# NFL 2020: Divisional Round **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 14, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520 "2021-01-14T14:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/41 "2021-01-18T13:41:08Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > But… that safety launched with his helmet, deliberate spearing, and the only part of their bodies that made contact were the two helmets… that’s both spearing and helmet to helmet contact… and that’s what caused the fumble… that is a massive, inexplicable missed call. And it wasn’t incidental, it’s what caused the fumble. That was a pretty shitty non-call, and had a pretty big effect on the game. Really bad break for the Browns, and it sucks now that the Chefs are headed to the AFC likely without Mahomes. As a KC fan, I’d rather see two completely healthy teams compete than this. Hopefully Henne plays out of his mind. After watching Pittsburgh blow the call to punt late in the game last week that sealed their fate, I was shocked that the Browns gave the ball back. KC hadn’t punted all game - that’s putting a lot of faith in a defense that wasn’t doing anything truly remarkable. Where they counting on significantly decreased play from Henne? (I mean, yeah - of course they were. Everyone watching was…) ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/42 "2021-01-18T13:59:08Z")
I’m trying to get inside the mindset of the Bills Mafia this morning. You have a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly three decades, but there’s also the distinct possibility that you’ll have to play Tom Brady in that Super Bowl. Must be absolute torture. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/43 "2021-01-18T16:49:24Z")
Drew Brees has always been a class act, so it’s sad to see him exit on this performance (even if I was vaguely rooting for the Bucs). Win or lose, I wish he personally could have played more like his old self, but it does appear that time may have finally caught up with him. And on an unrelated note, you just have to wonder what the Patriots were thinking letting Brady go. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but I wonder if we’re ever really going to know what went on behind the scenes leading to his departure. It’s clear that they did not have some master succession plan in place. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/44 "2021-01-18T16:58:55Z")
I’d imagine that half of them dread Brady, but half of them eagerly want Brady. All depends on whether the Bills fan in question believes Buffalo would prevail, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/45 "2021-01-18T16:59:44Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > it sucks now that the Chefs are headed to the AFC likely without Mahomes. As a KC fan, I’d rather see two completely healthy teams compete than this. Hopefully Henne plays out of his mind. I thought Reid said Mahomes was doing pretty well? I would guess he recovers and is the starter by next week. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/46 "2021-01-18T17:05:15Z")
I don’t think anyone in the history of concussion protocol has ever been described as anything but “doing pretty well”. He could certainly be ready for Sunday - but that’s if he doesn’t have a single setback at any point. It’s not unusual at all for people in the protocol to miss a step or two along the way. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/47 "2021-01-18T17:09:45Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I don’t think anyone in the history of concussion protocol has ever been described as anything but “doing pretty well”. He could certainly be ready for Sunday - but that’s if he doesn’t have a single setback at any point. Exactly. I think that Reid’s statement was pretty much a standard non-committal statement, from a coach who doesn’t want to seed doubt about his player’s status. And, how Mahomes was doing 90 minutes after suffering a concussion may have little bearing on how he recovers over the next few days – concussions are unpredictable things, and there’s no one standard for recovery time. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/48 "2021-01-18T17:10:01Z")
> ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/49 "2021-01-18T17:31:47Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > That was a pretty shitty non-call Chief’s fan here, and I agree (I actually said it before Nantz and Romo started talking about it - it seemed pretty obvious even live (I guess the official was screened)). I like Sorenson and don’t he is dirty (even if his nickname is Dirty Dan), but anytime you launch yourself at another play you are risking your health and theirs. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/50 "2021-01-18T17:32:08Z")
Good that they’re feeling bullish about Mahomes’ condition. He may well play next Sunday. We’re just noting that, with a concussion, recovery time is unpredictable, and what they’re saying on Sunday or Monday may change if he suffers a setback over the next few days. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/51 "2021-01-20T17:25:12Z")
Mahomes is also having a foot problem, but it was something that happened in the first quarter of the game and didn’t take him out or anything, so it’s unlikely to affect his ability to play. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/52 "2021-01-20T17:27:56Z")
I would dearly love to see the Bills take on Brady in the Super Bowl and retire him to the tune of 5 interceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/53 "2021-01-20T17:46:42Z")
There’s absolutely zero chance that Brady beats Rodgers this week, as nauseous as that makes me. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/54 "2021-01-20T21:25:54Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > There’s absolutely zero chance that Brady beats Rodgers this week, as nauseous as that makes me Why zero? Bucs beat the Packers during the season, so that seems a bit overstated. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/55 "2021-01-20T22:03:33Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Why zero? Bucs beat the Packers during the season, so that seems a bit overstated. Agreed. [According to Pro Football Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2020/#all_team_stats), Bucs had the #3 offense and the #8 defense. Packers had the #1 offense and the #13 defense. Packers are a 3 1/2 point favorite. Looks like a fairly even matchup, at least on paper. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/56 "2021-01-21T00:25:59Z")
I have trouble seeing the Bucs team that played last week going into Lambeau this late in January and beating a Packers team this good. I won’t say it’s impossible, imagine Rodgers gets hurt early and the Packers probably won’t have a chance, but I think that stadium is a crazy home field advantage this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/57 "2021-01-21T04:04:45Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Why zero? Bucs beat the Packers during the season, so that seems a bit overstated. Because Brady SUCKED last week. It will be outdoors and cold as shit in Lambeau. Rodgers is as dialed in as I’ve ever seen him. This game is gonna be a blowout. the only reason people are giving Brady a chance is because the Saints were so bad that the Bucs looked competent. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/58 "2021-01-21T14:52:33Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Because Brady SUCKED last week. Again, you seem to be overstating the case quite badly. I’m not saying Brady was great last week, but he was serviceable: 18/33 for 199 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INT. He didn’t make any major mistakes and his team won. When TB crushed Green Bay earlier in the year (38-10) his stats were: 17/27 for 166 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INT. The question is: which Tampa defense is going to show up? If they can keep Rodgers and Co. from running wild, the TB offense has enough weapons to win. I don’t think they _will_ win, mind you, but I think they _can_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520.md?page=2)