KC, Ravens, Lions and 9ers Look To Las Vegas
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Joshua Garcia
America’s addiction to the NFL has hit an all-time high, but to the shield’s credit, the divisional weekend did not disappoint one bit. FOX provided it’s largest audience in the famed Network’s history with a peak viewership of 40.9 million for the San Francisco-Green Bay duel Saturday. The 24-21 thriller, which put the 49ers in the NFC title game, stands as the highest viewed broadcast of any genre since the Tanya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan beef at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
On the other side of the NFC playoff bracket records were also being set as the Detroit Lions hosted the second home playoff game in the season for the first time in their franchise’s history. The hysteria instantly created the hardest ticket to come by, to the tune of the most expensive average ticket in the NFL Divisional round’s existence. D Town witnessed a dramatic affair against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that came down to something Giants and Jets fans are all too familiar with, horrific offensive line play.
While Baker Mayfeild has been a polarizing figure throughout his career, he showed his fortitude Sunday in Detroit despite an offensive line that continuously let the pocket collapse around him and forced him on the move. When Mayfield was given time, he connected with Mr. faithful Mike Evans over and over, and was the best QB-WR duo on the field, racking up 147 yards and a TD on 8 catches. However, with 1:38 left in the game and down by a touchdown, the Lions defense found a way to stop the Buccaneers passing attack as Derrick Barnes sent Detroit to the NFC title game with a clutch 4th quarter interception sealing the win, 31-23.
In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson came to make a statement and it was punctuated by a blowout win against the overhyped Houston Texans. It’s not the 2000 Ravens defense, but they are something like it, and maybe the only feature of the team that can rival how amazing their captain at quarterback really is. Jackson finished the day with an efficient 16-of-22 for 152 yards, 2 TD’s, a QB Rating of 128.30 and just for good measure, was Baltimore’s leading rusher with 100 yards or 11 carries in a football master class resulting in a 34-10 Ravens rout.
Meanwhile upstate, the Buffalo Bills after finally earning a home game and avoiding the dreaded trip to Arrowhead Stadium, failed to take advantage and found themselves feeling deja vu, with you guessed it, Patrick Mahomes as the villian. Buffalo missed a field goal wide right to extend the game, which brought back unwanted memories of Super Bowl XXV for Bills fans everywhere. After an extremely valiant effort from Josh Allen, Buffalo again will find themselves at home watching the Kansas City Chiefs move on in the playoffs following their 27-24 win.
AFC Championship Game: (3) Kansas City Chiefs at (1) Baltimore Ravens 3 PM EST
NFC Championship Game: (3) Detroit Lions at (1) San Francisco 49ers 6:30 EST
