Summary of NFL Divsional Round, Bears Lose In OT, Bills Heartbreak, Patriots And Seahawks Advance + Who's Back Of The Week

Overview of NFL Divisional Round, Bears Lose In OT, Bills Heartbreak, Patriots And Seahawks Advance + Who's Back Of The Week

Barstool Sports’ Part of My Take (Jan 19) reviews the NFL divisional round—recapping each game in reverse order (Sunday then Saturday), sharing in-stadium color from the Bears–Rams game, debating officiating and controversial endings, previewing the upcoming conference championship matchups, and closing with the regular "Who's Back of the Week" picks. The hosts mix game analysis, fan anecdotes, betting lines/props talk, and reaction to injuries and officiating decisions.

Game-by-game recaps (high level)

• Bears 17 — Rams 20 (OT)

  • Key moments: Caleb Williams’ 53-yard-to-Cole Kmet miracle touchdown that electrified Soldier Field; Rams OT field goal that ended it.
  • Takeaway: Bears season felt “miraculous” all year; defensive resurgence but matchup/weather factors and a few key short-yardage failures cost them. Caleb Williams' superstar flashes offset by turnovers on fourth down; Ben Johnson praised; Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams continuity seen as encouraging for the future despite the loss.
  • Atmosphere: Hosts were at the game—harrowing cold (the “sign guy” from Hawaii anecdote), intense crowd reaction after Kmet TD, postgame quiet after loss.

• Seahawks 41 — 49ers 6

  • Result: Blowout. Seahawks dominated special teams, defense and ran Kenneth Walker hard (Walker breakout); Brock Purdy and 49ers could not recover.
  • Takeaway: Seahawks look complete—loud home field, elite defense, explosive return/special teams. Injuries and a depleted 49ers roster compounded the mismatch. Seahawks emerging as the team to beat in the NFC.

• Patriots 28 — Texans 16

  • Result: Patriots advance to AFC Championship; Jared Stidham discussed as potential starter for Broncos if needed (see Broncos/Bills).
  • Takeaway: Texans struggled badly—CJ Stroud had a rough, turnover-filled game (4 INTs), drops and fumbles by receivers, plus dominant Patriots defense and clutch Drake May playmaking (3 TDs) late. Patriots stayed efficient, Stephon Diggs-style highlight catches noted (host reaction highlighted).

• Broncos 33 — Bills 30 (OT)

  • Key moments: Wild, see-saw game with big swings; Brandon Cooks disputed catch/no-catch in OT that became the focal controversy; Bo Nix led comeback drive but reportedly suffered a broken ankle on the penultimate play (later surgery announced).
  • Takeaway: Classic emotional rollercoaster—great playoff game ruined, in fans’ eyes, by inconsistent officiating and postgame confusion over replay decisions. Bills’ turnovers (and Josh Allen’s mixed play with key mistakes) contributed, but the replay/PI/no-call debate dominates the discourse. Broncos win but lose Bo Nix to injury; Jared Stidham spotlighted as Sean Payton’s trusted backup.

Key themes & analysis

• “Miracle” Bears season ends in heartbreak
  • Caleb Williams is a generational talent; Ben Johnson is praised as a coach. Defensive health finally helped the Bears, but small failures and bad luck (weather, short-yardage struggles) decided the game.
• Seahawks are peaking
  • Seattle’s blend of defense, special teams and a powerful ground game makes them a daunting NFC representative. Homefield advantage in Seattle is a real multiplier.
• Patriots’ path and Jared Stidham intrigue
  • Sean McDaniel’s faith in Stidham (and Sean Payton’s history with him) gives the Patriots an intriguing Plan-B if facing Denver; hosts joked about “soft benching” and Stidham lore.
• Bills: frustration, coaching window question
  • Josh Allen had an emotional postgame moment; his turnovers cost the Bills. Hosts debated whether it’s time for Buffalo to re-evaluate Sean McDermott despite his accomplishments (many playoff wins without clearing the Super Bowl hurdle).
• Officiating controversy
  • The Brandon Cooks catch/interception/no-catch in OT and late pass-interference/no-call sequences sparked huge debate. Complaints center less on the correct call and more on the replay process and inconsistent enforcement through the game (letting things go, then calling other plays).

Notable quotes & host insights

• “That Cole Kmet touchdown — the stadium almost collapsed.” — host on the game-defining play at Soldier Field.
• “The refs didn’t call anything all game, then they started calling stuff in overtime.” — argument used to explain Bills fans’ outrage.
• Sean Payton’s postgame: immediate injury update and treatment plan for Bo Nix (caused mixed emotions among Broncos fans who wanted to celebrate).
• “Seahawks are the best team in the NFL right now.” — repeated sentiment: Seattle felt complete both roster- and scheme-wise.

On injuries & roster implications

• Bo Nix (Broncos) — reportedly fractured ankle; scheduled surgery; creates massive narrative shift for Denver vs Patriots potential matchup (Stidham vs Patriots talk follows).
• Caleb Williams (Bears) — some hand/bumps during game; still highly promising for the Bears’ future.
• CJ Stroud (Texans) — turnover-heavy performance; Texans season ends in disappointment.
• Patriots’ QB situation unaffected; Drake May (Patriots) produced in clutch moments.

Officiating specifics (Broncos–Bills)

• Controversial OT play: Brandon Cooks catch appeared like a catch to many but was ruled a Broncos interception after review. Hosts note the call sits in a gray zone because of NFL catch rules and inconsistent prior rulings.
• Pass interference / no-call complaints: Several plays where physicality was present but inconsistent flagging throughout the game. The process (how the review was handled on TV) also angered viewers.

Betting & odds highlights mentioned

• DraftKings / betting banter: Seahawks vs Rams line ~ Seahawks -2.5 (DraftKings snapshot).
• National Championship (college): Indiana -340 vs Miami (hosts discussed hedging futures on personal bets).
• Hosts used the show’s sponsors to plug promo codes and betting “Star Power Hour” reminders.

Color & fan moments (in-stadium)

• Soldier Field was brutally cold; “sign guy” flew in from Hawaii and nearly froze, became a recurring funny story.
• Hosts described the stadium’s momentary silence after the Rams’ OT field goal as surreal.
• Behind-the-scenes: hosts met personalities (Mike Florio, Kyle Long), Hank’s dentist nap video got shared and embarrassed among hosts.

Other segments

• “Fastest Two Minutes” recap of the divisional round — quick one-liners and condensed game summaries.
• College football national championship preview: Indiana vs Miami — hosts favored Indiana (heavy favorite), discussed potential Miami upset hedge.
• National sports quick hits: MLB offseason (Dodgers spending and Kyle Tucker signing discussion), NBA player talk (Anthony Edwards’ performance), and misc. coaching hires around the league (Kevin Stefanski to Falcons, Harbaugh to Giants mentions).

Who's Back of the Week (short list)

• Hank: 2016 is back (trend / nostalgia; hosts riff about why 2016 nostalgia is trending).
• PFT: Ski-jumping “crotch” scandal — Norwegian team officials suspended for altering suits’ crotch seams to gain advantage.
• Max: Perspective — reminded listeners how much perspective matters when things go wrong (Ed Cooley / Georgetown clip referenced).
• Zach: Anthony Edwards — explosive scoring nights noted as a reminder he’s a top talent in the NBA.
• Overall: A mix of cultural, sports-peculiar and performance picks.

Actionable takeaways / recommendations

• Watch upcoming conference championships: Seahawks vs Rams (NFC) and Broncos vs Patriots (AFC) — both matchups have major storylines (Seahawks’ dominance, Broncos’ QB uncertainty).
• For Bills fans / NFL watchers: expect more public debate on replay transparency and officiating consistency; this game may accelerate calls for clearer replay protocol and on-air explanation of decisions.
• If you bet: lines move fast after divisional results — review injury updates (Bo Nix) and consider hedging futures if you’ve been long on college or NFL props.

Final tone & context

The episode mixes ecstatic game-day energy (especially from being live at Soldier Field) with the frustration of controversial endings and heartbreaking losses. Hosts balance optimism for young quarterbacks and coaching staffs (Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, Patriots/Stidham) with skepticism about repeated playoff disappointments (Bills) and officiating consistency. The show is heavy on in-person anecdotes, betting talk, and hot takes—useful for fans wanting quick recaps, personality-driven reactions, and what-to-watch-next guidance.