NFL 2017 Divisional Round Thread

It’s tough to say goodbye.

Except when it’s Jeff Triplette.

Triplette is famous for many things. Blinding a player with a flag. Blown calls. Losing control of games. It’s only appropriate that one of the key plays in his final game was a questionable forward progress call, meaning his refereeing career got to die as it lived; as incompetently as possible.

Blake Bortles won a playoff game. Actually, from an offensive perspective, that’s accurate; Bortles’s running ability made him clearly the best player on the Jacksonville offense. This is not a compliment to anyone. Bortles was 12/13 for 87 yards. And won. Tyrod Taylor? 17/37 for 134 yards. UGH.

Mariota catching his own pass was the best part of a close game that never felt like a good game. KC fell apart once Kelce went out, and, a few exciting Derrick Henry plays aside, the Tennessee offense was just kind of there.

The Falconsand Saints both won, indicating 2018 is going to suck just as much as 2017.

New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are going to the Super Bowl. Not that I think they’re a great team, it’s just that nothing would be more appropriate for Vikings fans than getting to the Super Bowl in their own stadium, and then losing to Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: If Nick Foles literally turned into a pumpkin on the first play from scrimmage, would it really impact the Eagles offense all that much?

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers: Roethlesberger had an awful game last time these teams met, and the Jaguars won in Pittsburgh. That was back when Blake Bortles was in full Marginal Starter Mode, and he appears to be heading straight back towards Peak Blake Bortles Mode.

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots: Magical things can happen in the playoffs, like amazing finishes, huge underdogs pulling off upsets, or, more likely, the Patriots winning yet again. Guess which of those seem most likely?