye instructed reporters after the sport. "A one-handed catch, not a lot else to say about it. It was fairly candy. Sort of the identical sort of throw as my first one to him, and he made a good higher catch this time."

New England would possibly sometime have a correct WR1. Possibly as quickly as 2026. However Boutte ought to stay the staff’s deep menace, as a result of his rapport with Maye is superlative.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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