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The week in NFL news as explained by Heart
Aaron Rodgers proved yet again he's the magic man. Michael Ochs Archives, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The week in NFL news as explained by Heart

Did it hit you guys yesterday too? The realization that we only have two more weeks of football left? Only three more games, and then we're all banished to a football-less limbo for 6 months. Well, I guess it's four if you count the Pro Bowl, but I don't, and neither should you. Now, having said that, since football season is winding down, now is the perfect time to appreciate it; to savor those last precious games that we do have. So if you missed last weekend's action, allow us to help recap it for you – with the help of the legendary rock band Heart.

"Alone" - Seattle isn't the same without Earl Thomas

Until now, the Seahawks defense always got by on their own. Of course, they missed Earl Thomas, but the offense always did just enough to take the pressure off and give the team a chance to win.

Many of us figured that this week, that would change.

Against the Atlanta Falcons, Thomas's presence was missed more than ever, and the Legion of Boom looked legitimately depleted against the Falcons' attack. Now Seahawks fans are hearing the ticking of the clock, lying here with the room pitch dark, wondering where Earl Thomas was Saturday night. And the rest of the playoffs go by so very slow.

There's nothing left now but to wait until next season, and hope that the Seahawks' once-great defense can pull it together and continue to cover for Russell Wilson's weaknesses.

"Secret" - The Atlanta Falcons are much better than you think

Oh, and speaking of Seahawks-Falcons, there was another team that played in that game, despite the fact that nobody seems to want to mention them!

Somehow, the success of the Atlanta Falcons this season has gone completely under the radar. Lost in conversations about Russell Wilson's health, the Dak/Romo debate and the rest of the NFL media cycle has been the fact that not only have the Falcons made the NFC championship game, but they have done so with an offense that legitimately seems unstoppable. I mean, the Seahawks' defense is still great even without Earl Thomas, and Atlanta was able to hang 36 points on them.

Quietly, and without much media coverage, the Falcons have become a favorite to win the Super Bowl. No other team in the NFL seems as potent and as capable of scoring, and they seem to have completely shaken off whatever late-season curse that had plagued them for so many years.

"Kick It Out" - Packers at Cowboys ended with a kicker fight



At this point, it's not a question of stopping Aaron Rodgers. You can't. You won't. It's a question of slowing him down long enough for your team to score more points. And now even that seems more or less beyond the realm of possibility.

In the final minutes of their NFC divisional round game against the Cowboys, both Rodgers and Prescott put on their hero pants and led multiple game-winning/game-tying drives. First, Rodgers led the Packers downfield with the score tied. Crosby nailed a long field goal to put the Packers ahead by 3 points. Dak Prescott promptly responded in the two-minute drill, allowing Dan Bailey a game-tying try from long distance. Bailey knocked it through, but there was still time on the clock.

You all know what happens next. Thanks to a play Aaron Rodgers literally made up on the fly, and an incredible reception by Jared Cook, Crosby got the chance to ice the game. He did, and here we are.

"Crazy On You" - Travis Kelce loses it for a second



Sunday's slate of games were incredibly tense, and it seems possible that some of that pressure got under the skin of Travis Kelce.

Not only did he just up and shove Ross Cockrell to the ground after a play in the 3rd quarter last night, he also went off on the officiating crew. Now, to be fair, there were a few key calls late in the game that were incredibly questionable and seemed to cost the Chiefs a real chance at winning the game – namely that holding call on the two-point conversion – but saying that an official "should never ref again"? That seems a bit harsh.

 "Straight On" - The Patriots' road to the Super Bowl continues to be pretty easy



If there's one thing we've learned so far from these playoff games, it seems to be that the NFC is, from top to bottom, much better than the AFC is this year. Judging from the path the Patriots have to the Super Bowl, and comparing it to the knocks that, say, Atlanta or Green Bay have taken on their way, it just doesn't seem comparable.

This is further complicated when you look at last night's contest between the Steelers and the Chiefs Just from a quick eye test, it doesn't seem like the Steelers have enough in the tank left to topple the #1 seed and the current odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl XLI.

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