Soldier Field (Chicago) — You saw the Los Angeles Rams edge the Chicago Bears in a thriller and the Seattle Seahawks annihilate the depleted San Francisco 49ers. You saw the Denver Broncos prevail against the Buffalo Bills in controversial fashion and the New England Patriots outlast the Houston Texans.
You probably didn’t see Broncos quarterback Bo Nix break his ankle, but you know by now that it happened.
So let’s try to spin it forward, dive deeper and think outside the box about what we witnessed in the divisional round of the playoffs. This is “Sound Smart,” where we prepare you for Monday morning with six observations from the second round of the postseason. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent in the NFL’s playoff action.
1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ben Johnson’s message about the Bears’ season was spot-on, but his players might’ve missed the point: They missed an opportunity.
Given the way Johnson’s tenure with the Detroit Lions went (and how the Lions’ season went this year), the Bears head coach must have appreciated how close his team was. How they let the victory slip through their fingers in their 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams. How this sort of special run is hard to replicate.
Look at what happened to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 after their theatrical run of narrow victories in 2024.
Look at what happened to the Minnesota Vikings from last season to this one.
It’s not easy to win one playoff game. It’s not easy to get into a position to take down Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and the Rams in the postseason. Ask Josh Allen about how many shots he’s gotten to play in the conference title game. And so I found one quote from Johnson to be salient during his postgame press conference.
A reporter asked whether Johnson felt momentum building into next year.
“Next season is next season. It’s a new chapter,” Johnson said at the postgame podium in Chicago. “We’ll have to write a whole brand new story. That’s the thing about this, you put in all this work and you sacrifice and you trust the people around you and you can’t take any shortcuts. I wish I could say this is momentum from year one. It doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t work that way. And honestly, I don’t want to talk about next year yet.”
The momentum for next year is as real as the momentum that Chicago felt after tight end Cole Kmet caught Caleb Williams’ miraculous heave to the end zone on fourth down in the final moments of regulation. At that point, the Bears thought they were winning Sunday, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett admitted. Williams said he was visualizing the different scenarios where the Bears would win in overtime.
None of his imaginations came true.
Caleb Williams made the two biggest throws in the Bears’ loss to the Rams: a last-second TD pass in the fourth quarter and an interception late in overtime. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Just as quickly as Soldier Field flooded with momentum, it dried up with Williams’ overtime interception. A few minutes later, the Rams kicked a field goal to win.
“This is what happens. It ends abruptly,” Johnson said.
I was surprised upon hearing a particular word cropping up in the Bears locker room — and then also during Williams’ postgame press conference:
“Excited.”
Excited?
“It’s a frustration. It’s a fire. Those are the two words I’d go with. I’m excited, though,” Williams said.
He added: “Every year is its own thing, but I will say that … we’ve got a good core that the organization’s done a good job of building and so the growth that we’ve had is going to be enjoyable. … We’re going to be here for a little bit. I’m excited about it.”
Enjoyable?
Williams wasn’t the only player who was “excited” after what — at least to me — seemed like a devastating defeat.
“I’m so excited to have [Williams] as my quarterback,” Jarrett mentioned. “Simply the battle. Simply the resiliency. Simply the uncooked expertise and the assumption. The sky’s the restrict for him. I’m so pleased with him to see the expansion from the primary day of OTAs to now. Do not get it twisted. We damage. … I am saying we damage, however we’re additionally pleased with the hassle and the dedication that it took to even get thus far.”
And what concerning the operating backs? That they had an particularly exhausting time changing these third- and fourth-and-short performs versus the Rams.
“We took a step in the suitable path this 12 months, and we’ve been counted out all 12 months,” Bears RB D’Andre Swift mentioned. “It ain’t no ethical victory. I perceive that, however I’m rattling pleased with this group, this teaching employees — the work that all of us put in. No person is aware of, outdoors of this constructing, what we do each single day. So we took a step in the suitable path.”
This wasn’t a rainbows-and-butterflies locker room. However it wasn’t what I’d anticipated. And from my vantage level, the gamers are lacking the purpose that their coach made at his press convention.
The Bears had greater than sufficient alternatives to win this recreation. You would possibly even argue that they need to have received this recreation. They missed so many possibilities to place themselves in a greater place to win. There was the fourth-and-2 on the opening drive that resulted in an interception. There was the second-quarter turnover on downs that got here after failed third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 makes an attempt. There have been the purple zone struggles, together with the truth that they got here away empty after a first-and-goal from the Rams’ 5-yard line within the fourth quarter.
And naturally, there was the interception in additional time, the place Williams made an unnecessarily dangerous throw on second-and-8 — he later referred to as it a “miscommunication” with D.J. Moore on how the route ought to’ve been run. Rams security Kam Curl ended up securing the back-breaking turnover.
Swift got here to Williams’ protection on that play.
“Man, that ain’t on Caleb,” he mentioned when requested if he spoke to Williams after the ultimate interception. “Don’t fear about that. Play that kind of recreation — it ain’t on Caleb in any respect.”
In any respect?
Williams made unimaginable performs — with the throw to Kmet being downright inconceivable for each different QB within the league and possibly within the historical past of the league. However that one throw can’t excuse the errors he made at different factors within the recreation. The blame right here hardly falls on Williams alone, even with three interceptions. Loads of Bears got here up brief, and it is comprehensible for them to again their 24-year-old QB.
The Bears have constructed a tradition round Johnson, who seems to be a particular coach.
Additionally they belief Williams, given the unimaginable late-game work he did all season. His arm and creativity is not like something I’ve seen.
That’s particular, too.
I simply surprise if the Bears (other than Johnson) understand the magnitude of their success this 12 months, as a result of I’m not completely positive they totally acknowledged the magnitude of their shortcomings on this recreation. It’s extremely unlikely that they will do this once more. Groups just like the Bears — with all these late-game heroics — are extra weak to regression, even with an elite coach and a younger QB. Even with a formidable core.
The Bears ought to’ve received this recreation. Perhaps it hasn’t hit them but. It may not hit them till every time they do not fall two performs in need of making the NFC title recreation, or miss the playoffs altogether. Perhaps then they’re going to really perceive how far they bought — and what they left on the desk in additional time towards Stafford and the Rams.
2. WHAT IF …
Payments QB Josh Allen by no means wins a Tremendous Bowl?
My coronary heart breaks for Buffalo.
If you happen to’re a sports activities fan — a good-faith shopper of competitors — how may your coronary heart not break for the Payments and, particularly, for Allen?
With purple, teary eyes, he stood in entrance of the media and struggled to get phrases out about Buffalo’s additional time loss to the Broncos. I hope you perceive my sympathy isn’t about bias or fanaticism. It’s about humanity.
And man, it damage to look at Allen face failure, once more.
The Payments’ season, on the entire, was spectacular. It was successful by most groups’ requirements. However when measured towards Allen’s final objective — a Tremendous Bowl win — the season was a failure. That’s the devastating actuality of the NFL.
Solely 46 gamers will costume for the profitable group within the Tremendous Bowl. Allen received’t be one in all them.
“It’s extraordinarily troublesome,” Alen instructed reporters. “Really feel like I let my teammates down tonight. … It’s been an extended season. I hate the way it ended. That’s going to stay with me for a very long time.”
On the subject of being his fault, he’s proper — and he’s unsuitable.
And I’ll get into the methods he let his teammates down and the way they let him down — and the way it all added as much as a devastating calculus that possibly it’ll by no means occur for Allen. However first, I wish to acknowledge the expectations and the stress which have smothered Allen. It’s why he’s clearly extra upset than we’ve ever seen him as a professional.
You should know: Buffalo has by no means ended a postseason run with a win. You should know: Buffalo has ended each Tremendous Bowl pursuit with heartbreak.
Many — in all probability Allen included — thought Buffalo may win the Tremendous Bowl on Allen’s expertise alone. The aggressive method Allen performed in Denver (with 4 turnovers and three touchdowns) was proof that even he felt the Payments would solely win a Tremendous Bowl if he carried his group there. We’ll by no means know for positive whether or not Allen’s play was overly aggressive.
We do know, nevertheless, that it was a delusion that made everybody imagine in Allen and the Payments. Media members have been infatuated with the thought of Allen getting his shot. If you happen to didn’t have a look at their roster, you’ll assume: What higher alternative for Buffalo to win? No Patrick Mahomes. No Joe Burrow. No Lamar Jackson. However while you appeared on the roster rigorously, you could possibly plainly see the methods this group couldn’t — and didn’t — add as much as the others within the AFC.
Not except Allen was unsustainably wonderful. And there’s the rub: the unsustainability. As a result of this Payments group is sweet. However they’re undoubtedly not nice. They’re not a Tremendous Bowl roster with out the very best soccer participant on the planet enjoying like the very best soccer participant on the planet.
Josh Allen holds the NFL report for postseason wins (8) by a beginning quarterback with no Tremendous Bowl look. (Picture by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
With Allen, that they had a shot. Till they didn’t.
“I feel all of us really feel that method,” Brandin Cooks mentioned by tears. “I look again and I’m like, ‘Man what may I’ve completed to have the ability to alleviate a few of that stress from him?’ You simply love this recreation a lot and while you come up brief like this, it’s going to sting for a very long time.”
The Payments’ loss to the Broncos was crammed with elation and deflation in ways in which solely Allen’s video games appear to supply. The throw to Cooks was one in all many who got here beneath scrutiny, as a result of it ended with cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepting the soccer by snatching it out of Cooks’ arms (extra on that within the subsequent part.) Cooks actually ought to by no means have been on the sphere for the Payments. He joined the group in late November, and he was one in all many pass-catchers who turned playmakers by necessity on a roster that didn’t have sufficient. And that thinning confirmed on that interception — and on the incompletion to Mecole Hardman (one other midseason addition) on the play earlier than the McMillan interception, the place Allen wasn’t in sync together with his receiver who ran too deep of a route.
Argue all you need over the interception. It was a 50-50 play the place the wonder or horror is within the eye of the beholder. I, for one, assume the officers bought that play proper. I additionally assume they bought the opposite calls proper. If there was one ambiguous name, it was the primary defensive cross interference name on cornerback Taron Johnson, however provided that there was additionally a roughing the passer penalty, it actually didn’t matter that the DPI appeared questionable.
None of that might’ve mattered if Allen had merely hit Dawson Knox on the Payments’ remaining throw of regulation. If Allen had hit Knox, the tight finish in all probability would’ve scored. And that will’ve effectually determined the sport.
However within the second that mattered most, Allen missed Knox. An overthrow.
There have been extra logic-defying performs the place Allen got here up brief. In an inexcusable play on the finish of the primary half, he scrambled with 16 seconds left (and no timeouts) and fumbled the ball to arrange a Broncos subject objective. It was three free factors for Denver and among the worst situational consciousness I’ve seen from Allen since his second season. (And that’s saying one thing.) Then Allen made issues worse with one other fumble on the second play of the second half. Within the third quarter, Allen threw an interception instantly after Bo Nix threw a decide — letting Denver off straightforward on the Broncos QB’s solely pricey mistake of the night time and the one takeaway from the Payments protection.
These errors made it clear as day: Nobody needed to win a Tremendous Bowl greater than Allen.
It will be foolish to say he needed it an excessive amount of. However it’s honest to say that he felt he needed to do an excessive amount of. And given the rating, he in all probability may’ve completed a complete lot much less and never turned the ball over 4 instances.
He should have seen the way in which Drake Maye is ascending within the AFC East. He is aware of that Burrow and Mahomes and Lamar might be again. He should have seen the way in which Nix appeared a complete lot like Allen on this recreation. Even Trevor Lawrence is enjoying his finest soccer. Quarterbacks are the important thing to sustained success and there are loads of groups geared as much as be aggressive for the foreseeable future, particularly within the AFC.
It’s solely going to get more durable for Allen to win a Tremendous Bowl.
This offseason might be about ensuring Allen has much less to hold — in the way in which of offense, expectations and stress — in 2026. However provided that he’ll be 30 years outdated and performs loads like Cam Newton, Allen is perhaps operating out of time.
He have to be questioning: What if I by no means win one? Will each season finish in tears?
Sean McDermott needed to name a timeout to get officers to evaluation the Broncos’ Ja’Quan McMillian’s interception. (Picture by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
3. HE SAID WHAT?!
Sean McDermott referred to as The Buffalo Information late on Saturday night time to air out extra grievances concerning the officiating — particularly the ruling on Denver defensive again Ja’Quan McMillian’s interception.
McDermott felt a uncommon sort of urgency to ship a second message about what occurred across the cross meant for Cooks, which resulted in an additional time interception. The Payments coach addressed the play on the press convention and questioned the officers’ course of in making their ruling and sharing their details about that ruling: that Cooks didn’t possess the ball for lengthy sufficient to represent a downed catch. That meant it was a turnover.
Apparently, after rewatching it and considering by it once more (and once more (and once more), McDermott determined to name up The Buffalo Information’ Jay Skurski to air out extra grievances.
Sure, this kind of telephone name — which Skurski logged as a pool report — is extraordinarily uncommon.
McDermott repeatedly acknowledged: “That’s a catch all the way in which.”
I nonetheless assume it was an interception.
The principles say as a lot, even when our eyes make us assume possibly it was a catch.
“I assumed the ball got here free once they hit the bottom and McMillan ended up with it,” FOX Sports activities guidelines analyst Dean Blandino texted me. “Cooks has to carry onto the ball till his whole physique is on the bottom, and it didn’t appear like he did. When it’s that shut, I like going with survival of the fittest. I assumed they need to have stopped the sport to do a full evaluation to remove any doubt that they checked out it carefully. In the end, no matter method they dominated on the sphere, to me, would stand.”
Within the slow-mo replay period, this isn’t only a recreation of inches. It’s a recreation of milliseconds. It was the kind of play the place you may solely say what you assume occurred. However it’s not definitive. That kind of grey space drives followers insane.
It’s 2026. How can we not get it proper?
Nicely, that’s as a result of there was concurrently no proper or unsuitable name. Even within the 12 months 2026 — with all of the expertise and thoroughly spelled-out guidelines — there’ll at all times be ambiguity. It is perhaps exhausting to see at this actual second, however it’s a part of what makes this sport nice. That McDermott can’t see that’s shocking.
That McDermott is refusing to take accountability within the warmth of the second is notable. He’s, in any case, the identical man that mentioned this, only a month in the past.
“We go by what the officers name,” McDermott mentioned after a controversial win over the Patriots.
The Payments coach will nearly undoubtedly face a advantageous for his feedback. He’ll seemingly win over the Buffalo fan base for the criticism and earn respect inside his locker room. I don’t understand how possession will view the outspoken conduct, however it stands to motive that McDermott and basic supervisor Brandon Beane may face job insecurity within the coming days. And never simply due to the criticisms of the officiating. McDermott and Beane have had six seasons of Allen in his prime. They don’t have a Tremendous Bowl to point out for it.
May it’s time to provide another person a shot?
4. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY
What the heck occurred to C.J. Stroud? Nicely …
In a 27-16 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, Stroud was the primary participant with 5 or extra interceptions and 5 or extra fumbles in a single postseason since at the very least 1991, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. I’d name Stroud a practice wreck, however that will be ungenerous to coach wrecks.
So, what occurred?
The identical factor that occurred to Justin Herbert.
Mike Vrabel occurred.
Take heed to what Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane relayed after final week’s recreation when the Patriots put a hurting on Herbert and the L.A. Chargers at Gillette Stadium.
“After the sport, speaking to some of the blokes on the opposite group, that they had no clue what we have been doing,” Spillane instructed reporters in a postgame press convention.
The Patriots are enjoying undecipherable protection. Their blitzes are merciless and weird. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez appears like one of many NFL’s finest. Identical with defensive sort out Milton Williams. And so does — of all folks— pass-rusher Ok’Lavon Chaisson.
It’s a testomony to them. It’s a testomony to their chief, Vrabel.
New England was a number of steps forward of Stroud and offensive coordinator Nick Caley — a former mentee of Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
C.J. Stroud threw 4 interceptions within the first half alone versus the Patriots. (Picture by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
Stroud tried a tight-window throw on 14 of his 47 passes (29.8%), the very best charge pressured by a protection over the previous six postseasons, per Subsequent Gen Stats. New England’s protection added 27.8 anticipated factors throughout 5 turnovers, probably the most by a playoff protection within the Subsequent Gen Stats period (since 2016).
Stroud has been streaky — at finest — and downright dangerous — at worst — over the previous 10 video games. It ought to come as no shock that he turned the ball over. The shock was simply how usually New England generated takeaways. The Patriots had a good-not-great protection for many of the common season. This unit is barely recognizable, out of the blue trying like among the finest within the NFL.
5. ONE PLAY THAT SAYS IT ALL
For all of the skepticism round Bo Nix and his potential, he delivered.
On the primary play of additional time, the Payments determined to ship two further blitzers. It felt like when a brand new goalie steps in for the starter: You’ve bought to check him. However Nix was excellent on the play. He used a tough depend to undress the protection — revealing their blitz and protection. Nix set his safety correctly so he had sufficient time to hit his hot-route, an 11-yard acquire to Courtland Sutton.
Buffalo needed an enormous play to open additional time. Nix made them pay.
It was exemplary of what Nix did all recreation lengthy. The Payments had a formidable recreation plan ready for the younger QB, and on third downs, they threw all types of bizarre and inventive blitzes at Nix. It will be hyperbolic to say he didn’t flinch, given he threw an interception and accomplished fewer than 60% of his passes. However he carried out particularly nicely regardless of the literal and emotional stress.
I anticipate that Nix’s unimaginable recreation will get misplaced within the shuffle as everybody turns their consideration to backup Jarrett Stidham, who will take over for Nix within the AFC Championship Sport. I, for one, don’t assume the Broncos stand an opportunity anymore, given what the Patriots can have in retailer for Stidham. However I feel that’s all of the extra motive to acknowledge what Nix has completed quietly to determine himself as one of many NFL’s premier passers.
It’s a crowded area. It’s a bit early to name him elite.
However as a result of Nix is tucked away in Denver and beneath Sean Payton’s wing, the younger QB doesn’t get a lot love. He had an superior season. He bought considerably higher. And if he have been nonetheless wholesome, he may have even been a protected guess for Tremendous Bowl MVP.
6. EVERYONE’S AFRAID TO SAY IT …
Half 1: Seahawks GM John Schneider has been good, and defensive guru Mike Macdonald is perhaps a … QB whisperer.
Throughout a coaching camp joint apply, Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba carved aside the Inexperienced Bay Packers protection. I had an interview scheduled with Cooper Kupp, who had two catches within the apply — each on significant downs. However I knew I used to be set to talk to the unsuitable WR. Smith-Njigba was about to be a famous person. His breakout 12 months began in coaching camp.
He’s one in all Seattle’s many success tales this 12 months. Due to him (and all the opposite success tales), Darnold has been wonderful. Due to all these success tales, Darnold is neglected.
This offseason, the Seahawks did what each analyst suggests a group ought to do: exploit a price alternative within the QB market. They discovered a veteran castoff and constructed round him.
It ran opposite to the prevailing knowledge, which is that the very best worth is a QB on his rookie contract. The issue with that concept is that younger QBs typically take time to develop — in the event that they develop in any respect. We discuss loads concerning the unreliability of QB growth, however it doesn’t appear to vary issues on draft day when groups spend first-rounders on QBs they assume they will plug and play. By the point the QB has developed, he would possibly already be due for a megadeal. And such a contract creates challenges that the Payments and Chiefs now face. It’s exhausting to construct a 53-man roster with a large contract taking on cap area. GMs need to hit on draft picks and bargain-bin free brokers at a excessive charge to construct round that QB.
When Sam Darnold performs mistake-free soccer, as he did versus the 49ers on Saturday, the Seahawks are significantly exhausting to beat. (Picture by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photos)
So why not arrange a QB for fulfillment by giving him all the pieces he wants?
Why not snatch a veteran castoff who is definitely plug-and-play?
Why not store for a QB within the cut price bin, moderately than the opposite positions?
It’s simpler mentioned than completed. And when the counterintuitive idea fails, the manager appears idiotic. He’s a punching bag for criticism. He’s open for firing.
That’s why it’s necessary to notice what Schneider did. And it’s not simply how he moved on from Geno Smith to Darnold, which is definitely the least necessary of all the choices Schneider made. No, it’s about all the opposite issues: drafting stars like Smith-Njigba, CB Devon Witherspoon, OL Grey Zabel and Charles Cross, DB Nick Emmanwori and operating backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The record goes on. And in free company, the Seahawks accomplished the ultimate spots on the roster, with Darnold, Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence, amongst others. Additionally they traded Rashid Shaheed, who scored the game-opening kickoff return landing towards the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night time.
It added up to an entire roster that’s harmful at each place.
For the second straight 12 months, the Seahawks quietly boasted one of many league’s extra prolific passers. Solely this 12 months, the Seahawks have arrange their roster and their recreation plan to depend upon that QB as little as attainable. Whereas Macdonald is deservedly celebrated for his defensive acumen, he has been excellent in fostering a optimistic surroundings for his QBs.
You don’t usually consider the defensive man as a QB guru. However possibly we must always.
As a result of whereas the 2018 draft class boasted Allen and Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, it’s Darnold (as soon as a Jets choice) who out of the blue appears like the very best candidate to win a Tremendous Bowl.
Half 2: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte is the reality.
The win over the Texans wasn’t an particularly good recreation from Drake Maye, who turned the ball over 3 times (one interception and 4 fumbles with two misplaced). He accomplished 62.5% of his passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. And if not for Stroud’s efficiency, Maye’s shortcomings might need been a extra outstanding speaking level.
One man who didn’t come up brief was Boutte.
Boutte ripped down a one-handed landing regardless of protection from cornerback Derek Stingley. And possibly Boutte had the arrogance he’d make the catch as a result of he made a really comparable play towards Stingley earlier this 12 months. That’s proper, Boutte beat out one of many league’s finest corners on the deep ball a number of instances this 12 months. As Maye has honed that a part of his recreation, Boutte has been proper there for his QB to optimize the downfield passing.
“He retains on making them. He retains on making performs, making me look good,” Maye instructed reporters after the sport. “A one-handed catch, not a lot else to say about it. It was fairly candy. Sort of the identical kind of throw as my first one to him, and he made an excellent higher catch this time.”
New England would possibly sometime have a correct WR1. Perhaps as quickly as 2026. However Boutte ought to stay the group’s deep menace, as a result of his rapport with Maye is superlative.
Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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