Instant Hippo Thoughts – Divisional Sunday (2023 Season)

We close the Flacco-Free Flacco Eight, with two very good games.  One winner more likeable than the other, but such is life.

Fuck or Walk time is upon us, and the Lions?  Well, they FUCKED.  Was a slow burn, this game.  Two heavyweight boxers feeling each other out.  DET gets 3, MRSA responds in kind.  First Lions TD, first Bucs TD.  Second Lions TD?  You get the picture.

But TWO Q4 Detroit TDs created a hill too steep to summit, even though Mayfield and pals converted a 4th and 15 en route to a mad scramble score that kept things interesting.  They even managed a late stop right before the 2-minute warning, needing 90 yards and the octopus.  Still, a chip and a chair – but they only got 5 of it before a really nice pickerception sealed the 31-23 win.  Yes, the Detroit Muthafuckin’ Lions will visit the Santa Clara railyards next weekend, with the NFC championship on the line.  Even if I don’t see how they manage to beat the Tomsulas, full credit for making it this far.  One hell of a story.

Plus, I am wrong a lot.

Not scotchy, though.  He had the exact formula for beating the Chefs, and it revolved around controlling possession and James Cook running the damned ball.  It worked early, truly it did.  But KC contained the big play impulses of the Bills Mafia, and they eventually lost patience.  They wanted shot plays, and they wouldn’t really hit any.  But they put themselves behind the chains all second half, and made Allen play hero ball.  He may like it, but it’s not the winning formula.

Many twists and turns along the way (I mean, FFS – everyone saw THIS one) – but in the end, it all balanced out to a narrow KC advantage.  Such it was, 27-24, as Allen embarked on their fateful last drive.  When they settled into the short passing game (serving as an outgrowth of the rush), they chewed up clock and seemed to be wearing the defense out.  3rd (and 4th) down situations were manageable, and they used motion to create easy pitch and catches.

But they lost patience again, going for the home run ball – with too much time for Mahomes to respond, anyway.  But it fell incomplete.  3rd and 9 – again behind the chains, and Allen threw the ball away trying to make something low percentage happen.  It’s a home game, but still a weather game – and the WNY winds took the long placement attempt wide right.  Oy.  They needed to score the winning TD inside of 30 seconds, otherwise (in my mind) they were gonna lose this game, based on what I saw.  They played for a TD too fast, then they played “all or nothing” instead of making 4th down maybe manageable.  The kick was almost immaterial, you knew Mahomes would score with almost 2 full minutes and timeouts to work with.

Because BUF’s defense was tired, and too generally beat up.  It was asking too much.  There would be no desperation attempt, thanks to two runs picking up the only first down needed before kneeldowns.

Again – I don’t see the visitors winning in Baltimore next weekend.  But this time, I sure as fuck hope I’m right.

Regardless, though.  It’s been a great season and a very good playoffs.  Let’s keep the journey moving, see what happens.