NFL Monday morning recap - playoffs week 2

• I was on a deadline, so I missed the Packers game--forgot all about football, actually. Isn't that crazy? It's because Saturday NFL football isn't normal. Or, maybe I just didn't care enough. Either way, by the time I remembered, the Packers had the game well in hand, and hottie Rams coach Sean McVay was looking none too thrilled. I take it I didn't miss much in that game.
• The most excitement in the first half of the second game was the wind. If I had been drinking, it could've become a game--take a shot every time the cameras cut to the flags flying in the breeze.
• Buffalo's defense kept the Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson off-kilter and off his feet, miscues kept the offense from scoring, and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker finally had an off night, missing two field goals. I know, I know, blame it all on the wind. 
• Buffalo's offense made it into the end zone in the third quarter, and then, not to be left out minutes later, their defense did too. Buffalo's Taron Johnson intercepted Jackson's pass in the Raven's end zone and ran it 101 yards to the opposite end zone for what would end up being the final score of the night.
• Directly following that play, Buffalo's defense sacked Jackson, who then went into the concussion protocol tent never to return, and that was pretty much game over.
• Sunday's Kansas Chiefs/Cleveland Browns game also had a concussion protocol tent visit and a quarterback loss with the Chief's Patrick Mahomes wobbling after hitting his head on the turf. Luckily for the Chiefs, their back-up quarterback Chad Henne was ready, and their coach was feeling brave. With less than two minutes in the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid went for it on a fourth and one. Henne threw a pass to Tyreek Hill, who got the yard, and that was all she wrote for the Cleveland Browns.
• Near the end of the first half, the Browns went for it on fourth down. The Browns Rashard Higgins tried to stretch the ball to the pylon, but a hit by the Chiefs safety, Daniel Sorenson, caused him to fumble. The two clearly hit helmet-to-helmet on the replay, and the Browns fans went wild when the refs didn't throw a flag. In real-time, I thought Sorenson got Higgins in the shoulder. Unfortunately, there was way too much for the ref to watch to catch it all, and since those hits are reviewable...yeah, that hurt.
• I give Baker Mayfield and the Browns props. They didn't let the Chiefs run all over them, and they really, really gave viewers a game to watch. Of course, the drama of the Browns' fumble on the one-yard line and the missed helmet to helmet call will be what everyone talks about this morning, but I think the Browns might actually finally have themselves a team for the next several years.
• I started off this year saying the Bucs were a contender, and I even was willing to welcome Tom Brady to Tampa, despite my less than stellar feeling for him as a human. When he brought Antonio Brown to Tampa and into his home, I washed my hands of him once again. Dude, winning can't be everything. If you had something to prove, then you should've done it with what the Bucs had in place prior. Bringing back the guy you helped orchestrate a shady trade from the Raiders after he staged a nefarious exit out of Pittsburgh? I rooted for the Saints. 
• Unfortunately, the Bucs defense was too much for Saints Drew Brees, who may have--or may not have--played his last NFL game. 
• How tiring was it hearing the old man vs. the old man nonsense that the networks and media played up all week? Yeah, well, it isn't over yet as the Bucs and Brady now face the Packers and their old man quarterback Aaron Rodgers.