Big Time Bosa

San Francisco rookie DE Nick Bosa played like a veteran Saturday, his first career postseason game. Well-rested after a first-round bye, “Smaller Bear” played a huge role and became this game’s most dominant defender. With six solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a pass deflection, Bosa supplied another stellar effort, and San Francisco stomped the Vikings, 27-10. Next week brings the biggest game of his career: the NFC Championship, hosted by the 49ers. (Image courtesy: 49ers.com)

¯\_(?)_/¯ @nbsmallerbear #BeLegendary pic.twitter.com/qqmq3gyj7k

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 11, 2020

Bosa can cover, too @nbsmallerbear pic.twitter.com/IKCSdSPzpK

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 11, 2020

Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) earns highest PFF grade during #49ers‘ playoff win over Vikings https://t.co/AKsslOBsZZ

— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) January 12, 2020

There aren’t enough words to describe the impact Nick Bosa has had on the #49ers franchise

— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) January 12, 2020

Remember the Titans

A week ago, Tennessee handed the Patriots just their fourth home playoff loss under Bill Belichick. How does Titans’ HC Mike Vrabel even top that? Simple. He and his Titans go into Baltimore to take down the best regular season team in Ravens history, which also happens to have this season’s surefire MVP under center. That scenario played out exactly on Saturday night, and sixth-seeded Tennessee celebrated a 28-12 W. Stealing possessions via turnovers and a ground-and-pound grinding of opposing defenses has spelled success for the Titans. That style will need to be sustained in the AFC Championship game when Vrabel and co. travel to Kansas City. (Image courtesy: @thecheckdown on Twitter)

Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson deserve a lot of credit for building a physical, aggressive football team. This looks like an early 2000 Patriots team. They were there and they copied the blueprint.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 12, 2020

For all those who haven’t…. it’s time to put some respect on Mike Vrabel’s name.

— Jim Rome (@jimrome) January 12, 2020

Y’all. Mike Vrabel can coach.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 12, 2020

Credit to Mike Vrabel. Coached his butt off in this game (and all season). Play calling has been perfect. His success tonight shouldn’t be attributed to or overshadowed by people discussing the Ravens unlikely loss

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) January 12, 2020

Chaos in K.C.

Speaking of Kansas City, an epic comeback took place at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday afternoon. The invading Texans owned a 24-0 lead before the Chiefs responded with seven-straight touchdown drives and eventually won the game, 51-31. Despite the inconsistencies on Houston’s D, CB’s Bradley Roby and Gareon Conley saw some success in press man coverage and combined for nine solo tackles. Conley also pitched in a sack and a TFL, for good measure. Offensively for the Texans, RB Carlos Hyde registered 16 touches (13 carries, three catches) for 62 total yards. After the best season of his NFL career, Hyde hopes Sunday’s game isn’t his last with Houston. (Image courtesy: houstontexans.com)

The Texans have shadowed the Chiefs top receivers early:

? Tyreek Hill vs Bradley Roby (90%)
? Sammy Watkins vs Gareon Conley (90%)
? Demarcus Robinson vs Vernon Hargreaves (100%)

Texans CBs have pressed Chiefs WRs on 66% of routes (Season Avg: 26%)#HOUvsKC | #WeAreTexans

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 12, 2020

Carlos Hyde on if he wants to come back: “Yeah I definitely want to be back here, I’m not trying to go to another team and start all over again. I felt like Houston was home. I think I handled my part.” pic.twitter.com/CKj045Dilc

— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) January 13, 2020

Pack Attack

There’s no doubt Green Bay boasts one of the best offensive units in the game. There’s also no doubt its front-line protection plays a big part. That’s where C Corey Linsley and his fellow O-Linemen come into play, and in Sunday evening’s win over Seattle, the Packers’ trenchmen paved the way for more than 350 total yards of offense. Not to mention Green Bay’s big fellas allowed only two sacks against a notoriously tough Seahawks pass rush. Linsley graded out highest among all Packers linemen, according to Pro Football Focus, and faces the tall task of protecting against San Francisco in next week’s NFC Championship. (Images courtesy: packers.com)

Top @pff #packers grades vs. #Seahawks

Offense – Min 20 snaps

1. Aaron Rodgers: 92.8 (Elite) Still waiting on his EPA score
2. Davante Adams: 92.0 (Elite)
3. Jimmy Graham: 85.8 (HQ)
4. Corey Linsley: 80.0 (HQ)
5. David Bakhtiari: 66.3 (Avg)

— Jake Morley (@JacobMorley) January 13, 2020

Aaron Jones into the end zone again and the Packers are in control!pic.twitter.com/HD52iSJPB9

— PFF (@PFF) January 13, 2020

The Packers offense is clicking!pic.twitter.com/jfIfNBBZpE

— PFF (@PFF) January 13, 2020

Time to Crown Conference Champs!

And then there were four – referring to both teams and former Buckeyes left in the NFL Playoffs. Though, I suppose you could count Titans’ assistant Kerry Coombs, who’s continued impact on Vrabel’s staff continues to pay dividends. In the AFC Title, Tennessee’s rushing attack squares off with a stout Kansas City defense that includes former Buckeye LB Darron Lee. In the NFC, Nick Bosa and the top-ranked 49ers host Linsley and the Packers. Both games are rematches from the regular season. San Francisco clobbered Green Bay 37-8 on Nov. 24, two weeks after Tennessee pulled out a 35-32 W in Kansas City. Regardless of who you’re pulling for going forward, let’s all rejoice in this fact: one way or another, at least one former Buckeye will be crowned a Super Bowl LIV champ.