2021 3GML Season - Divisional Round

 San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TAMPA BAY - Sometimes in the NFL playoffs it's better to be the hot team than the one with a better record.  This was the case Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 42-28.  

San Francisco looked to be on the brink of collapse with three games left in the regular season after a four game losing streak.  The 49ers, however, flipped a switch and have not lost a game since.

Justin Fields continued his stellar playoff play throwing for 334 yards and 4 touchdowns along with 75 yards rushing.  Time and time again Fields pushed the ball down the field into tight windows.

"Seeing the field well right now," Fields said. "I have to credit the coaches getting me prepared each week."

The game was tight early with Tom Brady finding Scotty Miller for two long touchdowns continually answering 49er scores.  However, when things shifted to the second half, the 49er defense found its footing while Tampa Bay struggled to stop Alvin Kamara.  Kamara had 61 rushing and 70 yards receiving with a touchdown of each variety.

San Francisco now heads to Dallas to take on the number one seed Cowboys in the NFC Championship.  Dallas has only lost one game all season and it will be the 49ers biggest challenge this season.

"We know they don't want to play us." Safety Derwin James said. "We have all the momentum in the world right now."

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans are going to the AFC Championship after defeating the New England Patriots 34-14.  The Texans defense was magnificent, holding the Pats to 205 total yards on offense.

"We were motivated after losing on that last play in the regular season," Logan Ryan said. "They weren't going to come into our house and get that result again."

The Texans once again used their two quarterback system and rolled Andy Dalton out to start this game.  And once again Dalton turned the ball over on the first possession, this time on a strip sack fumble.  Coach David Shaw gave him a second series but after another fumble that was recovered by the Texans, the team turned to Gardner Minshew and never looked back.  Minshew was electric, throwing for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns giving him a 152.0 quarterback rating.

The beneficiary of Minshew's outstanding play was DeSean Jackson, who showed GM TH made the right move by bringing him in mid-season.  Jackson had five receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a 49 yard bomb right before half time.

"We were surprised when he was made available and felt like we needed a veteran presences in our wide receiver room," GM TH said. "He's been every thing we could have wanted and more."

Houston finds themselves hosting the AFC Championship game after the Baltimore Ravens upset the number one seed Kansas City Chiefs.  The Texans will have to stop a hot Lamar Jackson if it wants to play in Super Bowl LVI.

2021 3GML Season - Wild Card Round

Washington Football Team @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - Justin Fields won his playoff debut as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the visiting Washington Football Team 33-9 in the NFL's wild card round.  Fields looked ready for the moment as he threw for 230 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.  He also added a rushing touchdown on the afternoon.

"Happy to get the win.  We're playing good football right now," Fields said. "This is just the start for us."

The game was slow to start with both teams trading field goals in the first quarter.  Knotted 3-3 in the 2nd, the 49er offense started heating up and Fields hit Trey Burton for the games first touchdown.  The score fired up the defense who sacked WFT quarterback Kyle Allen for a safety on the very next possession.  After that, the game seemed to get away from Washington and they never threatened again.

Defensively, San Francisco interceptions by Marcus Williams, Byron Murphy Jr, and CJ Gardner-Johnson  set the tone and the 49ers kept Washington out of the end zone.  This defense now seems to be peaking at the right time.  They were crucial in the team's three-game winning streak to end the season and clinch the division and their play has carried into the playoffs.

San Francisco will now turn their attention to the divisional round where they'll face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers' quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions came to a disappointing end Saturday as the Seattle Seahawks dominated from start to finish and left with a 52-21 win.  The Seattle offense was unstoppable and Green Bay had no answers.

"We didn't play well on the defensive side of the ball," Coach Eric Bieniemy said. "You can't play like that and win a playoff game in the NFL."

For Seattle, Russell Wilson was electric, throwing for 397 yards and five touchdowns.  Every time Green Bay seemed to get within striking distance, Wilson put the game out of reach.

Green Bay now heads into the offseason and will look to reload in free agency and the draft.

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans kept their season alive with a 40-21 win over the Denver Broncos.  Widely considered to be a year away from contention, this Texans team showed they belong now.  Going against the reigning MVP in Aaron Rodgers, few gave Houston a chance.

"We believe in ourselves and everyone in that locker room knows we have each others' backs." 3GML MVP Mike Gesicki said.

 The game was close early with the teams never separating more than one score.  Heading into the 4th quarter, the Texans held a 20-13 when Gardner Minshew hit Gesicki for a 50-yard touchdown blowing things open.  There looked to be some confusion on the sideline right before the play as David Shaw tried to call timeout but the referee didn't see him.  For Houston, it may go down as the greatest timeout never called.

Houston gets to stay home as they host New England next week in a rematch of their week five contest.  In that one, the Patriots stormed back in the fourth quarter and scored as time expired, winning 24-23.  Will the rematch be just as tight?  We'll see on Saturday.