With the Divisional Round in the rearview, the NFL Power Rankings lie ahead -- you're only a few paragraphs away, I promise! But before you continue reading, please complete whatever task you were doing by making a football move.
Another week of playoff football marked by officiating controversy, another fan base crying foul. What, exactly, constitutes a catch? That's the answer everyone is searching for. Did Dez Bryant make a postseason grab for the ages or not? I think this tweet provides a sufficient answer:
Yep, Don, that John Madden was onto something. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
A few more quick thoughts on the matter from yours truly:
A) That call didn't lose the game for the Cowboys. Had Dallas scored and gotten a two-point conversion, Green Bay only would've been down by three, with ample time left for Aaron Rodgers to carve up that defense again.
B) To me, the real problem was not this ambiguous rule of securing the ball and "making a football move" -- it was the failure to follow the purported rules of instant replay. If we aren't totally sure whether Bryant was lunging for the end zone or merely stumbling to secure a catch -- i.e., whether or not he was making a football move -- then we don't have the incontrovertible evidence that is required to overturn the ruling on the field, right? Thus, the call on the field should've stood.
C) Arguably the most important play of the game was DeMarco Murray's third-quarter fumble. Murray, who otherwise enjoyed a spectacular season, could have run to Wheaton, Illinois, with that hole -- and given the Cowboys an 11-point lead in the process. Instead, Green Bay recovered and eventually kicked a field goal, and we had ourselves a one-point ballgame.
OK, enough dillydally; let's get on to the rankings. As we do every week in the playoffs, we're only analyzing those teams that were still alive entering the prior weekend. (Sorry, Titans fans -- I know you're devastated.) And as always, feel free to share your take: @HarrisonNFL is the place.
Let the dissension commence!
Elliot Harrison explains his ranking process on "The Power Rankings Show" and serves as lead analyst on the "Team Report Cards" series, which you can watch at NFL.com/NOW or via the NFL NOW app. Follow Elliot on Twitter @HarrisonNFL.
(NOTE: Arrows reflect change in standings from the most recent Power Rankings.)
***Power Rankings side thought:*** How much of a mismatch does
Rob Gronkowski present? Maybe they should throw to him 30 times a game. Good night.
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