The matchups to determine the participants in Super Bowl 58 are set.
In the early leg of Sunday’s divisional round playoff games, the Detroit Lions outlasted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bringing the franchise its first conference championship appearance in 32 seasons. Detroit did it on offense, led by quarterback Jared Goff and a trio of young stars at the skill positions: Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta.
In the late game, a pair of familiar foes in the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills renewed their rivalry. And for the host Bills, it was a different, more painful, renewal: a pivotal field goal inside of two minutes sailed wide right.
That means the Lions will travel to Santa Clara to face the San Francisco 49ers and the Chiefs will head to Baltimore in a date with the Ravens.
Written off late in the regular season, right after a stretch when Kansas City lost five of eight games from Weeks 8 through 16, the Chiefs showed, once again, how gritty they are and how dangerous their championship experience can be.
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Kansas City went into a hostile environment and played almost flawless football. The Chiefs had just two penalties enforced for only 15 yards and their lone turnover, a Mecole Hardman fumble into the end zone, was almost devastating. But the Chiefs' defense held and made it irrelevant. Kansas City’s stars showed up, which is what championship teams do. Patrick Mahomes had just six incompletions and threw for 215 yards and two scores. Both those touchdowns went to tight end Travis Kelce, who also poured in a team-high 75 yards. The defense completely clamped down on Buffalo’s receivers and made Stefon Diggs a nonfactor. Turns out the Chiefs can win in the postseason away from Arrowhead, too.
Credit the Lions offense and coordinator Ben Johnson – who appears very likely to end up with a head coaching gig whenever the Detroit offseason arrives – for working through early-game adversity. Through their first six offensive possessions (not counting a kneel at the end of the first half), the Lions had recorded three three-and-outs and had crossed midfield just twice.
Then, quarterback Jared Goff started to work the ball down the field. The Lions scored touchdowns on their seventh, eighth and ninth possessions, and averaged 8.3 plays and 76 yards in those. Tampa Bay and coach Todd Bowles did a tremendous job early of shutting down the rush, and Detroit’s offense stalled. Johnson didn’t panic and allowed the pass to open up the rush – namely in a beautifully-timed counter that went 31 yards and was a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown early in the fourth quarter that helped Detroit run away with it.
It’s not just that Detroit reached its first NFC title game in 32 seasons, it’s also that they’ve set themselves up for the future, especially on offense. The Lions have a nice trio of emerging stars at running back, receiver and tight end.
Jahmyr Gibbs, 21, is a rookie running back who had 114 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 13 touches. Amon-Ra St. Brown, 24, is already a downfield threat who led the Lions in receiving yards (77) and scored the game-sealing touchdown. Sam LaPorta, 23, is a rookie tight end who paced Detroit in catches with nine and was a steady threat all day long.
Known as a big-game tight end, Travis Kelce did not disappoint. The Bills failed to cover him once Kansas City marched closer to the end zone. Kelce finished with team highs in catches (five), receiving yards (75) and receiving touchdowns (two). Against the Bills, Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes set the NFL record for most postseason touchdowns from a quarterback-receiver duo, with 16, surpassing legendary Patriots duo Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield finished the one-year deal he signed in March to replace the retired Tom Brady. And though the season ended in disappointment in the loss against the Lions, Mayfield completed 26-of-41 passes for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions – and this season should be viewed as nothing but a success.
He helped spark the Tampa offense, and his teammates loved his toughness. He elevated young players like tight end Cade Otton and developed a rapport with star Mike Evans. Though a first-quarter interception wasn’t his fault — his well-thrown pass caromed off Evans’ hands — the second was forced up the middle of the field in a late-game desperation situation. The issue with Mayfield, as it has been throughout his career, is for him to limit mistakes and interception-worthy throws. He did that most of the year, and he deserves to return.
If there was one thing that Buffalo fans did not want to hear, under any circumstances, it was “wide right.” We are of course referring to former Bills kicker Scott Norwood’s failed 47-yarder in Super Bowl 25 that would’ve given the Bills their first-ever Super Bowl title. The kick infamously sailed wide right.
Sunday against the Chiefs, Bills fans were treated to another version, though this one came in a less pressurized situation. Still, kicker Tyler Bass, who had a fairly solid season, will almost certainly carry his missed 44-yard try with 1:47 left to play for the entire offseason — and probably even longer. The field goal would’ve tied the game, and while Bass is not the sole reason why the Bills lost, it won’t ease the sting of the miss.
If there was a weak spot on Tampa Bay’s defense, it was up the middle. Jared Goff had 287 passing yards, and 150 of those came through the middle of the field.
In fact, if you take the middle of the field, from the line of scrimmage to 20 yards down the field, Goff completed 12-of-17 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
The Buffalo Bills have arguably the best short-yardage weapon in the NFL in quarterback Josh Allen. The Bill, facing a 4th-and-five from their own 30-yard line, decided to check into a fake punt in which safety Damar Hamlin fielded a direct snap. He was stopped short, giving the Chiefs a short field.
It was about to become a costly error – one that seemingly was going to put Buffalo down two scores – until Bills safety Jordan Poyer jarred the ball loose from receiver Mecole Hardman’s hands, leading to a forward fumble out of the end zone, giving the Bills the ball back. Buffalo would eventually punt the ball once more, but these lapses in concentration are ones teams typically cannot afford late in big games. Both teams got a little lucky.
The Buccaneers and offensive coordinator Dave Canales very clearly tried to create some balance Sunday. The team’s inability to get anything at all going in the rushing game put way too much pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield, which in turn stressed the Tampa Bay offense beyond repair.
The Buccaneers ranked dead last in the NFL in the regular season in rushing yards per game (88.8) and rushing yards per play (3.44). Against the Lions, Tampa Bay was more or less right on that average, recording 89 rushing yards at a 5.9 yards-per-carry clip. The problem isn’t talent; Rachaad White is a very capable back. The issue is the team often abandons the running game and doesn’t execute it with enough consistency. Against Detroit, the Bucs posted only 15 total carries – even after White had a productive first quarter.