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Fourth and one was a highlight of the NFL's "Super Wild Card" Weekend! Winners find a way. Losers find a way...to lose.
Saturday night in Jacksonville, the Jags rallied down 27-0 to post one of the greatest comebacks in NFL Playoff history to beat the Chargers 31-30. After Trevor Lawrence stopped throwing to Asante Samuel Jr., for three of his four interceptions, the second-year quarterback played like a seasoned pro. A late second quarter touchdown gave the Jags some momentum before the half. Down 27-7, the Jags would score touchdowns on their next three possessions while the Chargers went punt, field goal. missed field goal and punt. But down 30-28, the Jags marched to the Chargers 41 and faced 4th-and-1. A 58 yard field goal was not the call for Doug Pederson. The Jacksonville head coach instead lined up with a stacked three back backfield but instead of letting Trevor Lawrence dive for the needed yard, he called for Travis Etienne to go wide to the right side where he ran for 25 yards to set up the game winning field goal.
It was a brutal loss for the Chargers who live with that defeat all off-season while the Jags travel to Kansas City. Pederson outcoached Brandon Staley and now has the quarterback Jags fans thought they drafted who now has a playoff win under his belt...
The Dolphins fell down 17-0 at Buffalo before they chipped away to eventually take the lead but fell 34-31. Third string quarterback Skyler Thompson got little help at times with several key drops that killed Miami drives. I actually think Mike McDaniel called a great game to stay within the plan despite the early avalanche by the Bills. But McDaniel claims someone told him in his headset that the Dolphins had earned a first down on a 3rd-and-1 run by Salvon Ahmed. Ahmed was pulled earlier in the game when he ran the wrong gap and instead of running through a hole that was there he ran into two lineman and was quickly replaced by Jeff Wilson. But Ahmed, who had four carries for three yards, was given the ball on the 3rd-and-1 and was stuffed to force the fourth down. McDaniel said he thought it was first down and had first down personnel on the field when Miami was actually facing 4th-and-1 at their own 48. Miami could not get the play off after switching personnel and was called for a delay game. The fourth and six pass to tight end Mike Gesicki was short and Buffalo took over. The Bills converted a third-and-7 with just over a minute to go and the Dolphins season ends. Who knows if they would have won if they converted their 4th-and-1 but that's a moment McDaniel has to face all off-season...
The Giants faced a 4th-and-1 at their own 45 with 3:28 leading the Vikings 31-24. First year coach Brian Daboll never hesitated. He called for Daniel Jones to dive for the first down and he did. The Giants still had to punt but the first down forced the Vikings to use their timeouts. Despite an awful roughing the passer penalty on Dexter Lawrence to extend the Vikings drive, Kirk Cousins threw a three yard pass when he needed eight yards and the Giants advanced while the Vikings luck of winning one possession games this season came to an end...
Speaking of Daniel Jones, he threw for 301 and ran for 78 and looked the part of a team leader. I have been a supporter of Jones despite the criticism of his play in his first four seasons. He has played for multiple head coaches, coordinator and quarterback coaches and he has had a below average offensive line and a receiving corp no other team wanted and Saquon Barkely battled injuries as well. Yet, Jones got better with a coach who believed in him. Barkley was healthy and the offensive line was better and the Giants will be among the final eight playing next weekend. Maybe former general manager, Dave Gettleman was right. He stood by his reasoning for picking Jones sixth in the 2019 NFL Draft. Draft experts thought Jones went too high. The only other quarterback taken ahead of Jones was Arizona's Kyler Murray. Murray has his new big deal but are the Cardinals in better shape than the Giants? The Giants second first round pick that draft was Dexter Lawrence taken 17th. Lawrence is already one of the best defensive tackles in the game. I am glad Gettleman is gone but he did guess right in a draft that is paying off for New York...
Nuggets: Nikola Jokic's game winning three to beat the Magic was gut wrenching for Orlando. The Magic played so hard to put themselves in a position to win and the reigning MVP wanted to go home. He went for 17, 10 and 14. It's disgusting how good he is. Nikola Jokic was the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Taken right after Glen Robinson III...$13M? We still doing this?...
Final note: Monopoly remains the most popular selling board game in the world.