Despite the final score, this game was pretty close most of the way. In fact, it was tied 31-31 with 12:00 left to play! But Aaron Rodgers showed his MVP form in the final quarter, finding Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 75 and 35 yard TD tosses as the Packers clinched a spot in the Super Bowl!!
A very important part of my replays are the dice-rolls that set my starting lineups and let me know who is out for the game. And, for the four teams still remaining, this can be a critical step. So, here are the players out with injuries for my two Championship Games:
ARIZONA: Kenyon Drake (RB)
GREEN BAY: Alan Lazard (WR), David Bakhtiari (T), Dean Lowery (DE), Kenny Clark (NT)
KANSAS CITY: Sammy Watkins (WR), Mitchell Schwartz (T), Anthony Hitchens (LB)
BUFFALO: John Brown (WR), Ed Oliver (DT), Jerry Hughes (DE)
Also, and this is kind of fun . . . these four teams feature perhaps the BEST wide receivers in the card set! DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals), DaVante Adams (Packers), Tyreek Hill (Chiefs) & Stefon Diggs (Bills). Each of them is a 5-rated receiver with an A* receiving rating!!
The final team to qualify for a conference championship – the Bills – easily defeat the Ravens behind Devin Singletary andJosh Allen, who each turned in supurb offensive performances. Buffalo will now host the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game!
In yet another nail-biter, the Packers vanquish the Rams on a late Aaron Jones TD run to move into the NFC Championship Game where they will host the Arizona Cardinals.
Patrick Mahomes was magnificent in leading the Chiefs to a spot in the AFC Title Game, tossing 5 TD’s, including two in the final period to rally Kansas City to a four-point victory!
Well, the Lions’ magical run through these 2020 playoffs finally came to an end . . . but, in a fantastic game, it went down to the final play before the Cardinals won by four points to earn a spot in the NFC Championship Game!
One thing that can have a significant impact on a team’s success are players who cannot participate in a game because they’re nursing injuries. And, the way I determine starters is based on their actual usage in the representative season and a roll of the dice. So, for instance, if a player actually missed four games in the actual season, then, mathmatically, he has a 25% chance of missing games in my tournament. And, here are the eight teams playing in the final four games and a list of three key players (there are more) who cannot play. And, there are some pretty big names on this list – Cooper Kupp, Budda Baker, Tre’Davious White, Mark Ingram, to name aa few. It should make it interesting!
ARIZONA – Zane Gonzalez (PK), Haason Riddick (LB), Budda Baker (SS)
DETROIT – Kenny Golladay (WR), Romeo Okwara (DE), Jarrod Davis (MLB)
KANSAS CITY – Sammy Watkins (WR), Alex Okafor (DE), Anthony Hitchens (LB)
TENNESSEE – Jadeveon Clowney (DE), DaQuan Jones (DT), Rahaan Evans (LB)
LA RAMS – Cooper Kupp (WR), Andrew Whitworth (OT), Jordan Fuller (S)
GREEN BAY – Jamaal Williams (RB), Dean Lowery (DE), Christian Kirksey (LB)
BALTIMORE – Mark Ingram (RB), Ronnie Stanley (OT), Calais Campbell (DE)
BUFFALO – Zach Moss (RB), AJ Klein (LB), Tre’Davious White (DB)
We’re down to the final 8 teams and only 7 games left to play! Some remarkable upsets and amazing individual performances. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out!!!
The Packers flexed their collective muscles in this game, but it was the defense that shone – holding Dallas to only 3 field goals in a convincing victory propelling Green Bay to the quarterfinal round of this tournament.
