This weekend’s playoff games were supposed to be better than those a week ago — and they certainly did not disappoint. While Saturday featured a blowout by the New England Patriots over the Houston Texans, the three other games were much better.
First, the Seattle Seahawks faced the Atlanta Falcons, and lost. By a decent margin, though the game was close and competitive until fairly late, when Seattle’s hamstrung offensive line finally did them in.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs went back to their playoff-losing ways. They’d finally gotten that win last season, when they beat the Houston Texans 30-0. Good fun, but that couldn’t last.
The Chiefs had two touchdowns on Sunday, never punted, kept the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the endzone, and still lost. Because, among other things, Andy Reid and late, close games don’t match very well.
The best game of the week happened on Sunday, though, as the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers had a close shootout that ended in absolutely ridiculous fashion, with three 50+-yard field goals in the final two minutes of the game. Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott both put up outstanding displays, with Prescott getting a little extra help from Ezekiel Elliott. Eventually, Rodgers and company came out on top, 34-31.
That was one outstanding weekend of games, leading into two pretty promising conference championship games: the New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Green Bay Packers travel to play the Atlanta Falcons in what should be the final game in the Georgia Dome.
2017 Conference Championship Games
NFC Championship Game
Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, January 22, 3:05 p.m. ET, FOX, Falcons favored by 4
AFC Championship Game
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Sunday, January 22, 6:40 p.m. ET, CBS, Patriots favored by 6