NFL Divisional Round Review

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

I thought this might be the game of the round and this game certainly delivered right at the death. The 36-32 scoreline doesn't quite reflect the way this game went: for much of the game, defenses were on top of the offense and both Drew Brees and Alex Smith struggled to get their games going.

However, after the high workload of the defenses for 3 quarters, the holes were always going to open up in the last quarter and sure enough they did with 4 lead changes in the last 3 minutes of the game.

When Jimmy Graham scored the Saints' last touchdown, it seemed that the 49ers would pay the high price for not scoring enough points when they turned the Saints' ball over an amazing 5 times. But Frank Gore's running game had come alive again in the 4th quarter and he drove the 49ers to the Saints red zone where Vernon Davis deservedly got the winning touchdown.

It felt like a win in overtime - and it was, with the game going well over the scheduled finishing time and overlapping with the start of the Broncos v Patriots game.

Candlestick Park has long waited for the glory days  to come back to its aging arena since Steve Young pulled the plug on a dynasty begun by the great Joe Montana. When it did, the stadium celebrated in one with the city.

The Saints once again have been entertainers this season but again are out of the running for the Super Bowl. But they should be back next season where they'll be out to try and seal one of the top two spots and ensure they stay at home throughout.

2011 will be remembered as the season Drew Brees became a legend in his own right with the most yards in the season for a quarterback but for now, the sour taste of defeat will hurt this now high-achieving franchise.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
A sharp contrast to the earlier game on the West Coast - and the Broncos' last game of course. This was so one-sided right from the Broncos' first down - the Broncos finished with double digit downs with loss of yardage. Hard to believe this was the Pats' first playoff win since the 2007 AFC Championship game - the game before 'that' Super Bowl.

This was probably as good as the Patriots have ever been in the post-season and certainly this season. Tom Brady's 6 touchdowns was the most by a quarterback in a playoff game while Rob Gronkowski continued his stunning season with a hat-trick of touchdowns. The defence ranked 31st at the end of the regular season looked so at ease against the highly unpredictable Broncos offence.

So dominant was Pat Chung's defence that Tim Tebow was screaming at his offence in the 2nd half after yet another loss of yardage with the ball.

In fact, this was the game he and his fellow tight-ends (including New Orleans' Jimmy Graham) really stamped their mark as the way to go in the league. Aaron Hernandez played running back at times to great effect - he and Gronkowski would actually make great rugby players; they are so athletic for such big men at over 6'5".

As I said earlier, it was a win-win situation for the Broncos and Tim Tebow going into this game. They had already surpassed a nation's expectations by beating the Steelers and any win on the road after this was going to be just take Tebow's name higher. Tebow himself said he was focused on the off-season and becoming a more all-rounded quarterback now he has nailed the job full-time.

Tebow probably knew better than anyone that the Patriots at home in the playoffs were always a hard team to play for such an inexperienced team.

The Patriots now prepare to host the AFC Championship game and earn themselves a shot at redemption in the Super Bowl. Perhaps God is a first and foremost a Pats fan. Hard luck Tebow, but thanks for the memories and being such an inspiration for all of us.  

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

This was an arm-wrestle between two very run-heavy and rugged teams. The Ravens were expected to steam-roll the inexperienced Texans at home but credit to the Texans defence which has been one of the best in the league all season and pegged back Joe Flacco and his offence after letting the Ravens get off to a flying start.

Arian Foster certainly beat Ray Rice in the battle of the running backs and his running game kept the Texans in the game. However, the Ravens managed to contain the passing game of the Texans forcing the inexperienced TJ Yates to revert to big shots down the field. When Yates tried them, they were picked off by the excellent Ravens secondary like taking candy from a baby.

Credit to Yates who has done a sterling job despite being the 3rd string quarterback at the Texans and looks like he may have a future as starting quarterback at the Texans. The Texans can look back on a historic first season and look forward to more success with JJ Watt and co set to be around for a while.

Meanwhile, the never-aging, Ray Lewis and Ravens can look forward to a championship game and a chance to play in only their second Super Bowl.

















New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

For the 2nd weekend in a row, the playoff weekend would end with a stunning upset.

The Packers who were 16-1 in the regular season and at home were expected to be too tough for a mercurial but in-form Giants game. Boy did the Giants rip the script to shreds right from the word go.

For All Blacks fans, this had shades of that 2003 RWC semifinal where the Wallabies through a clever and effective game upset the much favoured All Blacks. Indeed, that night, the attack was shot to pieces and the same was done in this game. Hakeem Nicks ran through the Packers like a knife through paper just like Mortlock through the ABs that fateful night too.

Absolutely nothing went right for Aaron Rodgers and his offence which must have left their hands in butter during the bye week. The Giants fed off those turnovers with glee, continuing to expose and beat up what was already a weak secondary - something that must be sorted out by the Packers in the off-season if they are to add to their recent Super Bowl glory in the future.

The Giants deservedly won and are surely the most dangerous team in the playoffs at the moment. The 49ers probably won't give them as many takeaways as the Packers did in this game but the Giants like the Saints are a confident side and the 49ers just beat them. But Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul must feel they can upset the potential bro v bro Super Bowl.

As for the Packers, this loss is a new low for the franchise and one they'd want to try and put aside quickly. They wowed the league with their offense but ultimately fell flat when it mattered thanks to a defence that never really improved throughout the season.

Meanwhile, the two contenders everyone expected to be MVP - Brees and Rodgers - are now out of the playoffs, paving the way for the effervescent Tom Brady to win the title should the Patriots win. 

So the two spots in the Super Bowl will be contested next weekend as follows:

AFC Championship Game
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, 9am NZT

NFC Championship Game
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, 12pm

So could Tom Brady be taking on the team he supported as a boy? Will John be taking on Jim for the Super Bowl? Will it be revenge time for Tom Brady against Eli Manning?

It's all heating up here and after the Packers were knocked out, suddenly it's wide open as to who will be world champion.