NFL Week 18 reaction: Notes and observations
The NFL Week 18 reaction is jam-packed with observations after one of the wildest weekends in recent NFL history.
– We’re going to get one of the all-time NFL rivalries on Sunday afternoon, with the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round. From 1970-72, the Niners and Cowboys met three consecutive postseasons, including two NFC Championship Games in the first two meetings. Then there was the famous ’81 conference title game, ended by The Catch. Finally, from ’92-’94, three more NFC Championship Games, two won by Dallas. This is the first postseason meeting since then, and it should be fantastic.
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– Although they didn’t get a bye week, the Kansas City Chiefs were huge winners on Sunday. Kansas City is the AFC’s second seed and will be hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday night, after Pittsburgh won and the Indianapolis Colts miraculously lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Going into the day, Kansas City seemed destined for either Indianapolis or the Los Angeles Chargers, both tough outs. Instead, the Chiefs draw Pittsburgh, who they hammered by a 36-10 count in Week 16.
– Speaking of the Chargers, what a tough way to end the season. At 8-6, Los Angeles finished the regular season with losses to the Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders, largely because of their own mistakes. In the process, they wasted a 5,000-yard season from Justin Herbert, who was brilliant all year only to be undone by questionable coaching decisions and a horrific run defense.
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– The Arizona Cardinals have to be sick. After starting 10-2, they fell apart down the stretch losing four of their final five games, finishing at 11-6. Had they have won any of those games — including a ridiculous loss to the Detroit Lions in December — they would have won the NFC West and had a home game against the Los Angeles Rams this weekend. Instead, they’re on the road, although they did beat the Rams already at SoFi Stadium this season. Can they do it again?
– We’re only getting one divisional matchup this weekend, with the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills playing at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night. Will Bill Belichick get the better of Josh Allen for the second time this year, or do the Bills move on and likely make a return trip to Arrowhead Stadium two weeks from now? It’s a fascinating matchup between two very good teams.
