Winners and Losers from 2018-19 NFL Divisional Round

Winners

Kansas City Chiefs

That is why they are the number one seed in the AFC! The Kansas City Chiefs controlled the Colts in a 31-13 win to clinch a spot in the AFC Championship. QB Patrick Mahomes played like his normal MVP caliber self, going 27/41 and 286 total yards. The breakout star for this Chiefs offense was RB Damien Williams. Before Kareem Hunt left the team after a video of him punching and kicking a woman at a hotel mid-season, there was no designated RB replacement in Kansas City. The first pick was Spencer Ware, but he has been troubled with injuries. So Williams being as good as he has been is just another plus for this already high powered offense. Both TE Travis Kelce and WR Tyreek Hill had exceptional games, and both of them have been doing that all season. The defense was as good as it needed to be, only allowing 13 points and 263 total yards. They will now welcome New England to the West in a rematch of the top two teams in the AFC.

Rams' RBs

Why was C.J. Anderson dropped so many times in this league? Seriously, the man deserves to be in this league and it showed this weekend. Anderson went for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. After being with multiple teams this season, it is amazing to see him finally succeed. He was not the only Rams back who had a great game. Normal starting RB Todd Gurley also went 115 yards and a TD on only 16 carries. It seems that LA can count on either of these young men to get them yards on the ground. QB Jared Goff didn't have his greatest game of his career, throwing for only 186 yards. This Rams offense surrounds around this running game, so as long as these two outstanding backs keep doing what they are doing, there should be not too much worry offensively in California.

Patriots Defense

The Patriots defense shut down a great Chargers offense in New England on Sunday to earn a spot in the AFC Championship. Their defense held Chargers QB Philip Rivers under a 50% completion rate, which is crazy bad for a quarterback of his maturity and experience. The biggest impact that the New England defense had was against the running game of LA. The Chargers only had 19 yards on 10 carries. The point is that they were better than most expected them to be, which will be important going against of the best offenses in the NFL. If they can contain Mahomes, it may be a key factor in New England going to another Super Bowl.

Marshon Lattimore

Every time I looked back at the screen, it seemed like New Orleans CB Marshon Lattimore was breaking up a pass. Ok, maybe not that often, but they guy had one hell of a game. Lattimore had four solo tackles and most importantly two interceptions in their 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday afternoon. The first pick that he had was unreal, tracking the ball behind him and positioning his body to catch the ball behind him. I do admit, the second interception was more of a mistake on Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery, but Lattimore was in the right spot at the right time. I expect him to have a huge role in their NFC Championship game against the LA Rams on Sunday, when he will probably cover either WR Robert Woods or WR Brandin Cooks.

Honorable mentions: Cre'Von LeBlanc, Patriots' RBs, Damien Williams, and Jaylon Smith

Losers

Indianapolis Colts' offense

But they were so promising! When I talked about the Colts having a shot last week, I was hoping that they would bring the same accuracy and energy as they did in Houston. Sadly, that was not the case in Kansas City. It appeared that the whole offense was asleep the majority of the first half. The Chiefs' defense, who has been ok most of the season, held them to nearly any production most of the game. QB Andrew Luck had an under par game, but the biggest disappointment for the Colts' offense was RB Marlon Mack. Mack has been one of the best surprises this season, but was held to a mere 46 rushing yards. This season was definitely not a failure for Indianapolis, but most fans will be wishing for a better end of next season.

Jason Garrett

The question that seems to be asked every year, will the Cowboys finally fire Jason Garrett? He has been criticized by some Cowboys fans, but hailed as one of the best coaches in the league by others. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones as not answered many questions regarding Garrett's status in Dallas. He has gone 77-59 since taking the job during the middle of the 2008 season. His postseason record is not as glamorous however, going 2-3 in three playoff appearances. The team in Dallas is not that bad, and they should have a decent chance to win the NFC East again next season. It just seems that whenever they get into the playoffs, they choke. Maybe their luck will change over the near future, but I have a horrible feeling that as long as Garrett is the Head Coach of Dallas, they will not find full playoff success.

LA Chargers

What was that? Weren't the Chargers 12-4 and a great Super Bowl team who should have at least went out in a close game? QB Philip Rivers was average at best this weekend with no run game to utilize play-action with. They didn't fully commit to the game until the second half, but sadly it was a half too late. The running backs were just poor, in every definition of the word. It is like they didn't even exist. The whole team just played poorly. Also, the LA defense allowed the Patriots O-Line to control the whole game when New England had the ball. They are in a hard division, which is maybe why they got tired, just maybe? I really don't have a solid answer, just trying to figure out how they played that bad.

Alshon Jeffery

I really feel bad for Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery. The guy was having an alright game, having five catches for 63 yards. But sadly, the one play that everyone for the near future will remember him for is his failed catch during a drive in the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter. Even worse, Jeffery's failed catch went straight into the arms of Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. It has now been disclosed by one of his teammates that Jeffery played with cracked ribs. It is impossible to imagine how the game would have ended out if he didn't play. I hope he can realize that it was a mistake and he shouldn't blame himself too much for it. Nick Foles didn't help him too much anyway.

Honorable mentions: Adam Vinatieri, Ezekiel Elliott, Philip Rivers' family (now has a kid for every time he lost to Tom Brady (0-8)), and Nick Foles' Magic