NFL Playoffs Promise Us Fun with the Inevitable

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There’s fun and then there’s wildly entertaining! Will the NFL Playoffs deliver us the Super Bowl matchup we deserve? It is inevitable.

Prepare for the intense sports debate that only sibling rivalry can conjure. Seesaw Sports, where Dan Salem and Todd Salem throw down on the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Only on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate sports.

 

The final four is nothing short of special. Baltimore took care of business in the second half of its divisional round game against Houston to reach the AFC title game. The Ravens’ opponent to decide the AFC’s representative in the Super Bowl will be none other than…the same team it always is, the Kansas City Chiefs.

No matter how many times people have counted them out, the Chiefs keep moving forward. Is this finally where the train ends? Josh Allen and the Bills gashed them on the ground this past weekend, but it wasn’t enough. This Kansas City defense is great against the pass, which is what teams want in the modern NFL. That is, of course, unless they are set to face Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

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On the NFC side of the NFL Playoffs, San Francisco had to work harder than anyone expected to reach the NFC championship. There, they will face everyone’s favorite Charlie Brown, the Detroit Lions. This is both a special group of quarterbacks and a special group of teams. Two were straight chalk and two have exceeded pre-season expectations. Only one set of winners will give us the fun we deserve.

 

NFL Playoffs: Inevitable Fun

 

Todd Salem: We Deserve This

The AFC matchup this week is something else. With four different ball carriers garnering between eight and 13 carries apiece, Baltimore sliced up the Houston defense for 229 yards on 42 carries. Jackson went for 100 and two touchdowns by himself. In the regular season, Baltimore was the best rushing offense in the league. So the Chiefs modernized their defense to be just what teams want, with the lone exception of facing a team exactly like they will be facing with a Super Bowl trip on the line.

Maybe the game will play out just like the match against Buffalo did. It seems stupid to ever pick against Patrick Mahomes at this point. It just feels like the wrong opponent though.

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Over in the NFC, Detroit won multiple playoff games for the first time in a generation. It was actually the Lions’ defense that stepped up most in the divisional round. The defense is not a strength for this club, particularly against the pass, so one would expect a shootout-type environment against San Francisco. However, the 49ers struggled to produce against an even weaker defensive opponent in its previous game. 

Maybe it was rust, maybe nerves. Brock Purdy was bad against the Packers. Does that carry over? It isn’t outlandish to consider Jared Goff the more reliable of the two passers in this game. That seems to be where Detroit’s advantage would end, but it’s the most important spot on the field. Whether Goff can outplay Purdy enough to carry the Lions to the Super Bowl is the question. 

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I would assume no, especially since Detroit wants to run the ball in this matchup. But stranger things have happened. I just hope the Lions offense comes out swinging in the first half, like it did in round one, rather than waiting until late in the game to get anything going, a la round two. I’ve been impressed with Dan Campbell’s ability to adjust at halftimes in these playoffs. He’s pushed the right buttons, but a halftime adjustment could be too late if San Francisco is firing on all cylinders.

Of these four squads remaining, Detroit advancing would obviously be the most fun storyline. However, San Francisco has sneakily gone 30 years without winning a Super Bowl. With the Bills eliminated in demoralizing fashion yet again, the NFC is where we will find our longing and heartbreak.

 

 

Dan Salem: Only One Result Matters

You’re certainly right about one thing, the NFC is where the heart and the fun remains. I can’t tell you why exactly, but I do not enjoy rooting for the Baltimore Ravens. Kansas City is not much better, because they’ve represented chalk for years running. The Chiefs are always one of the two teams remaining in the AFC. I wagered on them to win the Super Bowl for this reason. So in all transparency, I’ll be rooting for Kansas City, but not for any good reason other than money.

Detroit warms my heart, as they finally, mercifully, got over the hump. As a Jets fan, I can relate to their struggles. No one expected them to be here and no one expects them to topple San Francisco. I sure hope they do, although I had no idea it had been so long since the 49ers last championship. They’ve gotten very close on multiple occasions, which is probably why 30 years feels shockingly long. Both teams represent a history making opportunity, be it the Lions winning, or the 49ers winning with Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback.

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As for the matchups, they couldn’t be any closer. On paper, both the Ravens and 49ers are heavy favorites. They were clearly the best two teams this season and are both playing at home. That said, it is foolish to underestimate just how much experience the Chiefs have at this and how successful they are in the playoffs. Kansas City is playing for legacy, while Baltimore is trying to create one. It is also foolish to underestimate just how much the Lions don’t give a damn about anything other than today’s business. They were confident when losing under Dan Cambell and they are certainly confident as a winner this season.

One might say that only these teams can stop themselves, and you’d be right. Someone will make one extra mistake, no matter how large or small, and that will decide our winners. Am I supposed to pick a Super Bowl matchup right now? I like Kansas City to face Detroit. Two road upsets incoming.

 

Meet our Writers:

Dan Salem is Lead Editor, Writer, and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s a published author, as well as an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X and Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a fantasy football and fantasy baseball Staff Writer for RotoBaller. Follow him on X or comment below for his unfiltered opinions.

NFL Playoffs Photo Credits: si.com and kansascity.com via Getty Images

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