The playoffs are approaching, but not for Kansas City, which could be at the end of its cycle after Mahomes’ injury, while Parsons’ knockout compromises Green Bay’s season
The injuries of Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons, the exploits of the timeless Aaron Rodgers, still exceptional, and Philip Rivers, with a courage equal only to his and the Colts’ recklessness. And an increasingly clear playoff picture, three games from the end of the regular season. Here are the 5 things that the 15th NFL day told us plus Gazzetta.it’s weekly Super Bowl prediction, as usual.
ILLUSTRIOUS INJURIES
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American football is a violent sport, injuries are common. But Mahomes and Parsons are not household names, they are one of the best quarterbacks ever and one of the best defenders in the league today. They both tore the cruciate ligament in their left knee, their season is already over. Due to Mahomes’ style of play, a mobile quarterback, it risks being an injury with long-term repercussions, not just in the immediate future. Will he be able to be so explosive again or will he have to change the way he plays, less improvisations and more passing readings from the “pocket”? Parsons’ knockout compromises Green Bay’s continuation of the season. It was the defense that dragged Jordan Love, not the other way around, as Denver’s defeat reiterated. The Packers paid Dallas the moon for the quarterback catcher. Will he be able to return to these levels, post-injury? It’s not a given.
END OF CHIEFS CYCLE?
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Mahomes’ collapse is the most brutal photograph of Kansas City’s collapse. The finalists of last Super Bowl, who have qualified for at least the Conference final for seven years, will not play in the playoffs. Already eliminated, against all logic and expectations. They pay the price for the mediocre offensive line, the decline of Travis Kelce and some negative episodes in the point-to-point endings that in recent years would have turned in their favor. What happens now? Will Kelce and Coach Reid want to take one last revenge or after Mahomes’ injury, who will need at least 9 months to become available again, will they decide to end their glorious careers here?
RODGERS INTRAMONTABILE
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At 42, he is still one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the world. Yet there was no queue last summer after the New York Jets had given him an unexpected dismissal. Blame the negative narrative, an uncomfortable personality, despite being popular among his teammates. Yet he is dragging Pittsburgh to the playoffs with a so-so offensive line and offensive point guards who are all low-to-middle tier except DK Metcalf. He is the phenomenon, still him, even at that age and playing with a fractured left wrist, moreover.
RIVERS NEARS A HAPPY ENDING
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The new Indianapolis quarterback returned to play at 44 years old, after 5 years of inactivity. As a grandfather and it’s not a nickname, but an observation. With a prominent belly, but also with the usual courage and big arm. The Colts took a gamble that borders on madness by calling him to replace the injured Daniel Jones and making him start immediately. In Seattle, against one of the best NFL defenses. However, against all reasonable odds, Rivers pulled through. He didn’t play well, no. Just 120 yards thrown, less than 30 of the other 31 quarterbacks involved in the 15th day (Pickett of the Raiders did worse), a touchdown throw and an interception, decisive in the negative, in the final seconds, but his attack with 47″ from the end had scored the points of the overtaking, of the momentary 16-15. In short, in fact, he got away with it. And therefore he deserves applause.
STRANGE MINES
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One per Conference. Houston in the AFC, fresh from six victories in a row. Texas sports an outstanding defense and CJ Stroud is finally playing well. San Francisco in the NFC: Brock Purdy is back playing at a high level, the 49ers have recovered some key injuries and regained confidence thanks to four wins in a row. There are no battleships around, whoever gets to the playoffs in best shape can run all the way to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. Home 49ers, precisely…
SUPER BOWL OF THE WEEK
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Denver-Los Angeles Rams. And not just because they are the first to qualify for the playoffs. Also because Bo Nix is growing visibly and the Broncos’ defense and coaching are elite and because Matthews Stafford is playing like an MVP and Coach McVay is, like Coach Payton, an obvious added value. In short, there are no compulsory favourites, but to put it like Max Allegri, the Broncos and Stafford are narrowly preferred over their rivals.
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