The NFL heads into the postseason with a bounty of story lines that certainly are of interest to St. Louis American readers.
It seems almost fitting that the first game of six playoff games during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend finds the combination of rookie Black coach and rookie Black quarterback taking the field.
Coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week to win the AFC South title and set up a home-field showdown with the Cleveland Browns at 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Stroud received praise from Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who threw 16 interceptions in his rookie season compared to Stroud who completed 319 of his 499 passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
“The respect I have for his season—I can’t describe it enough because of what my rookie season was like,” said Manning.
Why are the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes being relegated to NBC-owned Peacock for the wild-card game against the visiting Miami Dolphins?
I refuse to pay for Peacock, but it’s not the money, it’s the principle. The Chiefs have been to three of four Super Bowls and won two of them. Mahomes, while he did not have an MVP type season, is still the best quarterback in the game.
The Dolphins blew a chance to win the AFC East by losing to Buffalo at home on Sunday night. Their reward is playing Arrowhead Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday night with the temperature at about 0 degrees.
Mike Tomlin has been head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 17 seasons and has not had a losing record during a remarkable tenure that includes a Super Bowl title and numerous playoff appearances.
Tomlin takes his team on the road to face the Bills at noon Sunday.
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys officially enter the “put up or shut up” postseason when the Green Bay Packers come calling at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Prescott pieced together his best NFL season in 2023-24, and the Cowboys took advantage of the floundering Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East title.
Following the Cowboys’ 38-10 mashing of the Washington Commanders, Prescott was asked why he was not wearing his “Dallas Cowboys NFC East Champions” hat or shirt.
“I want something better,” he said.
So do millions of us Cowboys fans, Dak.
Let’s give some love to Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The Packers needed a win over the Chicago Bears to clinch a wild-card slot and Love came through – unlike the departed Aaron Rodgers who lost to the Detroit Lions under similar circumstances last season.
One of the grandest stories of the NFL season is St. Louisan Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams running back.
After rushing for just 139 yards as a rookie in 2022, Williams closed the year with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns – in just 12 games played because of a midseason injury.
In addition, he caught 32 passes for 206 yards. He was the force the Rams needed to balance the offense and Williams was instrumental in his team seizing a wild-card spot and taking on the host Lions at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The Eagles are a dumpster fire right now, and quarterback Jalen Hurts looks lost. Six weeks ago, the Eagles were projected to be the top-seed in the NFC. They could lose to host Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Monday night.
The Reid Roundup
Raheem Morris, L.A. Rams defensive coordinator and former Tampa Bay head coach, will interview with several NFL teams with open head coaching positions. I think Washington would be a good fit…That is if Eric Bienemy, Washington offensive coordinator, is not hired by the Commanders…Steve Wilks, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, will interview for the L.A. Chargers head coaching slot. He was fired after a 3-13 season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and led the Carolina Panthers to a 6-6 record as interim coach in 2022…Ja Morant’s bad luck, most of it self-inflicted, continues after an injury during practice will lead to season-ending shoulder surgery for the Memphis Grizzlies guard.
