Football Nfl, Brady and Mahomes super. San Francisco breaks through Dallas

Sprint win for San Francisco, which breaks through Dallas, all easy for Tampa and Kansas City, from prediction. Here is the detail of the three NFL wild card races on the calendar, the program will close with Los Angeles Rams-Arizona, on the Italian night between Monday and Tuesday.

Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers 17-23

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The 49ers win in Texas, playing the game they had in mind. They run 169 yards, dominate possession time, then put Prescott under pressure (5 sack). Ahead 13-7 at half-time, thanks to Mitchell’s goal on a run and the kicks of Gould, a glacial kicker, they seem in total control at the end of the third quarter, above 23-7 after the goal on a run of the usual immeasurable Deebo Samuel, spectacular both from running back that from receiver. But the Boys “sell their lives dearly”: they get the fake punt right, with Anger inventing an accurate quarterback, and come back down with a field goal by Zuerlein and then with the goal on a run by Prescott, too in the dark on the occasion most importantly, with so many offensive weapons at his disposal. The defense of the Californians, who also loses Bosa (shot to the head) and Warner (ankle) during the match, “holds” on a 4th down and 11 in the middle of the field, with Dak throwing an incomplete for Wilson. The 14 penalties crush the ambitions of the Texans, brilliant only with Cooper in attack, and despite Vander Esch trying to save his in defense in vain. Garoppolo fails to close the game when he could and should, he is intercepted by Brown, but Prescott wastes the last desperate opportunity. He makes time run out without even trying the launch of the Ave Maria in the end zone, bungling and not very courageous.

PERSPECTIVES

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The 49ers take the trip to Green Bay, Saturday night, at the Rodgers house. They will leave underdogs, not beaten. Dallas can mull over another season that started with enormous expectations and ended prematurely. Is Prescott worth all that money?

Tampa Bay Bucs-Philadelphia Eagles 31-15

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The reigning champions win in the carriage. Despite the many absences: Fournette, Godwin, Brown and Sherman the most significant ones. Despite the wind blowing in Florida, the first of the playoffs at home after 14 years: the Super Bowl won in the cannon stadium in 2021 is officially considered a neutral field. Tampa wins because it has Brady: solid as a rock. Wind, absences, pressure: he feels nothing. Closes by throwing 29/37 for 271 yards, 2 tries and no interception. Efficient, flawless despite his best man of the line, Wirfs, injuring his ankle. His recovery will be crucial for the next match, always at home. This Tampa has dominated it. Ahead 17-0 at half-time, 31-0 at the start of the last quarter. Thanks to the running tries of Bernard and Vaughn, in the end zone of Gronkowski, at the 15th touchdown in post seaason, and of Evans, from 36 yards. Philly saved face with Scott and Gainwell’s final tries, but the visitors’ performance was disappointing.

PERSPECTIVES

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The Bucs must recover Fournette and Wirfs, first of all. Then having more of Brady’s “other” targets, only Miller showed a little something, and in the pass rush: just a couple of sacks, besides Edwards and Barrett’s interceptions. Philly has the Hurts misunderstanding to resolve: they qualified for the playoffs without beating any post-season team. The 9-9 season record defines the team for what it is: mediocre, especially in Hurts, a running back who plays quarterback. At the Draft the Eagles have the choices to find a more futuristic one. Philly was without Sweat, emergency surgery for a life-threatening condition.

Kansas City Chiefs-Pittsburgh Steelers 42-21

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Mahomes overflows, Kansas City wins. The quarterback throws for 5 tries, the Pittsburgh defense holds only for a quarter, the first. After putting her head forward, with the fumble brought back in goal by TJ Watt, probable defender of the year, she is swept away. Mahomes closes the score already in the first half, closed ahead 21-7, launching in the end zone for McKinnon, Pringle and Kelce. In the third set it becomes an exhibition, with 6-point throws for Allegretti and Hill. Roethlisberger, at the last exit of his career, before retiring, after a decided game takes away the satisfaction of fishing in the Johnson and Washington end zones, but only to leave the Arrowhead Stadium with his head held high. For the occasion he had also recovered Smith-Schuster, but it was not even close to enough.

PERSPECTIVES

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Kansas City responds to Buffalo, which they host next Sunday, as a show of strength. The other AFC Divisional challenge will therefore be Tennessee-Cincinnati on Saturday night. Pittsburgh squeezed Big Ben to the end, next season will have to rebuild with a new quarterback. Not easy …