Carey

That's right. That hit was totally fair game. In addition to that, I could see the argument that maybe he wasn't concussed following the play, despite looking like he was totally out of it. The point was that if Patrick Mahomes was concussed enough to miss the remainder of the season, then the hit would've been severe enough for disciplinary action. I can get behind someone missing a week, maybe two at most over a concussion. However, a severe case would likely come off of an intentional hit that would sideline a player longer than normal (i.e. Burfict's hit on Antonio Brown in the 2015 postseason). IFAIK, Mahomes doesn't have a history; as mentioned, the NFL doesn't give a damn unless the cost of not caring is a heavy one

If Mahomes blows out his knee or has tears his Achilles then that's a different story. Nobody's coming back from that. There have been half a handful of people that have made successful recoveries from those injuries, but of course none of them have returned a week or two removed from the game. If this happens during the regular season, it's more probable than not that he misses time. I have to say it depends on the opponent or whether they need to win base off of playoff seeding. In 2019 Patrick did in fact miss time, against Green Bay no less, but he actually had a structural injury. I won't bet against people rushing Patrick back, but I won't bet on it either. Both cases are possible; I agree that this is a serious situation. Mahomes and the NFL may have to answer for it in the longrun, but I would bet of Mahomes gets knocked in the head in the future, TPTB would not allow him to play in the following game. It is rather sad that the league and company place revenue over one's safety unless there's a case they can lose in court. I might be a little bias, but if the people making the decisions think he did enough to escape protocol I have to go with that. People with experience and that are close to the situation will tell you that this is something that a player can't cheat and get away with. At the end of the day I do hope that Mahomes will be okay tomorrow and going forward. On a related note, the concussion thing sorta makes me hate the older folks that played the game. They stopped at nothing in their attempts to go after the league over the concussion and safety for compensation, yet they (or one person this year) had the nerve to question Aaron Donald's toughness. Loud enough for people to see and hear but not directly to Aaron Donald

That is so wrong. Concussions are no joke and the evidence of long term brain damage caused by repeated concussions is overwhelming. He should be out for the rest of the season. If Mahomes should be out for the season, then the Browns should lose a draft pick or two, and Mack Wilson & Kevin Stefanski should be suspended for a couple of games to start the 2021 season. I'll admit: I was happy that Mahomes cleared protocol, but I might not care if Cleveland had won. They lost out on a TD before losing by 5 (but I think Kansas City wins going away with Patrick in the game the entire time). I'm not a fan of watching big games or any games without the stars playing, and if the Chiefs had played (and lost to) Buffalo, it would have been a letdown. Injuries are a part of the game, I get it, but this one would have been painful. The thing is the people that make the call decided that Mahomes was good to go. Early in the week, there were talks that he wasn't concussed at all, but he still had to go through the protocol. I agree with emma: people are different, no two people are the same. Patrick did what he needed to and passed the tests necessary to make it. It's not something that can be faked like an upset stomach. The stumbling was questionable, I'll agree, but he was already battling injury prior to the hit

Stafford looked older than Brady since 2009, IMO. Speaking of Tom, I guess Aikman can take TB12 for rooting purposes and Joe can keep Aaron for traditional purposes. Haven't checked recently but I'd figure EA would "side" with Rodgers before Brady while Rinaldi might trend toward Brady. JMO; it is a tad bit childish coming from yours truly, as it relates the rooting interests for the field analysts!

Barring a return or change of mind, the 2021 NFL Season will start, and when people wonder why Philip Rivers isn't there, they'll end up looking up info on whether an announcement of his retirement was ever made. I don't think Ben's going to retire anymore, unless the Steelers actually pull the trigger and cut him, or force him to call it quits. Not that he's a lock to make the HOF in his first year of eligibility, but If Roethlisberger were to quit now it would be more difficult. For a second I thought Rivers would come close to Favre's record (either falling short or passing it). Then I believe he needed to play until 2025 to guarantee the top spot. However, it became apparent to me that it was pretty much the end for Rivers. When you factor in the fact that his now latest team is in a division that just got better & still has Tennessee it'll be tough to make it through. Then add the AFC North, which, while it'll take a step back, will stay the course if/when Cincinnati starts to rise, then there you go. Also, the AFC East with Buffalo & Josh Allen. Still can't count out Belichick and New England. Finally you have Mahomes & Herbert...bottom line is that the AFC is stacked. That's just one conference, half the league! The NFC has Aaron Donald, Aaron Rodgers, and TB12; that's it, but that may be enough. At the end of the day, Phillip had one more year left, maybe two. Given the odds of winning, it's probably better to quit a year early than a year late

While I think it's possible that Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes can reach and maybe pass Brady & Belichick in terms of accomplishments, I definitely do not think they'll crush the league from now until 2038 or 2040. In accomplishments, it's possible that they could win half a dozen titles. It's so early, however; if I had to bet, our grandkids will go through life and die without anybody touching what Brady & Belichick did over the past 20 years. However, Mahomes can be a legend in his own right. People could still put him ahead of Brady when all is said and done. After all, people put Coach K over Coach Wooden, for good reason though. All this talk about the goat, and yet if you add Brees & Brady's ages you'll get a high total, but still 14 years short of the real goat: Betty White. Despite the "hate" toward Tom Brady, as mentioned, I think he's a great human being. At least tonight he was. The images of him meeting up with Drew Brees and his family were very special, IMO. For a half second, it reminded me of Peyton Manning & Ray Lewis postgame meeting after the latter's last game at Mile High. A big reason why it's not hard for me to root for a rival is that outside of the game, you get some great genuine people. You never hear that these days since the media won't shut up about the negative stuff and the total asses. But, anyway, the respect and sportsmanship after the game means a lot to me, and that was nice of Tom to stick around. I don't know or think he does that with his old team but he's in Tampa now. Drew and Tom go way back

Last time I checked, the governor of Florida had lifted restrictions to where full capacity was allowed. However, the NFL said nope as well as the Bucs, Dolphins, and even the Jaguars. Around that time the plan was to have up to 15,000 fans or so at Raymond James Stadium. So, while there won't be over 65,000 spectators on hand, there will be a fair amount. It's not like in Pittsburgh where Heinz Field had nothing there (or 5000 on one or two occasions). If Tampa Bay wins, they will be "hosting" as it'll play out in their home stadium, a league first. For what it's worth, the NFC is the "designated" home team for this year's Super Bowl; just a coincidence I guess. That being said, the NFL usually spits the sales of the tickets so that one team can't hog all the tickets to create an advantage. This season it'll be much easier to spread it out evenly. Therefore we're not going to see 14,000 Bucs fans or 13,000 Packers fans if they win next week. My guess is that it'll be 6500-7000 for both the AFC and NFC winners and them whomever else after that. All of this is based off of the assumption that the number is still at 15,000 people on February 7, 2021

IIRC, Davante Adams was not there

While it would be typical that it had to be Brady to take his new team to host the Super Bowl in their home stadium, it figures that it occurred during the pandemic. Moreover, Tom just got there. Any other year it's nice, and this time a year ago, I saw Super Bowl 55 as yet another Big Game where it wouldn't happen

Weather will be fine. Folks like Arians, Brady, AB, and Gronk are used to it

We're about an hour removed from the game, and it looks like there are no posts of Garrett, Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, etc saying the Chiefs will "get clapped" by the Bills It would have, but not as much as if Reid had punted and then the Browns drove down the field for the score

Meh. I dealt with Madden for several years. I'm used to Awful Announcing

The Chiefs survived, and the good news is that the game is at Arrowhead. As much as I want to see Mahomes next week, I don't know what I'll think if he somehow is available next week vs Buffalo You know, a lot of people picked Baltimore over Buffalo, including me. They said it was all about matchups. Yet for some reason that went out the window for Tampa and New Orleans. I (and a lot of other people) had Cleveland and the points, so that was the easy pick. However, I don't think the Browns cover with Pat in there. Obviously I was wrong to pick against Kansas City and said I wouldn't do it again. At least next week. Now I don't know. One thing for sure is that I won't be picking the games Monday morning six days before the games kickoff. If Drew Brees is indeed leaving, I find it difficult that his last game will be a loss to a respective opponent in Tom Brady, who along with the Bucs, might rip the NFC South out of the grasp of the Saints. After all, the game is in the Superdome. The issue is the lack of an infinite crowd, and the lack of a healthy Brees. Hill is not there at all. While I don't think AB's presence was going make a difference in their second game, the man is a big deal. Despite picking New Orleans, this game, and not the one played at Orchard Park, has the wrong team favored. My final guess is that we'll see the Packers host the Bucs next week. If I'm wrong, so be it. Serves me right for changing my mind. Tom Brady has played behind awful O-Lines, and still won. When he didn't he didn't lose by much (best example was against Denver in 2015)

The first or second break had the Progressive Book Club where Amy or someone got voted out for skipping the group meeting. So it's 2-1 State Farm over Progressive

I haven't decided whether to switch my pick from New Orleans to Tampa. Similar to the Chiefs/Browns game, it's probably best to stay away from the game in terms of actually betting on it. I really considered swapping my Kansas City/Cleveland pick. I never really declared a winner verbatim at the beginning of the week when I mentioned my selections against the spread (I pretty much never pick games that early). Common sense says go chalk, but Kansas City has not looked good lately. Regardless of how they looked post-bye, I would've picked Cleveland to cover. I think if the Browns lose, they'll keep it close, and if they don't cover, it could be a garbage TD for the Chiefs. I think Buffalo hosts Cleveland next Sunday. Mahomes only needs 1 minute out of 15 to score in a quarter, maybe less. However, Kansas City would have to score a lot given the fact that there isn't anybody defensively for the Chiefs that scare or scares the Browns. If/when the Chiefs pummel the Browns or beat them by 1 point, I have no regrets picking against them. Really never expected to say this, but I can see either team winning easily

Thank you, meowmommy. Heading into this weekend, this season had the potential to have a wildcard team host a playoff game given the postseason structure and the fact that the NFL added more teams in the playoff field. Every team looked like they could win it all, or at least win this weekend. It would have been unprecedented (not factoring in 1990-2001). It's a moot point now, geauxaway, and I'm not going to explain how Baltimore or Tampa Bay could've hosted next week. You can find that anywhere within the Internet. Same here. You never see awful weather affect NFL playoff games anymore, except when you don't want to see inclement weather. There wasn't any snow as speculated for Bills/Ravens, but the wind was a factor. It made for a rather exciting game for the most part. Next week it's slated to be horrible in Green Bay, who'll be hosting a Dome team or a warm-weather team. That should favor the Packers; man I would love to see the worst weather in a long time down there. However, I don't want the league to move the game like they did a few years back between Pittsburgh and Kansas City (which was all for nothing)

What?!

Or Arizona. Or anyone in the NFC East including Philadelphia. Though I wonder how the Bills will react if they lose to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That might be worse than losing four straight. Or not, but IMO, it could be a result that adds insult to injury Anyway, we're not into Sunday (as least in terms of EST), and it looks like the 5th seed hosting a conference final will have to wait at least a year

Not so fast! The NFL hasn't cancelled that Browns/Chiefs game yet!

With Los Angeles' exit, it's a field full of the best young QB's in Mayfield, Mahomes, Allen, and Lamar and the best/most accomplished active legends in Brady, Brees, and Rodgers. The remaining seven teams, IMO are worth tuning into. That first game was sorta boring and the game one could afford to skip. I actually admire Tampa. I totally get respect, and I am totally okay with it. Love to see the Packers though. The Saints? Meh. They had their chances over the past several years, after being awful before that, and then getting unlucky against Seattle, San Francisco, and Bountygate. 2013 was an underrated team. Better than 2010, but so were the Seahawks (who actually had a better record against New Orleans that year!

I didn't switch Green Bay, and I'm sticking with Baltimore

Steelers didn't host the Ravens last week. Normally there is valid respect between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. There may have been a reason in Week 13, but despite the "hate" there is mutual respect. Last week against Cleveland OTOH? It looked pathetic from the Steelers in terms of being a sore loser. Ravens and Lamar had a reason last week against Tennessee. Marcus Peters got fined, and that's okay. However, there is a big time history between the Titans and Baltimore. No history between Buffalo and Baltimore. Last time the Bills won a playoff game, there was no such thing as the Baltimore Ravens

He was. Goff was playing hurt for sure, after having surgery on his hand. That didn't help given Aaron Donald also playing hurt to where he was forced to bow out of the gam

It's rather amazing that next week will showcase the first NFC Championship Game at Lambeau in the Aaron Rodgers Era

A couple of coaching vacancies taken care of over the past 24 hours, including the top story in Jacksonville as well as the spot for the New York Jets. New York is going back to having a defensive minded coach so the fact that they might no longer have the rights to the top prospect might be the best thing for both parties