Instant Hippo Thoughts – Divisional Sabado, #NuAIDS Season

I hope all y’all are well, and staying sane-ish. [Why give up on madness now, when it’s brought me this far?]

Saturday gave us the two fixtures that I cared most to watch.  As usual, the NFL playoffs did a great job of confounding pre-kickoff expectations.  I had zero faith in Baby Buster [Jared Goff] who overall threw pretty well, especially given the conditions and his broke-ass THROWING hand thumb.  But I had absolute faith in Aaron Donald and the RRRRRRRRRRAM IT!! defensing unit, especially with starting LT David Bakhtiari out.

A.A. Ron [Rodgers] and Bay of Green tore them a new asshole, except when Lazard was dropping easy TD catches.

In fact, it was the PACKERS’ front seven that turned the tide, pressuring Buster into his shell on both key Q4 possessions (first, down 7 and with momentum, then down 14 and needing an immediate reaction).

Sometimes, a picture says it all.  After a meek 4th and 14 capitulation, GB churned out first down after first down, bleeding the clock completely dry.  As they say in Lesser Footy commentary – a professional job, done.  32-18, and the NFC title runs through Lambeau fo sho. [Troof. Legitimately afraid of them in the Super Bowl]

Which leaves us with a Ratbirds invasion of WNY.  Pray for Rev. Mayhem’s liver. [Joke’s on you. I went with wings and ether- aka the North Tonawanda Twister]

First half…again, played against expectations.  By being a mutual derp-fest. [Yeah, a bit]  The placement kickers went a combined 2-for-5 (including back-to-back doinks – Hail Sha(‘)nk(‘)hor – by DFO’s second-favoUrite serial kicker, Justin Tucker), and that’s all the scoring we got.  3-3, but with Lamar! looking like maybe he had his mojo back on the final Q2 drive.

But BUF started Q3 with a 7-minute TD drive, and BAL countered with the same…except that Lamar!’s 3rd and goal TD pass…went the other way.  [WOOOOOOOOOOOO! 101 YARDS!] Give the Bills Mafia defense credit – they shut down the Ratbirds run game cold, and turned Lamar! into a pocket passer.  Then knocked him out of the game.  And it was Brokeback [Josh Fuckin’ Allen] who had the 2nd half mojo.  Stefon Diggs was pretty much unstoppable, too.  [DIGGSTOWN, BITCHES!] One expects a massive test in KC next weekend, but #ThePauls have defied expectations plenty this season. [I am…cautiously optimistic either way] Anyway, this fucker ended 17-3.  Tyler Huntley did look better than he had any plausible reason to, so there’s a BAL positive. [Troof II: Cruise Contol]

Enjoy this morning’s fine sampler of Lesser Footy (Knifey v Spurs, 9a on NBCSN, followed by Peacock doubleheader that I will have access to, but likely not watch), but nap strategically.  We starts like 90 minutes earlier on Divisional Sunday.