Sound Sensible: 5 Observations from NFL Championship Sunday

[ad_1] Lumen Subject (Seattle) — You noticed that the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will play in Tremendous Bowl LX. You noticed the blizzard that rolled into Denver and rendered the Broncos and New England Patriots’ offenses ineffective. You noticed the shootout the place Sam Darnold saved tempo with — and finally surpassed — Matthew Stafford.

So let's attempt to spin it ahead, dive deeper and suppose outdoors the field about what we witnessed within the convention championship video games. That is "Sound Sensible," the place we put together you for Monday morning with observations from the penultimate 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 FROM CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, IT’S THAT …. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak known as a greater recreation — and outcoached Rams coach Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

In follow this week, there was one play the place Jaxon Smith-Njigba discovered himself broad open. Unbelievably open. The star receiver lined up within the backfield in a two-back set and broke for the again proper nook of the tip zone, the place he discovered what each receiver craves: no protection.

"Am I going to be that open within the recreation?" Smith-Njigba remembered questioning.

Yup.

Throughout Sunday's NFC Championship Recreation towards the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks wideout did precisely what he’d practiced. And it labored out precisely as they’d practiced — with no person close to him when he hauled within the landing move. It put the Seahawks forward to finish the primary half, however extra importantly, it marked a strategic benefit for the Seahawks.

It takes a particular play to throw an invisibility cloak over arguably the perfect receiver within the NFL. However that’s what Seattle's OC did.

"I received to provide credit score to educate Kubiak. He known as an incredible plan," Smith-Njigba advised me. "We have been working that [at practice], and I have been open on that every one week lengthy."

Receiver Rashid Shaheed, whose route broke the wrong way, knew that JSN was scoring earlier than the ball got here out of quarterback Sam Darnold’s arms.

"It was the precise look we had been on the lookout for. As quickly as I noticed the protection off the nook following me, I knew that Jaxon was gonna be open for a landing," Shaheed advised me. "In order that was a particular play, a play that we would have liked in that second."

This was a standard chorus within the Seahawks' locker room, the place music blared, cigars engulfed the room in smoke and gamers sipped from pink solo cups and glass bottles. Within the moments that modified the sport, Seattle’s offense had performs that had been excellent towards the Rams protection. The Rams noticed it, too.

It was how Darnold performed the perfect recreation of his profession within the greatest recreation of his profession.

"[The Smith-Njigba touchdowns] was type of a beater for what we was in," linebacker Omar Speights advised me. "At sure factors, they caught us the place sure performs matched up completely towards ours. Hats off to them."

There wasn't a defender inside 10 toes of Jaxon Smith-Njigba as he caught the go-ahead landing earlier than halftime of the NFC title recreation. (Picture by Michael Owens/Getty Photos)

One other instance?

That 51-yard reception from Shaheed to begin the sport. That opening drive set the tone for the Seahawks and for Darnold, who completed with 346 yards and three touchdowns — all regardless of stress on the scores. The 51-yarder was the third play of the sport. It was their scripted drive. And Seattle noticed a direct benefit, which it wasted no time exploiting.

"They gave us the right look, man," Shaheed advised me. "Sam put it on the cash."

Talking of Darnold …

2. STATS DON’T LIE — OR DO THEY? Darnold accomplished three touchdowns below stress, probably the most of his profession and probably the most ever recorded since 2016, per Subsequent Gen Stats.

There have been instances when Darnold appeared unable to shake his status for flopping in huge video games. The newest instance, in fact, was when he threw 4 interceptions towards L.A. Most Rams gamers wouldn’t admit after the sport that this model of Darnold appeared completely different than the man they noticed earlier this 12 months — and even the man they bounced from the playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings roughly 13 months in the past. However Speights lastly conceded.

"He performed higher, for positive," he advised me. "He was capable of finding [his receivers] after we introduced sure pressures."

That was within the Rams’ locker room.

Within the Seahawks’ locker room?

"He’s the perfect on the planet," receiver Jake Bobo mentioned.

Take it straightforward there, Bobo.

"He simply shut lots of people up tonight," Macdonald mentioned throughout a postgame press convention.

OK, I can agree with that.

Sam Darnold has been vindicated after experiencing nice struggles early in his profession after which being handed over by the Vikings this previous offseason following a profession 12 months. (Picture by Michael Owens/Getty Photos)

Macdonald isn’t mendacity. Nor are the stats. Darnold performed the perfect recreation of his profession and that was regardless of the stress of the NFC Championship Recreation, regardless of the move rush’s stress and although the Rams protection has been his kryptonite, at the same time as he has smoothed out different kinks in his recreation. He did all that in per week when he was "barely training" resulting from an indirect damage, per Macdonald. Darnold figured one thing out towards this L.A. workforce.

"He will get numerous antics thrown his manner from the media or no matter, and for him to remain resilient and hold going is really outstanding. I’m tremendous pleased with him," Smith-Njigba advised reporters.

"It is so exhausting for the phrases proper now. Sam’s simply unbelievable," sort out Charles Cross advised me.

And the touchdowns below stress?

"It does not say something that we did not already find out about him," Bobo advised reporters. "He is the person, and clearly you see the arm expertise out right here each Sunday. However his management is what makes him particular, and so all people on this locker room needs to play for him. … Hopefully he does not see me saying this, as a result of I am going to get some s--- for it."

Once more, that’s Bobo being Darnold’s greatest hype man. All of the Seahawks had been competing to be Darnold’s greatest hype man. However for all of the effusive reward of Darnold, right here’s another quote that stood out:

"We're tremendous pleased with the best way that he instructions the offense," Shaheed advised me. "We would not be right here with out him."

For the longest time, that wasn’t true.

In opposition to the 49ers final week, the Seahawks in all probability may’ve gained with Jarrett Stidham. Darnold may need engineered explosive performs on the third-highest price amongst QBs behind Drake Maye and Jordan Love through the common season. However that additionally got here on the expense of turnovers (20; most within the NFL) with the second-highest turnover price (3.7%) behind solely Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (4.6). You recognize … the man who received memed into oblivion this 12 months.

So, you get it. Darnold was actually good, at instances — and actually unhealthy, at instances. The Seahawks needed to compensate for his errors. Or they needed to carry him altogether.

This was the sport when Shaheed’s sentiment was most true: We would not be right here with out him.

Darnold was that good. The Seahawks wouldn’t have crushed the Rams to advance to the Tremendous Bowl with out him.

3. EVERYONE IS AFRAID TO SAY Half 1: Drake Maye was the youngest QB within the playoff subject, however he’s enjoying with knowledge past his years.

Patriots receiver DeMario Douglas advised me just a few weeks in the past that Maye was mature past his years. Douglas is 25 years outdated himself, so what does he know, proper?

Properly, since Douglas mentioned that, the Patriots have gained three straight playoff video games — and with Maye serving to them win in three other ways. This isn’t to say he’s been excellent and even exceptionally constant, particularly when in comparison with an unimaginable common season. However when you look across the NFL, you’ll see that quarterbacks have struggled all through the playoffs.

Even for a man like Matthew Stafford, it has been about doing simply sufficient.

In order that’s what Maye did on Sunday towards the Broncos in a recreation that — within the second half — devolved right into a white-out blizzard. Maye had zero turnovers, rectifying a problem that plagued him all playoffs lengthy. He additionally had 65 speeding yards and a speeding landing.

Drake Maye beat the Broncos together with his legs as a lot as his proper arm, as he scrambled for a number of first downs. (Picture by Kara Durrette/Getty Photos)

"These circumstances — they are not nice throwing the soccer," Maye mentioned with a chuckle in a postgame interview on CBS. "We did what we would have liked to do."

These speeding stats proved all-important for the passer — as oxymoronic as that sounds — due to snow. It was exhausting to throw towards the Denver protection when the sport began. It was downright not possible when the blizzard confirmed up. Maye was 10 of 21 for 86 yards and 5 sacks. However Maye found out the way to rating together with his legs. Maye additionally found out the way to ice — pun supposed — the sport together with his legs on third-and-6 with a rollout run that allowed New England to knee the sport to shut it out.

It’s a credit score to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has — the entire season — met his gamers and his quarterback the place they're. McDaniels has a well-known and notorious system. Its problems have flunked loads of gamers. However those that get it, get it.

Even after learning movie of Tom Brady, Maye has made this offense his personal.

"Inform me who the gamers are. Inform me what their strengths are," McDaniels advised me just a few weeks in the past. "And let's attempt to construct the system round them. And that is what we attempt to do with Drake. We ran the choice [against the Chargers.] We by no means did that with Tom [Brady]. Why? As a result of Drake can do it. … We scored on two speeding touchdowns towards the Payments. These had been designed runs. We’ve moved Drake out of the pocket, and we’ve completed different issues that he can do effectively.

"We’re not simply going to do this as a result of I feel he can do virtually every little thing, to some extent. … We will do extra issues — or various things — as a result of he has completely different ability units."

Maye’s path to the Tremendous Bowl will draw skepticism.

And to the credit score of the skeptics, he has not needed to outduel an offense with appreciable firepower. However what these skeptics gained’t level out is that Maye is the primary QB to win three playoff video games towards prime 5 complete defenses in a single postseason, per FOX Sports activities analysis. These models are all additionally three prime 9 defenses in factors allowed per recreation, and two of them (the Broncos and the Texans) completed within the prime three.

Due to that, Maye would be the second-youngest QB to begin the Tremendous Bowl — simply behind Dan Marino — the place, maybe fittingly, he’ll face the highest protection within the Seahawks.

Half 2: Particular groups matter!

Within the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks, we noticed one more reminder that there are three phases of this recreation. And it was particular groups that supplied the second when the Seahawks took management of the sport.

Rams receiver Xavier Smith fell over whereas making an attempt to subject a punt early within the third quarter and muffed it. The Seahawks had been there to get well on the 17-yard line. And one play later, Darnold threw a landing to Jake Bobo to provide the Seahawks a 12-point lead they finally would not squander.

"Yearly, they lose key video games and fail to maximise their potential resulting from a scarcity of funding in particular groups," a former NFL head coach texted me on Sunday night time after the Rams' muffed punt. "Take a look at the investments of who they rent. [It went from] from [former Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel] and [Joe] DeCamillis (two of the perfect) to the bottom bidders who promise in interviews to principally not play the part. Each time they play groups who spend money on particular groups, it prices them!"

A Rams fumble deep in their very own zone led to a Seahawks landing and proved to be the distinction within the NFC title recreation. (Picture by Jane Gershovich/Getty Photos)

We have now receipts, too. These are simply from the Rams' losses this 12 months.

In L.A.’s 33-26 loss to the Eagles in Week 3, Philly blocked two Rams subject targets late within the fourth, together with a 44-yard game-winning try with three seconds left. In L.A.’s 26-23 loss to the 49ers in Week 5, Josh Karty missed a 53-yard subject objective and an additional level. In a 38-37 loss to the Seahawks in Week 16, the Rams allowed a Rashid Shaheed punt-return TD. Kicker Harrison Mevis additionally missed a 48-yard field-goal try with 2:11 left within the fourth quarter with the sport tied at 30-all. The Rams typically win regardless of their particular groups. However when a workforce just like the Seahawks can use that part to their benefit, it may well tip the scales in a recreation that’s in any other case even.

4. WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER The NFL playoffs aren't a marathon — they’re a steeplechase. Or perhaps it’s skijoring.

Earlier than you are taking off to Google what these sports activities are, simply know that they’re bizarre. They don’t check athletes in clear or aesthetic methods. If I advised you these sports activities had been for the Cowboys, you’d consider me. And playoff soccer — it seems — is in that very same class.

That’s what we noticed with the loopy snowfall in Denver.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was made for the playoffs. His workforce was made to win in any type of climate.

Behind Vrabel and defensive playcaller Zak Kuhr, New England’s protection allowed simply 26 factors in the complete three-game playoff run, second-fewest in NFL historical past by a workforce with three video games enjoying into the Tremendous Bowl. The Chargers offensive gamers admitted to Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane that they'd no concept what they had been seeing when it comes to disguised coverages. The identical was in all probability true when C.J. Stroud threw 4 interceptions within the divisional spherical.

It is protected to say climate was a think about Sunday's AFC title recreation between the Patriots and the Broncos. (Picture by Justin Edmonds/Getty Photos)

With assist from the snow, Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham couldn’t see … something. There was a quick second when it appeared, perhaps, Stidham may contend. He had a 52-yard play to Marvin Mims on Denver's second drive earlier than throwing a landing. However that competence was short-lived. In any other case, Vrabel and the Patriots smothered the Broncos — as they need to towards a backup QB. New England made do with the circumstances they received.

With the win, Vrabel tied George Seifert for probably the most wins in NFL historical past by a head coach of their first season with a workforce, together with the playoffs, per FOX Sports activities Analysis.

People are going to query the Broncos’ choice to go for it on fourth down within the second quarter — earlier than the storm hit. I didn’t thoughts it. Possibly you possibly can’ve seen the forecast. Possibly you possibly can’ve seen the best way this recreation would change — and the way rapidly. However rattling, that will’ve been actually transcendent, omniscient consciousness. On the time, the fourth-down try appeared affordable.

No, the extra questionable choice from Sean Payton got here on the Broncos' closing drive once they tried to throw the ball downfield twice (into the height of the storm). On the primary, Stidham had his man open (sufficient) to attempt it. As a substitute, he checked down. On the second throw, Stidham didn't have his man — however tried it anyway. There have been numerous moments the place the sport didn’t go the Broncos' manner. That was the true back-breaker, the place the choice didn’t match the state of affairs.

Whether or not it was luck or versatility, the Patriots beat the snow — and, in flip, the Broncos.

5. HE SAID WHAT?! "No curfew tonight. However the bus is leaving at 8:00 within the morning — so when you ain’t on it, you ain’t enjoying within the Bowl."

Wherever you're proper now, keep in mind that the Patriots are someplace in Denver having extra enjoyable than you. (Until it’s Monday after 8 a.m. — you then’re in all probability feeling higher than them.)