NFL AFC & NFC Championship Preview, Divisional Round Review and Coaching Carousel Update (Bills fire head coach)

Segment 1: Divisional Round Game Top 3 Observations (Starts at 1:00) Niners at inflection point? Is there doubt about CJ Stroud being the long-term QB solution in Houston? Sit tight on contract extension? One example of surprisingly poor QB play this postseason Bears had a great first season under new Head Coach Ben Johnson; record setting number of comebacks, will be tough to win THAT many games trailing at the end of so many games (Nigel's return to the mean theory) in 2026/27 Segment 2: Divisional Round Detailed Recap (15:53) Broncos 33, Bills 30 (OT) Scored 30 points despite 5 turnovers, 4 by Josh Allen (2 INTs, 2 fumbles) very costly Many key drops including in OT by Buffalo WRs Bills rallied from 23-10 down after allowing 10 points in the final 30 seconds of the first half to lead 24-23 Bills robbed by INT call in OT on catch by WR Brandin Cooks? That call does Bills way, likely talking about Buffalo in the AFC championship game in New England and HC Sean McDermott would still be employed Broncos well coached; they don't beat themselves with mistakes; QB Bo Nix (only 5 letters, very efficient) makes plays deep in games; did not see the play in which he hurt his ankle Josh Allen: fumbled 14 times in 15 postseason games; 0-7 in OTs (odd); led team to 5 straight AFC East titles, two AFC championship games Seahawks 41, Niners 6 game basically over after first play, returned for TD by former Saints WR Rashid Shaheed Seattle up 17-0 after first quarter Second time in a month, Seahawks D held the Niners without a TD (Seattle D playing very good, consistent football) Patriots 28, Texans 16 Story: implosion by QB CJ Stroud: 4 INTs in the first half, 5 fumbles vs. Steelers Stroud: very inaccurate all game, missing best WR Nico Collins (concussion previous week) set NFL playoff record, first player with at least 5 INTs and 5 fumbles in a single postseason  Pats D dominant for the second straight playoff week Great one-handed TD catch by Pats WR Kayshon Boutte against All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr. all over him Rams 20, Bears 17 (OT) Bears QB Caleb Williams historically great play on 4th and 14 on TD pass to TE Kmet to tie game at 17; threw key INT in OT; amazing sideline catch by Davante Adams in OT Bears D played very well, holding high-scoring Rams offense to just 17 points Chicago: great season at 11-6, won NFC North division;  Segment 3: AFC and NFC Championship Game Previews (34:20)  AFC: Patriots at Broncos All signs to point to the Patriots winning with Denver playing a backup QB who has not taken an NFL snap in two years. Mistake to count out the Broncos and HC Sean Payton? Can Denver take advantage of potential league MVP Drake Maye's lack of ball security this postseason (10 sacks and 6 fumbles in two games at home?) Broncos led the league in sacks Key matchup: underrated Patriots D vs. Denver's offense...will the Broncos be able to run the football? Couldn't against a mediocre Bills defense and Pats run D is way better Both defenses will try to make the opposing offenses one dimensional Patriots 8-0 on road this season, 1-4 vs. Broncos in the postseason NFC: Rams at Seahawks (third meeting this season) Seahawks playing very well in all three phases; overcame a 30-14 deficit vs. the Rams in Week 16 to win a thrilling 38-37 game in OT after a daring, successful 2-point conversion Stafford had over 400 yards passing, team forced 3 INTs, had none and STILL lost Seattle's lost loss: Week 11 in LA vs. Rams QBs: advantage Rams Rams have already beaten the Seahawks and have a battle-tested QB in Matthew Stafford up for league MVP; Seahawks playing better than Rams past month Sam Darnold playing in his first conference championship game; nice to have a strong running game and elite D; rooting for him as Jets fans (Darnold drafted by the Jets) Darnold 14-3 the past two seasons (in Seattle 2025, with Vikings 2024) Seahawks will be missing injured RB Zach Charbonnet (12 rushing TDs), does have WR Kenneth Walker III (close to 300 total yards vs. Rams this season) Rams have two really good WRs in Puca Nacua and Davante Adams, can't double team them both Segment 4: NFL Coaching Carousel (49:40) Bills fire Head Coach Sean McDermott (8-8 in playoffs) yet promote GM Brandon Beane??? ended 18-year playoff drought in his first season 7 straight 10 season wins, 98-50 record Last straw not getting to the Super Bowl with no Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson in the way this postseason GM never replaced the talent after WR1 Stefon Diggs traded Under consideration: Bills OC Joe Brady (also in running for other open HC jobs), Brian Daboll in the mix (from West NY, great job as Josh Allen's first OC, though challenge is his record as Giants HC (lost 2x as many games as he won) Giants have a new HC: John Harbaugh (5 years, $100M)...good work if you can get it will report to ownership not GM, similar to his arrangement in Baltimore; replacing majority of coaches under Daboll Titans hired Robert Saleh, great defensive coordinator; really needs a strong offensive coordinator to win; will he learn from his mistakes as Jets head coach? Kevin Stefanski the new Falcons head coach; retained D Coordinator Jeff Ulrich (former Jets DC); strong offensive talent (RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts), pretty good D; challenge: QB room, Penix oft-injured in college and now again in the pros, Kirk Cousins near the end Dolphins have new HC: Jeff Hafley, former DC of Packers; 8th consecutive hire with no prior NFL head coaching experience; last one: Dave Wannstedt Chargers hired former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel, though interestingly still interviewing for HC jobs (After we taped this) Steelers hired Pittsburgh-native Mike McCarthy; potentially reunites with Aaron Rodgers from their days together in Green Bay Bills, Ravens, Raiders, Browns and Cardinals still looking for their next HC Raiders and Ravens have conducted over a dozen interviews each Nigel prediction: Mike Tomlin or Mike McDaniel to be named Jets head coach next year??? No major candidate likely to take Jets HC job without a QB with which he thinks he can win