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That wasn’t really the ideal set of winners from this past weekend’s AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, was it? The two outcomes almost made me give Enemy Reaction a skip this weekend, but I said I was going to do one for each playoff round after the Seattle Seahawks were eliminated, and occasionally I’m a man of my word.
We’re going to do things a bit differently this time around. As awesome as both games were (and as undesirable as both results turned out to be), I’m truncating this to focus primarily on the referees and the controversial calls and non-calls (and one correct call!) made in the fourth quarters of Rams-Saints and Patriots-Chiefs. And of course we’ll cap it off with reaction to the winning points, and bonus reactions from divisional rivals for the winning and losing sides.
Let’s go!
Los Angeles Rams 26 New Orleans Saints 23 (Overtime)
Nope, this is totally not pass interference (20-17 NO)
Bullshit no-call. Blindness on top of bullshit pic.twitter.com/2Z7V1pqalo
— John Fraley (@johndavidfraley) January 20, 2019
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Ted Ginn puts the Saints in tremendous position to win the game with 43-yard catch (20-20)
Ted Ginn Jr. getting UP for the HUGE catch in crunch time!
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) January 20, 2019
(Via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/IPBKztg4QQ
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Nickell Robey-Coleman with a clean, totally legal hit that definitely isn’t pass interference (20-20)
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Bonus Reaction (in order) from....
Carolina Panthers
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Atlanta Falcons
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Seattle Seahawks
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Greg Zuerlein sends the Rams to the Super Bowl (26-23 LAR Final)
Greg Zuerlein sends the @RamsNFL to the @SuperBowl!!!!!#LARams #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vJ9goPzit2
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2019
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Bonus Reaction (in order) from....
Panthers
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Falcons
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Buccaneers
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49ers
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Seahawks
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Patriots
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RIP Saints fan’s TV
New England Patriots 37 Kansas City Chiefs 31 (Overtime) - AFC Championship Game
Julian Edelman muffs punt, Chiefs recover (17-14 KC)
WAIT...WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/gNxvoaF1IF
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 21, 2019
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...But the call is reversed (17-14 KC)
El "muffed punt" de Julian Edelman, toma II. En esta imagen parece que no toca el balón.
— Rudy Jacinto (@ParadojaNFL) January 22, 2019
¿Qué opinan? pic.twitter.com/Gk8udUNAxb
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Ball Don’t Lie! (17-14 KC)
Off Edelman's fingertips and Daniel Sorensen grabs it!
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2019
The @Chiefs' second INT of the game #NFLPlayoffs #LetsRoll
: #NEvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/VrqlwC6nnW
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Personal foul, roughing the Brady (21-17 KC)
This brutally violent act by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones on Tom Brady drew a roughing the passer penalty. There’s simply no room in the sport for such gruesome violence. Please do not allow small children to watch this video. #NEvsKC pic.twitter.com/WlHo0ICbM1
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) January 21, 2019
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INTERCEPTION! Chiefs are going to the Super Bo——-DAMMIT, DEE FORD! (28-24 KC)
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Patriots win it in overtime on Rex Burkhead touchdown (37-31 NE Final)
They won the coin toss. Then the game.
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2019
Every play from the OT drive that sent the @Patriots to the @SuperBowl! #SBLIII #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/iyGCYeTYSx
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Bonus Reactions (in order) from...
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Chiefs fans react to a heartbreaking loss
And now there’s only one game to go. February 3rd, 2002 started the Patriots dynasty when they beat the high-flying St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36. Will the dynasty end on February 3rd, 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53? Or will they make it six Super Bowls, surpassing the San Francisco 49ers and equaling the Pittsburgh Steelers? Whatever the case, Enemy Reaction will be there, and I hope I’m chronicling the whole game and not some gross incompetence from officials.
Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!