The 2020-2021 NFL playoffs have been just like this year, very strange and mysterious. But yet on the other hand has been exciting and spectacular. With Super Bowl LV being set between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, let’s look back at the match ups of this year’s playoffs and see what stood out and see what comes next with the teams that fell competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

WILD CARD WEEKEND:

(7 Seed) Indianapolis Colts 24 @ (2 Seed) Buffalo Bills 27

 What a close one this was! Buffalo came into this home game expected to blow out Indianapolis; however, the tables turned as Indianapolis competed with Buffalo, with Indianapolis just losing by a surprising three points to the Bills giving Buffalo its first playoff win since 1995.

What Next For Indy:

The answer is pretty simple, draft a quarterback. With Philip Rivers gone, the Colts are left with a franchise cornerstone with the one piece they need to possibly compete for Super Bowl titles. Indianapolis thought that Philip Rivers was the final piece to the Super Bowl puzzle. This turned out to be wrong, but with a quarterback heavy 2021 draft class filled with so much potential and talent, with the likes of BYU’s Zach Wilson or Alabama’s Mac Jones amongst others, this could be Indy’s one chance to find a franchise player to take over the reigns and find their final piece to the puzzle.

(5 Seed) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 31 @ (4 Seed) Washington Football Team: 23

What can we say about the quarterback performance on both sides with this matchup besides just spectacular! With Washington having their starting quarterback Alex Smith sidelined due to injury, their backup Taylor Heinicke got the starting job for the Football Team. What a debut for Heinicke as he threw for over 300 yards with one touchdown and an interception! While Brady did what Brady does and just be great, throwing for 381 yards with two touchdowns! Both quarterbacks combined threw for almost 700 yards, but Brady and the Bucs prevailed over an underdog team in Washington.

What Next For The Nation’s Capital:

 For Washington, this was a tricky one to decide what is next going forward. For starters, a QB competition will more than likely take place following Heinicke’s incredible performance against Tampa Bay. Alex Smith is the favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year for 2020-21. But other than that, just keep building up the team with young talent and keep in the race for the division to try and keep the NFC East Crown.

(5 Seed) Baltimore Ravens: 20 @ (4 Seed) Tennessee Titans: 13

 The rematch of last year’s divisional round, Tennessee and Baltimore clashed again and this matchup was nothing more than a dog fight. With class acts from both Lamar Jackson and Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee seemed to lack one thing, the run game. Derrick Henry struggled throughout the game and we barely saw any light from him as we usually see. Baltimore on the other hand was spectacular at running the ball, rushing for 236 yards compared to Tennessee’s 56. This game’s score was a back and forth game until the end, but Baltimore got their revenge ending the Titans’ dreams for a deep playoff run.

What Next For The Music City:

Although Henry did struggle against the Ravens, there is still a lot of light to be shined upon as a result of the season. Ryan Tannehill got a new partner on the outside in AJ Brown. The only advice is resign key players this offseason, Corey Davis being one of them. If they keep Davis along with their other free agents and get more talent on the outside and defense, the Titans will be a serious contender for next season.

(7 Seed) Chicago Bears: 9 @ (2 Seed) New Orleans Saints: 21

In what can only be described before the playoffs as “Drew Brees’s final season,” Brees put on a show for the Saints putting up 265 yards and two touchdowns against a top tier defense in the Bears. As for Chicago, Trubisky threw for 199 yards and one touchdown, a good game for him. So what was the problem for Chicago? Two things: 1. Chicago’s weak offense became well noticed only putting up nine points with one field goal and a touchdown. And 2. missing opportunities to keep the game close as Chicago had the ability to score twice, once with the extra point, and the other with Wims dropping a wide open pass that could have made it a 21-16 score.

What Next For The Monsters of the Midway:

Again another team with a lot of questions. So, let’s start with the most asked one. What to do about the offense? Chicago’s offense has been its weak link. Running back David Montgomery emerged this season to have locked up the backfield and Allen Robinson is due for an extension this offseason if he becomes a free agent. But the most questioned is the quarterback position with Trubisky possibly getting the boot from Chicago in favor of a possible 2021 draft prospect or possibly putting him in a trade for Deshaun Watson. With a Super Bowl caliber defense, Matt Nagy and the front office better figure out how to solve these problems quickly or otherwise it could be time to let Nagy go or even worse, start an early rebuild.

(6 Seed) Cleveland Browns: 48 @ (3 Seed) Pittsburgh Steelers: 37

What to say about this game besides what an upset! With the Browns earning their first trip to the postseason since 2003, this game expected to be a complete blow out by Pittsburgh. But instead we were left in shock and in awe as Cleveland got off to a hot start, scoring 28 unanswered points in just the first quarter! But it did not just stop there for the Browns. As Pittsburgh kept on cutting into the Browns lead, Cleveland kept responding, putting up almost 400 total yards on one of the league’s top defenses! With Mayfield throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns, the Browns earned their first playoff win since 1994. 

What Next For The Steelers:

An overall sloppy game by Pittsbugh, a lot has to be said about how to address next season. It starts with Big Ben, the question being is it time for the Steelers to move on from him? Yes, the stats are showing that he is on the decline and it is time to draft his replacement. With Roethlisberger throwing for over 500 yards and four touchdowns, he also threw for three interceptions in just the first half. Again with a heavy 2021 QB draft class, this could be Pittsburgh’s time to draft his replacement. And then there was the Juju problem. Juju has had a reputation for jinxing games with his Tik Tok dances and mockery of teams. He is a free agent this season and the question is do they let him walk or resign him to a max deal? A lot of problems are coming about to Pittsburgh, and the world can agree that Pittsburgh is in some serious trouble in the long run if they cannot get it together for next season.

DIVISIONAL ROUND:

(6 Seed) Los Angeles Rams: 18 @ (1 Seed) Green Bay Packers 32

 A matchup that featured the NFC’s number one defense in the and arguably the NFC’s best offense, the Packers looked like the more complete team with this game. Putting up 484 total offensive yards against the Rams defense. LA’s offense looked sluggish and struggled to compete against Green Bay and MVP favorite quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

What’s Next For LA:

With Jared Goff being traded to Detroit in a package deal that included two first round picks, a third round pick, and Lions quarterback Matthew Staford, the Rams are in a state of all in. Since 2017, they have had no first round picks which means there is no backup plan if one of their stars regresses. LA has had a tendency to trade first round picks and get little in return (beside the Jalen Ramsey trade), and it might cost LA in the long run and it might start with the axing of the front office.

(5 Seed) Baltimore Ravens: 3 @ (2 Seed) Buffalo Bills: 17

This matchup had a lot of potential to be a very high scoring and competitive game. But although the score was close, it was a very low scoring game with the scoring being 3-3 going into the second half. Although Buffalo ran away with the game in the third quarter, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a costly interception in the late third quarter. Along with costly missed field goals by Justin Tucker, Buffalo advances to their first AFC Championship since 1993. 

What’s Next For The Flock:

Two things. One, get another weapon for Lamar Jackson to throw the ball to. Having Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews as your only liable weapons definitely had an effect for Lamar Jackson. Get him another weapon to work within free agency or the draft. Two, maintain a strong defensive core, especially keeping Matthew Judon as all costs. Just doing these two musts could lead to Baltimore possibly being favored to win the AFC North next year if not the AFC Championship.

(6 Seed) Cleveland Browns: 17 @ (1 Seed) Kansas City Chiefs: 22

Cleveland was yet again expected to be blown out by the defending Super Bowl champions, and yet again defied the odds. Losing to Kansas City by only five points despite being down by 16 going into the second half. However, they struggled to keep superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field and it definitely showed. Not only that, but the Browns offense struggled early to get going both in the run and the pass. Although Mahomes suffered an injury late in the game that would take him out of action, and Cleveland mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, Kansas City still prevailed with Chad Henne at quarterback for the rest of the game, advancing the Chiefs to their third straight AFC Championship appearance.

What’s Next For The Dawg Pound:

Defense! Defense! Defense! If Cleveland is going to compete with a very strong AFC North next year, they need more defensive help especially in the secondary. Perhaps trading for Marshawn Lattimore or getting defensive help in free agency could help. With many talented defensive stars being available, the Browns could definitely use up the massive amount of cap space they have to sign some stars. But other than that, the Cleveland Browns will be the team to watch next year as they have a much tougher schedule next year.

(5 Seed) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 30 @ (2 Seed) New Orleans Saints: 20

What can only be described as a legend versus legend contest, this game featured two of the best quarterbacks of their generation, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Drew Brees hoped to go on one last run before retirement. But his dreams were stopped short as turnovers cost New Orleans the game and Tampa Bay, led by Brady, put on a scoring fiesta following those turnovers. Tampa Bay upset New Orleans to advance to their first NFC Championship game since 2002.

What’s Next For Who Dat Nation:

A lot needs to be done in order for the Saints to get back to their full potential. Losing Brees is definitely a huge blow to New Orleans, and the question remains about who will replace him. Many have said his backup quarterback Jameis Winston will take over, while others have said to just draft his replacement in North Dakota State’s very own Trey Lance, or possibly even trading for Deshawn Watson.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

(5 Seed) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 31 @ (2 Seed) Green Bay Packers 26

Another contest that features two of the best quarterbacks of the generation in Brady and Rodgers. Despite Rodgers having an outstanding game overall and Brady having thrown costly interceptions, Green Bay falls to Brady and the Bucs. Many people were left with shock and awe at this game as Green Bay was favored to possibly win the Super Bowl; however, terrible play calls cost the Packers dearly as the Bucs are the first team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl at their home field and have “home field advantage”. 

What’s Next For Green Bay:

A lot of people are questioning this team about the future and are worried about this team possibly regressing, but this is just not the case. The Packers have openly expressed their feelings to keep Rodgers in Green Bay. The entire team is solid; only one thing really has to be done, draft another weapon for Aaron Rodgers to throw to.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

(2 Seed) Buffalo Bills: 24 @ (1 Seed) Kansas City Chiefs: 38

Mahomes versus Allen, the defending MVP versus the underdog, the defending Super Bowl champions versus Bills Mafia. A matchup expected for Kansas City to win, Buffalo definitely did not go down without a fight as Buffalo kept in it with Kansas City. That was until Kansas City unleashed its offensive weapons in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, which overwhelmed Buffalo’s defense.

What’s Next For Bills Mafia:

Keep the core intact. The Buffalo Bills are serious contenders next year if they get everyone back. But they will be even better next year as they go into next year’s draft.

SUPER BOWL LV:

Kansas City Chiefs VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So we now have made it to Super Bowl LV, a matchup between the greatest quarterback of the generation and one of greatest young quarterbacks ever. What’s the prediction for this matchup? Kansas City repeats as Super Bowl champions and beats Tom Brady and the Bucs. With Mahomes’s win over Brady, it could mean the end of an era and new beginning in the Mahomes era.