The Divisional Round has delivered its verdicts. The Championships to be played on Sunday 25 January will be Denver Broncos-New England Patriots as far as the AFC and Seattle Seahawks is for NFC.
The #1 Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 33-30 after overtime in a match that experienced endless emotions. The Colorado team will play next weekend’s championship at home but, an immense tile, they will have to do so without their QB Bo Nix who, right at the end of the match, fractured his ankle. The match, as mentioned, was vibrant. After Lutz’s field goal that opened the score, the Bills took the lead with Allen throwing to Hardman for 4 yds and the 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Denver begins to dominate with defense, recovers the ball and takes the lead. Bo Nix throws for Crum for 7 yds and it goes 10-7. Buffalo equalizes with a kick from Prater, but the Broncos don’t stop and Bo Nix throws a field goal to Humphrey for 29 yds to make it 17-10. We go to halftime at 20-10, then 23-10 after yet another kick from Lutz. Buffalo shakes itself off and comes back. Allen finds Coleman for 10 yds and shortens to 23-17. Allen again catches Kincaid for 14 yds and it goes to 24-23, then rounded to 27-23 with 4:11 left with a kick from Prater. Denver isn’t there and Bo Nix throws for Mims Jr. for 26 yds and the new lead at 30-27 with 55 seconds left. Allen kicks off a final drive that brings Prater to the 50 yds kick which, with 5 seconds left, sends the match to overtime. Overtime in which everything happens. From an Allen interception that looked a lot like a suit, to Bo Nix’s injury. Denver, however, closes with a Lutz kick from 23 yds for the triumph.
Everything is decidedly simpler for the #1 Seattle Seahawks who demolish their rivals in the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers, 41-6full of injuries. Ready, go, and Shaheed returns the kick-off to the goal with 95 yds of running. The match ends already in the first quarter, which ends at 17-0 with Darnold’s pass for Smith-Nijgba for 4 yds. After two kicks from the Niners in the second quarter, Seattle closes the score with 3 tries from Walker III on the run and the laconic score of 41-6.
Sunday of the Divisional Round opened with the success of the New England Patriots #2 over the Houston Texans 28-16. Match balanced only at the start with the Texans leading 10-7 in the second quarter thanks to the touchdown on a throw by CJ Stroud for Kirk. The Patriots shake themselves and first take the lead with Jones’ pick-6, then they extend 21-10 with Maye finding Diggs for 7 yds. Houston doesn’t go beyond two field goals, before New England closes the score with Maye finding Boutte for 32 yds and the 28-16 which sends the Boston team to the Championship.
Everything happens, however, in the match between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. In the cold of Soldier Field the Californians immediately went ahead 7-0 with Kyren Williams’ run, but the home team did not lose their nerve and in the second quarter they went ahead 10-7 with a kick and a touchdown on a pass by Caleb Williams for DJ Moore. We go to halftime at 10-10 after a 32 yds kick by Mevis in the snowstorm. The third quarter leaves everything unchanged, so the fourth quarter becomes decisive. It opens with a new try run by Kyren Williams for 5 yds and the 17-10 with 7:50 left. Chicago doesn’t sting, but, just 18 seconds from the end, the incredible happens, with the Bears’ QB completing a sensational launch almost from mid-field with the Rams’ defense losing Kmet when the match already seemed to be over. We then go to overtime. Chicago has a chance to get within field goal range, but Caleb Williams throws his third interception of the day and, consequently, it’s the Rams who try. Mevis has the chance from 42 yds and doesn’t miss. Stafford and company go to the Championship.
