What We Discovered within the Divisional Spherical of the NFL Playoffs

This weekend’s division spherical video games produced a couple of upsets, beginning with the knockout of prime seeders in each conferences, the 9 layoffs of Joe Burrow, who overcame Ryan Tannehill’s three interceptions, and Aaron Rodgers’ earlier-than-expected consideration of his subsequent crew.

Maybe the most important shock, nevertheless, is that this: Jimmy Garoppolo is a aircraft experience and 60 minutes away from taking part in his second Tremendous Bowl look in three seasons. Regardless of an offensive show that made distance good points arduous to return by in snowy Inexperienced Bay, San Francisco got here away with a 13-10 win over the NFC’s top-seeded Packers to face the Los Angeles Rams within the convention championship recreation.

On Saturday evening, regardless of accidents to a hand and shoulder, Garoppolo had simply 131 passing yards on 19 makes an attempt, no touchdowns and one interception. His barely-there efficiency will not dampen the thrill of 49ers followers, who’ve been eagerly awaiting the looks of his understudy, rookie Trey Lance, who will lead the franchise into the longer term. However it was ok, or nearly as good because the Packers’ particular groups, to convey down Inexperienced Bay, as was the case with the 49ers’ victory within the 2019 NFC Championship recreation.

Now, as then, the 49ers discover success with out demanding a lot of their quarterback, an ethos that defies fashionable soccer orthodoxy. A lot has been made concerning the form of quarterback play it takes to win playoff video games — particularly on the highway — and Saturday solely cemented Garoppolo’s legacy as a caretaker. However the 49ers’ season has put the highlight (gesturing wildly) on every thing that is being requested of the opposite 52 males on the roster.

The 49ers complement Jimmy Garoppolo however are usually not depending on him.

Begin on the offensive line, which has two potential Corridor of Famers in Trent Williams and Alex Mack. In coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme of attacking the sides of protection with the operating recreation, a midpoint that hints at what’s occurring up entrance and a human steamroller on deal with places the offense ready to showcase the 5 gamers who’re often blamed earlier than they’re praised.

Alongside and behind the offensive line is a triumvirate of soccer’s most versatile gamers: Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Whereas the sphere in Saturday’s recreation was too slippery to make the most of all of Shanahan’s recreation motion, bootlegs and deceptions, any of those almost positionless gamers might play.

All of Kittle’s 4 grabs and 63 yards felt like they got here up with make-or-break third downs, slopes and possibility routes in opposition to mismatches. Juszczyk turned a number of first downs as ball carriers into “entice” performs to ship him downhill earlier than Inexperienced Bay’s dominant entrance 4 might react. Samuel’s 142 all-purpose yards led all gamers, and in such an in depth recreation, his 45-yard kick return to open the second half helped change the momentum and discipline place in San Francisco’s favor.

Garoppolo could not do a lot to push the ball down, however the screens and sweeps to Samuel created superb kick/punt returns and opened the sphere for Samuel to create no matter he might.

In actuality, the gamers most credited for beating Aaron Rodgers had been the identical 4 who beat Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott within the wild card spherical: the 49ers’ move rushers. Nick Bosa and his operating mates smashed and contorted the bag after Inexperienced Bay’s steamy first quarter, ending the sport with 5 sacks and almost 20 complete presses. Because the climate worsened and the stakes rose, Rodgers had much less time and house to work, and the Packers gained simply 58 yards general within the second half.

San Francisco’s zone protection protected against deep pictures destined for Davante Adams, and no Packers receiver might break free from defenders beneath with Adams bracketed in protection.

Particular groups managed greater than the 3-point margin of victory. After Garoppolo’s horrible interception, Jimmy Ward blocked a discipline aim try that might have put the 49ers in a two-ball deficit earlier than halftime. Then, with lower than 5 minutes left, Jordan Willis blocked a punt that was scooped by Talanoa Hufanga for a landing.

That mentioned, what the 49ers do nonetheless comes with the “do not do this at dwelling” disclaimer. The issue of successful two highway playoff video games is one factor; doing it with out passing for a single landing is one other. This season is not a countercultural assertion both: San Francisco drafted Lance in for a purpose. For now, nevertheless, it is sufficient to simply get pleasure from DeMeco Ryan’s coordinated defensive domination and cling to his life each time Garoppolo falls behind.

Mike Shanahan’s college students are all over the place.

The leaders of three of the 4 groups within the NFC divisional spherical got here from Mike Shanahan’s teaching tree, and two, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, will go head-to-head within the NFC Championship recreation.

Since McVay grew to become the Rams’ head coach in 2017, Los Angeles and San Francisco have gained the NFC West in 4 of the 5 seasons — McVay has a 3-1 lead. Together with the Packers’ Matt LaFleur, the three coaches have seven division titles, and at the least one in every of them has featured within the final 4 NFC title video games. That teaching tree is assured a spot within the upcoming Tremendous Bowl, and with the Bengals’ Zac Taylor within the reverse bracket, there’s an opportunity of a Shanahan-only recreation.

Every of those head coaches was fashioned utilizing the identical scheme and terminology, however all of them have their very own model of offense. Kyle Shanahan, the one one raised in that system, remains to be true to the two-back offense his father instituted on his approach to three Tremendous Bowl titles, two of them as head coach. McVay got here fairly near the unique intent of the offense, however blended in strikes and jet sweeps so as to add one other component of misdirection. With quarterback Matthew Stafford in tow, McVay has embraced empty units and the drop-back passing recreation.

The Shanahan system is sort of a good smartphone: it might do no matter you need. Must quarterback proof your offense? Jared Goff and McVay confirmed the best way. On the lookout for a downhill run recreation? Kyle Shanahan has you lined. For these extra desirous about unfold, Taylor’s embrace of vertical passes and run-pass choices are the information.

The system affords prompt assaults all over the place, and this postseason has confirmed that shanny-ball will proceed to unfold throughout the league. When the 49ers and the Rams meet, a giant stylistic distinction awaits you: San Francisco’s operating recreation versus the Rams’ airshow, each executed at a scientific stage.

Simple chair offensive coordinators all over the world, rejoice.

It is a unhealthy 12 months to be a better seed.

The 2 No. 1-seeded playoffs, Tennessee within the AFC and Inexperienced Bay within the NFC, are headed for his or her snug sofas as dwelling favorites after losses. Reigning champions, Tampa Bay, misplaced at dwelling to the Rams 30-27 whereas trying slower, older and extra injured.

Solely Kansas Metropolis’s 42-36 extra time loss to the Buffalo Payments at Arrowhead Stadium prevented the weekend from changing into the primary playoff weekend for the reason that 2015 wild card spherical, through which all 4 highway groups progressed.

All 4 dwelling groups within the division spherical had obtrusive issues. The Packers had one of many worst particular groups items within the NFL, and the 49ers benefited from that. The Titans acquired to the playoffs hoping operating again Derrick Henry would bounce out of the ice tub able to take the load, however the Bengals knocked him out. Tampa Bay’s accidents on the offensive line and secondary restricted Tom Brady and allowed Matthew Stafford to seek out Cooper Kupp on huge performs.

Kansas Metropolis ranked seventh by way of turnover share, with a whopping 13.7 p.c of its drives ending in a misplaced ball, however someway managed to not flip the ball in opposition to Buffalo’s top-rated protection.

The NFL’s unofficial motto, “Any given Sunday,” a nod to the parity that makes each competitors a tossup, could seem outdated (particularly when video games are performed roughly 5 days in any given week), nevertheless it has come true this postseason. The house discipline benefit groups have been preventing for all 12 months has settled into these playoffs, and the highest seeds are going unattended there. However that ought to fear the Rams, who’re internet hosting the NFC Championship recreation and this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl at their stadium.

The Bengals’ protection is the true star of the crew.

One-on-one soccer was the driving drive behind Cincinnati’s explosive offensive marketing campaign. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have made defenders within the league look identical to the hapless Southeastern Convention corners and safeties that set them on fireplace within the 2019 season en path to a Louisiana state nationwide title. It made sense that Tennessee corners would deal with blocking all vertical passes via the Bengals’ offense on Saturday.

The Titans could not clarify DJ Reader, the Bengals’ 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive deal with, who was a singular drive on the operating protection in opposition to Derrick Henry, who averaged simply 3 yards on his 20 makes an attempt. Reader’s six tackles (two for the loss) allowed Cincinnati to leverage their defensive backs in opposition to play-action passes. When Ryan Tannehill acquired grasping on these throws, he was penalized for forcing the ball into slender home windows and throwing two of his three interceptions in these video games.

The Bengals could learn as upstarts, however the actuality is that Cincinnati has gained video games on explosive performs, operating play and now their protection. It would not matter if there are gaps within the crew’s roster or if the celebrities lack expertise. No one uncovered her. But.