Travel back in time with me to the 2018 NFL Draft…
As a Cardinals fan, I was languishing because we once again had a disappointing season, but nothing bad enough to get us a top five pick. We needed a quarterback. Badly. We had been floundering for several years after the retirement of Carson Palmer and the 2018 draft class was LOADED. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen. WOW WOW WOW. Yes, there were a lot of flashy names, but I found myself getting excited about Allen, a very tall, very unpolished QB out of Wyoming. He had an absolute cannon of an arm, but little accuracy. He could also run and was touted as a mobile QB (though not as mobile as Jackson). I couldn’t explain why, but I started hoping the Cards would trade up and draft Allen.
They did trade up, but by the time they did, Allen was gone and they selected Rosen. Yikes.
For a few years, we saw flashes of what Allen could be - he would have some astonishing throws, remarkable runs and he seemed to be liked by his teammates. But there were rumblings that he might never be a top-tier (or even second-tier) QB. Apparently Allen heard the criticism and he began to work on his passing accuracy. The Bills listened and put good players and pieces around him. They hired and put faith in head coach Sean McDermott, who in turn put a lot of faith in Allen. It paid off and in 2020, Allen emerged like a massive butterfly out of his massive cocoon and took the league by storm.
Now, in the year of our Lord 2022, the Bills are firmly in contention to not only make the Super Bowl, but possibly WIN. R.I.P. to the folding tables in the Western New York region. But before we get ahead of ourselves, the Bills must pass a very difficult test on Sunday night: they must play Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, a team who looked shaky during the first half of the season, but got hot at the right time. It almost seems unfair that we have this game this weekend instead of next weekend during the AFC Championship game, simply because these are the two best teams in the AFC. And no offense to the Titans or Bengals, but whoever wins the Bills-Chiefs game on Sunday is likely going to the Super Bowl.
In their complete dismantling of the Patriots on Wild Card Weekend, the Bills played one of the finest games of football I’ve ever seen, and Josh Allen had one of the greatest QB performances I’ve ever seen. It was magical, and because it was so magical, every performance from here on out will likely be disappointing. We shouldn’t expect the same performance from the Bills on Sunday. On the flip side, we also shouldn’t expect a similar performance from the Chiefs, who beat the tar out of the Steelers last week. This game will be far more competitive and far more entertaining. I don’t know who will win, I really don’t. But I am rooting for Buffalo and I’m rooting for Josh Allen, because he is awesome and I am still salty that he’s not a Cardinal.
In the event the Bills don’t make it to the Super Bowl, the other team I’d love to see is the Bengals. I know, I know, they likely wouldn’t make it past Buffalo or the Chiefs, but how cool would that be?! They are such an easy team to root for, and like Arizona, they are a very tortured fan base who almost never gets anything to cheer for. Now, they have Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, two of my favorite players to watch this season.
As far as the NFC goes, I’m not terribly excited about any of the teams. Two of them - the Rams and 49ers - are divisional foes of my Cardinals, therefore I cannot root for them. I also can’t root for Tompa Bay because I am so freaking tired of Tom Brady. And lastly, rooting for Green Bay feeling icky because Aaron Rodgers is a shady fool and is the NFL’s version of Joe Rogan.
Basically I really need the Bills to come through for me. Honestly, I’ll be rooting for whatever AFC team makes it to the Super Bowl because the choices in the NFC are just so annoying.
Now, please enjoy a full weekend of good football.
Please Lord let there be good football…
I love the "TOMba Bay" reference. I'm calling it now: Buffalo vs Rams. With the Bills coming out on top. Looks like the Bengals are playing well-I hope I don't jinx them.