I come to you all this week a sad and humble man. Unless you are just joining me for this adventure called NFL Pick ‘Em, you are well aware I had to witness Joe Burrow, JaMarr Chase, and Evan “big dick” McPherson (that’s what the internet is calling him, certainly not me) pull off the win against my Titans.
While I want to be angry about this outcome, the truth of the matter is I love this Bengals squad and story. I know all too well how it feels to be a fan of a team that was so bad for so many years and then watch them go on a run. Bengals faithful are legitly me 2 years ago when Tennessee made their way to the AFC Championship.
Speaking of that run 2 years ago, the news of Tom Brady’s retirement rocked the headlines this afternoon. My Boys had the distinct honor of ending his Patriots tenure with a pick-six before he would go on to win one more ring in Tampa. That doesn’t really have anything to do with anything, it just makes me feel better lol.
I know I jest, but I saw a meme that truly puts this moment into perspective. Apparently the last EIGHTEEN SUPER BOWLS have included one of these four components:
- Tom Brady
- Peyton Manning
- Ben Roethlisberger
And the final one I believe to be the most incredible and ominous….
- The San Francisco 49ers.
That is what you call dominance. With Big Ben and Brady hanging them up, a new era is truly among us in the NFL. Then you have the 49ers.
While I can say I saw this potential from the Bengals this year, I can’t say the same for the run this team out of the Bay is on. They were literally one Rams loss away from not making the playoffs at all and here they are playing their rival for a 3rd time in the NFC Championship. It truly is a testament to Kyle Shanahan’s creativity and more impressively 49ers defensive resiliency.
They played two top 5 offenses in the Wildcard and Divisional rounds. San Fran proceeded to hold them to 17 and 10 points, respectively. Both of these performances took place on the road as well. With all the sports media hyping the Chiefs, I say this team has had the most impactful postseason by far. The question is can they keep it going?? My answer…
Rams end the 49ers season.
Why?
I honestly believe the 49ers overachieved this year. We all knew they were an offensive force to be reckoned with, but it has been that defense that’s carried them to this point. That is why I say this Rams team goes out and finishes them off.
Stafford and company are clicking on all cylinders with the return of Cam Akers. Cooper Kupp became the first WR to post 2000 yards in a season last week and it was behind some great momentum shifting plays by OBJ. There’s absolutely no way San Francisco wins another playoff game without an offensive touchdown.
I’m not saying the game won’t be close, but this late in the season, I can’t imagine Stafford not getting the job done. Jimmy G has performed valiantly with his bevy of injuries but this Cinderella story is about to hit midnight.
Good year 49ers, you have a ton to build on going forward.
Then you have the main event. The game of the year in my eyes.
I was overjoyed Week 17 when this Cincinnati Bengals team was able to punch it in late and get a 34-31 victory over the vaulted Kansas City Chiefs. It was that win that gave the Titans the Number 1 seed which in hindsight, I wish we wouldn’t have had. I believe had we faced the Steelers, then the Buffalo Bills, we would be playing on Sunday against this same Cincinnati team with 2 games of momentum under our belt.
Alas, there is no redoing the past so instead we have Mahomes and Company for a 4th year in a row against Joe Burrow’s Bengals that seem to be a team of destiny. SO here’s my two cents.
The game against the Buffalo Bills was ok. I’m not hating, I’m just saying the Chiefs were only able to put up that level of performance because Tre’Davious White is out for the year. Josh Allen outplayed Patrick Mahomes so I can understand BUFFALO’s fans’ frustration. For the rest of the football watching world complaining about the OT rules, go fly a kite.
It irks me when the casual run of the mill viewer acts as if they understand the game or how it should be played. That’s why I love what TJ Watt and Darius Butler said about it being the defense’s job to get a stop. Every single individual in that field is a professional and is capable of performing at the highest level.
There is no excuse for that Bills team to allow that field goal with 13 seconds left or not even put up a fight in OT. I picked the Chiefs to win but honestly, I wanted a game where the QBs faced some type of resistance. Instead we got the backyard football bowl and it’s great for ratings so I’ll leave it at that. I’m still lowkey salty.
That takes me to the 7.5 point underdog Bengals. Why they are such, I do not know but let me tell you what I saw. I witnessed a team with a QB just as good as Mahomes and Allen with an exponentially better WR core AND RB. I witnessed a defensive interior that bullied the Titans front for 4 quarters. I witnessed a defensive secondary that made game changing plays from the very first throw til the very last throw. Lastly, I witnessed a rookie kicker with the confidence of a hardened vet. Combine this with the fact that they have already beaten this team once very recently and you know what….
BENGALS UPSET KANSAS CITY AND SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!
WHY???
IN BURROW I TRUST! TITANS ARE DONE BUT THEIR SPIRIT LIVES ON IN THIS CINCINNATI SQUAD. OFFENSE ISN’T AN ISSUE AND AFTER WHAT I SEEN THIS KC DEFENSE DO AGAINST JOSH ALLEN, I HAVE ZERO DOUBT BENGALS PUTTING UP 30 AGAIN.
NO ONE IS COVERING JAMARR CHASE OR TEE HIGGINS, CJ UZOMAH HAS THAT AUBURN BLOOD PUMPING THROUGH HIS VEINS WITH MULAN’S “ I’LL MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU” BLASTING IN HIS HEAD, TYLER BOYD IS STILL SOMEONE OUT THERE AND JOE MIXON DOES EVERYTHING. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE PEOPLE’S FACES WHEN KANSAS CITY STRUGGLES AGAINST THE BENGALS DEFENSIVE UNIT AND THEIR TENACITY. EVERYONE WILL BE SO STUNNED AND I WILL FEED OFF THAT ENERGY AND TRANSFER IT STRAIGHT TO NASHVILLE!!
*exhale*
To make it simple, I personally do not want to see another Kansas City Super Bowl. We get it, Mahomes is a generational talent but they are not the best team in this matchup. While I adore Tyreek and have underestimated Kelce for that last couple of years, they also are not the best offensive unit in this game. The New Era is upon us and Joe Brrr is here NOW.
With that, I raise my hands and leave it with the Football Gods. I unfollowed all the toxic sports entities on Twitter and cleansed my spirit. I want to thank Tom Brady for allowing me to see the Michael Jordan of the NFL since I was born too late to be a part of his NBA prime. I hated for a lot of years but that man is undeniably the G.O.A.T and I have immense gratitude for the way he played the game, carried himself, and made this league that I love so amazing.
Make sure you get that Tiger Communications App on yo phones. Don’t miss Dinner Time with yours truly Monday-Thursday 6-10 pm on 99.9 Kate FM. Thanks again to Jovan Cutler for making this article happen and stay tuned for some huge updates coming next month. ☺
