10 Questions Heading into the Divisional Round

 “Super” Wild Card Weekend wasn’t the 2021 Divisional Round, or the Semi Finals of the College Football playoffs this year, in terms of drama or highlight reels, but it still was entertaining and telling football.

It was a coming out party for Brock Purdy, Daniel Jones, and Dak Prescott, it was maybe a pink slip for Brandon Staley and Brett Maher, and it might be the end of the road for Tom Brady.

Wild Card Weekend didn’t answer any questions that were posed at the beginning of the playoffs—the games played added to those questions. However, good weeks of football do that. Not until the Super Bowl has gone final should you have all the answers to your questions. So, whatever questions you had going into the playoffs, let’s add and examine 10 questions that sprouted from a good playoff football weekend.

1. Can Daniel Jones lead the Giants to the Super Bowl?

If you’re a part of Big Blue you’re getting the arrangements together to start to party like it’s 2007. The team nobody had any aspirations of making the playoffs, much less a Super Bowl run, has turned back the clock to perhaps the most improbable of Super Bowl Champions.

While Daniel Jones is not Eli Manning (at least not yet—he would need to finish off this run first to be even remotely in that conversation), the 4th year quarterback out of Duke has shown finally why he was selected with the 6th overall selection. Against Minnesota, Jones showcased everything you would want a quarterback to do for you in a modern-day NFL Playoff Game. Jones showed no signs that he was playing in his first postseason affair and was the main reason why the Giants will be playing Philadelphia for a third time this season. The Eagles are the number one seed for a reason, unlike Minnesota; Philly has shown their ability to punch back after being knocked down. The Eagle defense is fiercer than that of Minnesota and made life rough earlier in the season for Daniel Jones once already. The “X-Factor” for the Giants making a 2007-esc Super Bowl run is not the quarterback position, although Jones will have to do all he can not to lose the Giants the game, it falls on the shoulders of Brian Daboll. Daboll out coached Kevin O’Connell, who was also coaching his first postseason game, this time he will have to out duel a competitor for Coach of the Year Nick Sirianni. Philly’s second year head coach is not Vince Lombardi or Bill Parcells, but Sirianni is trying to get his first playoff win after getting out-classed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in last years’ Wild Card Round. The pressure in Philadelphia of getting your first playoff win is immense and could result in Sirianni’s untimely exit if he loses in embarrassing fashion.

2. Is Daniel Jones the next Giants franchise quarterback?

Probably. The crop of quarterbacks that would be due to replace Daniel Jones is either too far out of reach (Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, or Tom Brady) or not an upgrade from Daniel Jones (Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr) so it would be best to stick with Daniel Jones—even if the Giants have to “overpay.” Jones is closer to a Top 10 quarterback than he is to a bottom five quarterback and that’s without a true number one target.

If the Giants get Jones some weapons to open up the offensive mind of Brian Daboll next season, Big Blue could have the heir to Eli Manning.

3. Does Brandon Staley still have a job with the Chargers next season?

Sean Payton never had a coaching blunder as enormous as Brandon Staley had in Jacksonville on Saturday night.

It would be hard to see the Chargers getting past this performance from Staley and progressing the playoffs past the first round. Staley is unliked in many NFL circles due to the nature in which he calls a game: going for it on 4th down regardless of the down/distance, passing up field goals for another shot at six points, and aggressively passing the football in untraditional situations.

The latter would be one of the reasons why Staley could be in a different position in the NFL next season, but a decision on Staley’s future in L.A. goes deeper than just a blown 20-point lead at halftime.

Another factor would be that Staley decided to play his starters in a game against Denver in Week 18 that didn’t affect who or where the Chargers would be playing in the Wild Card round. Mike Williams, L.A.’s top deep threat suffered a fractured back in that game, and drastically impacted the Chargers inability to keep that 20-point lead—even with him being a receiver. The Chargers front office has already started to label scapegoats for the first-round exit. Joe Lombardi, the Offensive Coordinator, and Passing Coordinator/Quarterback’s Coach, Shane Day were both fired Tuesday morning. Staley could be next and the Chargers could be throwing their hat in the ring for Sean Payton to catch it.

4. Is Jacksonville this years’ version of Cincinnati from a season ago?

Perhaps. There is a case to be made. The case revolves around Trevor Lawrence, who is a second-year quarterback (like Joe Burrow), who had success in college on the big stage (like Joe Burrow), a good cast of characters around that quarterback. It also has to do with a defense that found it’s identity late in the season and turned the game so that the quarterback could deliver a magical run. Unlike the Bengals, the Jaguars don’t have a money kicker this season like the Bengals did. And Jacksonville unlike Cincinnati has a head coach that has won a Super Bowl. Both would have to go into Kansas City and dethrone Patrick Mahomes which always seems unlikely.

Lawrence showed on Saturday that it takes a lot to rattle his cage following the four interception first half. The Jacksonville defense despite poor field position did showed a fight that not many teams down three scores at halftime would show.

There is merit to the “Nobody believes in us” team. Jacksonville fits that description this year.

In order to be the 2023 version of the Bengals, Jacksonville will have to get out to an early lead. That’s their only chance. If the Jaguars fall behind against the Chiefs, they do not have enough to make two consecutive comebacks down multiple scores. Kansas City will not allow Jacksonville to get back in the game.

5. Is Joe Burrow underrated?

Absolutely he is. Joe Burrow is on track to go down as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He could go to his second consecutive Super Bowl.

He should be thrown in the same conversations as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Because Burrow doesn’t showcase the ability to do wizard type things with the football or run over people—he doesn’t get looked at in the same way. But Burrow puts his team in the same winning position as the other two. Joe Burrow has played in more Super Bowls than every quarterback left in the playoffs outside of Mahomes, and if Burrow wants to another shot at a Lombardi Trophy, he will tie Mahomes by playing in two.

Burrow is taken for granted because of who he plays for, how he plays, who he throws the ball to. If Burrow had half the ability to extend plays as Allen or Mahomes, he would get the credit he deserves. If he played for another franchise that wasn’t Cincinnati, he would be recognized like he should. Part of the reason why Burrow gets as much press as he does is because of the generational receiver that Burrow throws the ball to in Ja’Marr Chase. Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon are all good players but not to the level of Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Stephon Diggs.

It might take Burrow winning a Super Bowl to get the flowers he deserves, but his talent, and ability to lead his team when it matters most, should not be lost in all the tremendous football that will be played throughout the playoffs.  

6. Can Cincinnati return to the Super Bowl?

With the way that the Bengals defense kept Cincinnati in the game, Cinci has a shot to win the whole damn thing. With Burrow playing at the level that he can in Championship situations, the Bengals will be a tough out despite their still heir apparent offensive line issues.

The experience of last years’ Super Bowl run is showing that instead of being taxing—the Bengals are using it as motivation to finish the deal. And, with Joe Burrow’s comments about Cincinnati’s championship window, if the Bengals return to the Super Bowl this year, they could be the group holding the Lombardi.

7. Can Buffalo win despite Josh Allen being careless with the football?

If the Bills can play complementary football, yes. Because you need to at this stage of the season. The Bills defense does need to play like the group they were for majority of the season. The linebackers need to fly to the football and the pressure from the defensive front needs to push the issue more to create turnovers. However, for Buffalo to truly take the next step to Super Bowl contender is Josh Allen’s ability to not play hero ball. Allen will most likely have to put on the cape at some point and win the Bills a game with his incredible talents, but the Buffalo signal caller doesn’t need to have the cape on the entire game.

8. Can the Cowboys have a repeat performance from Monday Night?

San Francisco is tough, but if anyone in the NFC has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the 49’ers in a shootout, it’s the Cowboys.

Kenneth Walker had a good game against San Francisco and what Tony Pollard can do in both the rushing and passing game, Pollard will be a key to continued Dallas success. And, even if Dak Prescott plays half as good as he did against Tampa Bay, Dallas will continue to be scary good on offense.

Look, Brock Purdy will have to look like a 7th round rookie at some point. Micah Parsons could be a big part of Purdy finally hitting the rookie wall.

This game should be circled on the schedule as the game that could turn out to be the “classic” in this postseason grouping.

9. Do the Cowboys have a real shot at a Super Bowl?

Not if they rely on Brett Maher. You cannot win a Super Bowl with a question mark kicking for you. Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys will not be bringing in any kickers to compete for Maher’s job. That decision is not wise. At some point Brett Maher will be called upon to deliver critical points in a pressure situation. If Maher’s confidence is at all compromised that could be the Cowboys undoing.

10.              Is this the end for Tom Brady?

Unless he claims a new residency in Las Vegas, it will be. Based on the way that this year has gone for Brady on and off the floor, nobody would fault the 43-year-old quarterback walking away. Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. He has nothing left to prove in the mind of everyone else’s mind. If Brady does walk away for real this time, it will take some time for Brady to come to a decision.

He said to Steve Young recently that he does not want a repeat of what happened last year, so when Brady does finally walk away, it will most likely be for a final time.

If Tom Brady does stick around, the Las Vegas Raiders seem like the most likely destination. The offensive weapons that Brady would be surrounded by would be the best grouping talent wise that the future Hall of Famer would have in his illustrious career. The head coach is also Brady’s longtime offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels. The stars are aligned if Brady wants to head out west and try win yet another Super Bowl.

The pressure of the Divisional Round, being the halfway point to the ultimate goal. In the Divisional Round is when the “classic” games usually happen. The matchups in this years’ slate of Divisional games offer comparisons to last years’ slate, so if that’s any indication of what is about to be broadcast over the weekend, I got two words: Buckle Up!