Changing seasons and chasing dreams in the NFL

Every now and then, there is a time where the football gods gift us a fantastic weekend of football. This divisional round was just that.

After a super wild-card weekend filled with blowouts and clinical clownings, this weekend may have been the best weekend of football in the history of the league.

The Bengals and Titans kicked it off with a low scoring, yet exciting game that was decided by the leg of rookie kicker Evan McPherson.

The Bengal’s kicker had ice in his veins as he calmly booted the longest game-winning field goal in NFL postseason history as time expired.

Next on the list was a low scoring snow bowl game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers.

The Niners needed every break they could get, including an electric blocked punt for a touchdown that likely brought an end to the Rodgers era in Green Bay.

Rodgers specifically has been shredded after this devastating loss after force-feeding reciever Davante Adams.

If a quarterback is going to force the ball to a wide receiver, Adams is arguably the best option in the league.

However, multiple other options missed downfield is the reason the red-hot Packers offense could only muster 10 points in this one-score loss.

Sunday brought about two of the greatest games I have ever seen.

I personally missed some of the most exciting parts because I thought the games were over multiple times.

The Rams threw up a 27-3 lead on the Buccaneers, last year’s Lombardi Trophy winners.

Yet, the Tom Brady led Bucs found their fight and mounted a miraculous comeback.

The Rams fumbled their big lead, as they put the ball on the ground three times and allowed the Bucs to tie the game with just 42 seconds left.

However, that was too much time for the receiving triple crown winner, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, Cooper Kupp, as Matthew Stafford found him deep on back-to-back throws.

The game ended on a chip shot field goal as time expired. Now the real question is if time has expired on the ageless wonder Tom Brady.

Multiple reports and hints by the GOAT himself are pointing to the possible retirement of the greatest of all time.

Sunday night was home to a mind-bending shootout between two of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Both Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen displayed their crazy athleticism, talent and confidence as the two gunslingers exchanged shots.

The Kansas City Chiefs dialed in on star Bills’ wide receiver Stefon Diggs, holding him to only three receptions for seven yards and a two-point conversion.

Allen adjusted to the coverage, hitting Gabriel Davis for 201 yards and a wild four touchdowns.

The game looked wrapped up after the Chiefs had only 13 seconds to go the full length of the field and kick a field goal.

It turns out 13 seconds is enough time for Patrick Mahomes.

Unacceptable defense allowed Mahomes to throw back-to-back strikes, setting up a game-tying 46-yard field goal.

Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker drilled it to send the game into overtime. There were 25 points scored in the last two minutes of regulation.

The Chiefs and Bills have played three times in the last year, and the cumulative score is 100-98.

Everyone and their grandmother knew that whoever got the ball first would win.

NFL overtime rules are structured so that if a team goes down and kicks a field goal, then the other team gets a chance to score or tie.

However, if a team goes and scores a touchdown, then the game is over.

Which team receives the ball is decided by a coin toss.

Allen went into Sunday night 9-0 on the coin toss, never losing one in his NFL career. He called tails, it was heads, and the Chiefs got the ball first. Allen never saw the field in overtime. The Mahomes led Chiefs went down the field and scored to send the Bills packing.

This game has brought up a heated discussion about NFL overtime rules, because there was no stopping Allen Sunday night, and he never got the opportunity to answer.

The Chiefs had previously requested a rule change after a 2018 overtime loss to the then Brady-led New England Patriots.

This game, however, would never have gone into overtime if the Bills’ defense didn’t let up 50 yards in 13 seconds.

Just like the coin, there are two sides to this argument regarding the future of the league. Which side are you on?