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Sorry for the late article...work has been starting to get busy, and have to get whatever beauty sleep I can (joke to be inserted here). Calvin definitely was the impetus of this article, but I have a slightly different take; here are 5 myths that have existed that I think this past weekend has been deflated.
1) Todd Bowles is a defensive genius
I know that the NFL Network and all the other talking heads in the football world seem to think that Todd Bowles is some mad genius on defense, and it is only a matter of time before he gets another shot as a head coach, but honestly, I could live with that scenario if it were even remotely true. Yeah, Tampa held KC without a touchdown in last year's Super Bowl, but then again, if Bowles were such a savant, how is it that Tyreek Hill had 203 yards receiving IN JUST THE FIRST QUARTER during the earlier regular season matchup. Yes Bowles adjusted...in the 2nd period, after they were down 3 touchdowns...brilliantly surmising that Hill can't be covered man-to-man by anyone the Bucs have on their roster. Meanwhile, Bowles continued sticking with JPP throughout the season, who had PFF scores in the 40's, despite Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka both outplaying him, and topped the season off by deciding to all-out blitz the quarterback with the best blitz rating and essentially ignoring a WR who led the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns, with only 42 seconds left in regulation. The chances of the Bucs somehow winning the game in regulation by leaving Kupp on an island with just a safety (even one as good as Winfield, Jr.) personified everything Todd Bowles is about; a GOOD DC, who makes some boneheaded calls at the worst times. And don't get me started with Byron Leftwich supposedly taking over the Head Coaching duties for Jacksonville; are we to suppose Leftwich took Tom Brady to "another level"? As a Bucs fan, it makes me get flashbacks; good luck "no risk it, no biscuit" in Jacksonville next season.
2) Sean McDermott is a genius
13 seconds left. 13 seconds and a 3 point lead. Clock starts when the ball hits the ground, assuming it doesn't go out of the end zone. Wouldn't it be kinda nice to see, say at least 25% of those seconds magically go away without one of the best QB's in the game able touch the football? Squib kick Sean, squib kick. What else can you say, especially wasting what was a monumental performance by Josh Allen.
3) Mike Vrabel is a genius
Now I know Calvin really was laser focused on that idiotic analytic that states if the ball is on the 1 instead of the 2, you go for two points. I'm going to agree with Phil Simms...throw the chart out the window and just kick the extra point through the first 3 and a half quarters, unless your kicker is hurt, as points in the NFL don't grow on trees. But to me, that isn't the worst thing he did; it was the Titans not running the ball more in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Yes, the Bengals played balls out on defense during that game, but you have 2 really good RB's and the Bengals had no real depth on the D-line during that game; you keep running the ball to get runs like Foreman got in the 2nd quarter. Good teams put the ball in their best player's hands when it really matters, and Cincy did that with Burroughs and Tennessee didn't with Henry, and Burroughs made the Titans pay.
4) Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the league
Hate to be quoting Greg "Toes on the Line" Schiano, but he said beware quarterbacks who have the fewest interceptions or the most interceptions. Aaron Rodgers seems to love his QBR, and thus becomes laser focused more on not throwing a pick rather than making a play. Devante Adams is a total stud, but explain to me like I'm a 2 year old why the Green Bay offense still operates those times when Adams hasn't suited up, and how a guy people seem to think is the MVP can't throw an offensive TD at home in the playoffs. Green Bay literally had all the advantages they could ask for....snow, cold, screaming fans...and yet the passion was coming from the 49ers sideline. Oh, and running the ball on 3rd and 7 with Deebo Samuel...helluva gutsy call. San Fran seems to find ways to overcome their shortcomings, while the Rams seem to find a way to give games away (unless you're going against Todd Bowles, but I digress); that is why I think the 49ers with Jimmy Freaking Garappolo has a good shot at getting past the Rams this weekend...a running game that shoves the ball down your throat, a defensive line that disrupts good quarterbacks, and the guts to take chances. Something Aaron Rodgers doesn't have in the post-season.
5) Joe Burroughs is a year away from being something really special.
No, the man got sacked NINE times, and barely flinched under pressure as the game went on. The Bengals found a way to get Joe Mixon in the game in the 2nd half with a crappy offensive line (looking at you Vrabel), and when he wasn't on his back, threw lasers to his WR's. Yeah, Burroughs doesn't have near the arm that Mahomes has, but he has all the moxy that Mahomes has, and is definitely set up offensively to make KC take a second look. I would be very hesitant to throw the family savings into a bet on KC this weekend; this could be a real barn-burner
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