Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger & Mazz program on Tuesday, as he does every week to discuss the Patriots and the NFL games from the past week. While on, Greg Bedard did his weekly “3 Up & 3 Down” segment on the program following Divisional weekend of the 2023 NFL season…..
But before the 3 up and 3 down, here are some notes from Divisional weekend courtesy of NFL.com…
The home teams during divisional weekend went 3-1. The San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens all won, while the Buffalo Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at home.
With their win over the Bills, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are now 3-0 against the Bills in the playoffs with Mahomes as the starting quarterback.
The Baltimore Ravens were the only team to win by more than one score over Divisional weekend. The Ravens took down the Houston Texans 34-10.
With their win, the Chiefs have now advanced to the AFC Championship game for the sixth consecutive season. This will be the first of those six games that the Chiefs are not hosting the game.
The San Francisco 49ers are headed to their third consecutive NFC Championship game. The 49ers were unsuccessful in their previous two attempts with losses to the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led all quarterbacks in passing yards with 349 passing yards. Unfortunately for Mayfield it was in a 31-23 loss to the Lions.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones led all rushers in rush yards with 108 rushing yards in divisional weekend. Much like Mayfield, it was in a losing effort for Jones and the Packers.
The Ravens and Chiefs will kick off first on Championship weekend with a 3 PM start in Baltimore in the AFC Championship game. The 49ers and Lions will get underway at 6:30 PM in the NFC Championship game.
3 UP
Patrick Mahomes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs off the field after the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: He just about played a perfect game. I mean, he’s ridiculous at this point. And to watch what they’re doing with this version of the Chiefs, it reminds me very much of the Patriots, especially their last Super Bowl run. The quarterback, the team, they’re just so mentally tough. It’s unbelievable.
Aidan Hutchinson
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 19: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions leaves the field after a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: I thought he was outstanding. Eight quarterback pressures, a sack, two hits, five hurries in the game. I was a little bit leery of him being the number two overall pick, but I think he’s been outstanding for that team. T.
San Francisco 49ers Linebackers
October 11, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Bedard: The 49ers linebackers, Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. They’re absurd. They’re so fast sideline to sideline and so physical. It takes a toll as the game goes on. I thought they were outstanding.
3 DOWN
Sean McDermott
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (L) and head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills shake hands following the Bills win at Gillette Stadium on December 01, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: From his defense he got outfoxed by the Chiefs. The Chiefs went to three tight ends, now I understand the Bills have personnel issues, they have a lot of injuries and they’ve got A.J. Klein off the couch playing linebacker, but to me the Chiefs on both sides of the ball, whether it was Spagnuolo on defense or Reoid on offense, I thought they completely owned the Bills in the second half. The panic fake punt call, what he’s done with the offense, the firing of the offensive coordinator, like all that stuff, I just don’t think McDermott’s good enough for Buffalo.
Ed Oliver
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Ed Oliver #91 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a sack against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: Ed Oliver, the Bills defensive tackle who they gave a contract extension and are paying $17 million annually now,and the Bills got completely owned up front and Oliver you didn’t hear from him the whole game. Like if he doesn’t impact the game, if he’s not thier Chris Jones, which he obviously isn’t, they have no chance in a game like that.
Denzel Perryman
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 20: Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after catching a first down pass in front of linebacker Denzel Perryman #6 and linebacker Christian Harris #48 of the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: Denzel Perryman, the Texans middle linebacker. I liked him in Vegas in that defense, but he got spun like a top in that game. He had no clue what was going on.
