This opinion is a little subjective, but the number of overtimes, last-second field goals, road wins, and upsets serve as objective data to support it. More so than any facts surrounding this postseason, it is the parity that really gives this claim validity. The parity goes beyond the upsets. The absolute unpredictability of the outcome of the playoffs, individual games, and even down to sequences within games made watching the playoffs this year an absolute blast.
While Chiefs fans were probably hoping they could be the next Patriots dynasty (still could be), the results didn't turn out that way. They defeated the Bills in one of the best games in NFL history and lost the next week to the Bengals who seem to have a date with destiny. They are set to play in their first Super Bowl since 1988 just a few weeks after winning their first playoff game since 1991. Furthermore, last year they only won 4 games, and the year before that only 2, leading to their drafting Joe Burrow. They beat the number one seed Titans and the heavily favored Chiefs.
That's unpredictable. Unpredictable is fun.
The 49ers got into the playoffs in a comeback win against the Rams in week 18, proceeded to upset the Cowboys and the SuperBowl favorite Packers on the road in back-to-back weeks. Then, they faced off against the Rams, who they had beaten 6 times in a row. This time, however, the Rams came away with the victory in a 4th quarter comeback led by Matthew Stafford and a Rams defense that finally flexed its muscles.
Stafford is himself one of the best storylines of this postseason.
After 12 seasons in Detroit and only 3 playoff appearances, Stafford is going to his first Super Bowl after 3 playoff wins in his first season in Los Angeles. As a Lions fan, I'm really pulling for Stafford. For a long time, Stafford took the brunt of a frustrated media and fanbase in Detroit. People claimed he didn't have what it took to really get a team to the next level. That is obviously not true. I understand the agony of being a Lions fan as much as the next guy, but the lashing out at Stafford was always uncalled for. The Lions are a waste facility that occasionally gets their hands on a generational talent and attempts to waste that talent in a cacophony of incompetence. Let's not lie Lion fans. This is the closest we are ever getting to the Super Bowl. We live vicariously through the Rams' success.
The Rams beat the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers. They finally beat the 49ers. They are returning to the Super Bowl.
The ups and downs of this postseason should excite both the NFL and fans alike. The gap between the NFL and other professional sports is wider than ever. The fact that no game could be easily marked off in the last few weeks is a testament to that. Again, you couldn't even mark it off during the game. The Bengals came back from an 18 point deficit against the Chiefs. Last week, the Buccaneers almost came back against the Rams. The Chiefs got into overtime against the Bills with 13 seconds left.
The Super Bowl could be a dud and I don't think it would change my opinion. I doubt that though. The Rams and Bengals have the ability to make every game interesting. I expect some spectacular in the finish.
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