It's a new day in the NFL postseason, with most of the buzz surrounding the team that won't be a part of any of the remaining nine games. The Patriots, who have won three of the last five Super Bowls and lost another, are history.
So is the New England dynasty kaput? Probably, but not a given. Tom Brady says retirement is unlikely, and I don't think it's realistic that the Patriots move on from him, either. Brady signing a one-year deal and leading the team to another AFC East title isn't exactly hard to imagine.
Sure, the team has problems. Julian Edelman (whose drop of a ridiculous easy pass killed what might have been a game-winning field goal drive last night) is old and beat up. They really don't have any other difference-making pass catchers. Maybe N'Keal Harry becomes that guy, but he didn't show much with his limited, healthy chances this year. The offensive line needs work. The defense also has some older players.
But I'm guessing Belichick and Brady are back, and there's only Buffalo to reasonably make a run at them in the AFC East next year. I guess that's down the road talk. For now, the vast majority of us can simply be glad the rest of the postseason will unfold without any Belichick, Brady and the Patriots.
Bills collapse: Buffalo dominated the majority of yesterday's game in Houston. But they lost because of 1) settling for three field goals while scoring only 1 touchdown in building their 16-0 lead, and 2) a litany of offensive and defensive mistakes late. Josh Allen, so good while the team was building its lead, took a couple of completely inexcusable sacks to cost the Bills field goal chances in a game that went to overtime. There was a brutal penalty on an offensive lineman that was totally unnecessary and also pushed the offense out of field goal range in overtime. Without that one penalty, Hauschka would have been lining up a 52-yard field goal to win it.
Of course, Deshaun Watson somehow avoiding being dragged down while being drilled by 2 Bills players, one completely unblocked, on the play that set up the game-winning field goal is the highlight (or lowlight) of the game. Buffalo's defense had that play; all they had to do was finish it. They didn't, so here we are.
Today's games: Reportedly, Zach Ertz has been cleared for contact and will play for the Eagles against the Seahawks. I have no choice but to assume Philadelphia's medical staff wouldn't let him on the field if he were at much risk of taking a big hit and suffering severe internal bleeding, But I personally would not consider using him in a fantasy league, and I am happily using Dallas Goedert. But I suppose there's some chance Ertz will be out there loping around like usual and dominating targets. Miles Sanders is apparently good to go. I like Seattle to win, but think it should be a good, competitive game, and Philadelphia winning wouldn't surprise me.
In the other game, I realize I and the rest of the world thinks the Saints will win easily. But I have to allow that sometimes I and the rest of the world are completely wrong. The Vikings have great skill position guys on offense. They have an excellent defensive-minded coach and an excellent defense, that certainly has the talent to slow New Orleans down. And if the Saints come in overconfident and cocky, which I think we've seen from Sean Payton and company before, they could very easily fall behind 14-0 and suddenly it's game on.
This is not the scenario I'm expecting, but let's not be arrogant enough to think we don't get things wrong sometime. Minnesota isn't going to show up just happy to be there. They're going to New Orleans to win, and if Atlanta and San Francisco can go in and do it, so can Minnesota.
We'll take a brief look at all four of the weekend game tomorrow, with a quick glance ahead at next week, too. Meantime, enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson