The NFL’s Final Four: A Time of Uncertainty

The NFL has whittled down its contenders to just four teams, and it’s a rather intense moment to be watching. The stakes are incredibly high, with both legacies and reputations on the line. Some teams have already left their mark, whether good or bad. It’s interesting, really—many outcomes were predictable, yet the journey to reach them was anything but straightforward. It’s no wonder the NFL is often considered the most compelling reality show on television.

In the coming weeks, one among the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, or New England Patriots will lift the Lombardi Trophy. Each of these teams has achieved this feat in the past decade. Seattle last claimed their title in 2014, the Rams triumphed in their home city in 2021, Denver last celebrated a victory in 2015, and the Patriots had their glory moment as recently as 2018. It’s disheartening for a struggling team. There’s no easy way to say it—I’m truly sorry.

So, here at The Skinny Post, my colleague Michael Peterson and I, RJ Ochoa, are tasked with discussing football—even when it feels a bit uncomfortable (to clarify, Michael roots for the Chargers while I’m a Cowboys fan). We’ve got our jobs to do!

Let’s dive into it, then.

Are the Patriots Inevitable Again?

The moment the Patriots clinched their latest win, a thought struck me, which I subsequently tweeted about. Many pointed out that it wasn’t so much CJ Stroud’s victory, but rather that he lost the game in Houston.

But isn’t that the crux of it? Despite not always being at their best, New England somehow found a way to succeed, which was, I suppose, their defining characteristic.

Honestly, I’m not too thrilled about the Patriots returning to greatness. It’s just kind of dull. Many observers noted that their recent success came against some pretty mediocre quarterbacks. They’re set to face Jarrett Stidham next. Imagine how that’s going to feel.

This gives off the impression that they might be an unstoppable force.

I’m sticking to my previous thoughts about the Patriots leading up to the playoffs, though admittedly that might seem a bit unfair considering their relatively easy schedule. They didn’t meet my hopes, that’s for sure, but their defense during the postseason looks considerably better than in the regular season.

They seem ready to capitalize at precisely the right moment, especially as they face off against the Broncos’ tough defense in the AFC Championship game. After beating the Texans, I just don’t think the Broncos can withstand the pressure coming their way this Sunday.

Giving Credit to the Seahawks’ Leadership

I don’t think we give them enough credit. They’ve had solid draft classes under Mike McDonald, though none stood out to the extent of being labeled “special.” Nonetheless, the way they’ve developed their younger players early on suggests that they might be setting themselves up for future success.

And let’s not forget how impressive it was to recover Sam Darnold from the Vikings after a playoff loss to the Rams, bringing him back to peak performance.

This has been on my mind for a while now. It’s easy to agree with the Seahawks’ recent decisions when looking at the current outcomes, but they did take some risks.

Consider John Schneider; trading away Russell Wilson was seen as a boon for Denver. But, hindsight is 20/20.

He also made a bold move in letting go of Pete Carroll, which might seem old-fashioned yet insightful. I understand this may be obvious, but really, think about it for a second.

How often does a general manager part ways with a franchise quarterback and head coach? Especially when that duo brought a championship to the franchise? Will that happen again soon? Plus, Schneider chose to gamble on Sam Darnold instead of sticking with Geno Smith, who had plenty of supporters after his Seattle days. Oh, and Mike McDonald!

The Seahawks’ leadership really deserves a lot of recognition.

Time for Change in Coaching Rules?

Recently, the Buffalo Bills let go of Sean McDermott. I imagine he felt worse than anyone else, including John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski, who both accepted jobs with the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, respectively, just days before Buffalo was looking to fill their opening. Doesn’t that seem unfair?

With all due respect to those teams, I can’t see how they’re a better landing spot than Buffalo, especially with a reigning MVP like Josh Allen at quarterback.

We’ve spent so much time discussing college football and how its timing needs adjusting for the sport’s benefit… so should the NFL consider implementing a rule that stops head coaches from joining new teams until after the Super Bowl?

That’s actually a thought-provoking idea. I’m not entirely convinced it should happen, but I can see some potential benefits!

I find myself leaning against the idea somewhat. Ideally, every franchise would seek to replace their head coach all at once after firing one. But perhaps it makes sense that teams who exited the postseason early get a jumpstart on their coaching searches, as they were the ones who ultimately performed the worst.

But then again, this is part of the strategy of the game. The Falcons and Giants clearly felt they could gain a competitive edge by swooping in on the best coaches available, and those coaches were clearly interested.

Unfortunately, neither team has a quarterback like Josh Allen to work with, which means Harbaugh and Stefanski might regret missing out on that ideal situation. They took the first opportunities presented to them. In this league, so many variables come into play, and nobody is strictly to blame. Sometimes things just don’t pan out.

Ranking Teams with Super Bowl Aspirations

As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I can honestly say I’m uninterested in any of the final four teams. Trust me—I’ve got ample experience with that feeling.

Now, I’m rooting for the Seahawks. Their story is compelling, and there’s something undeniably cool about that franchise. If I had to pick a second team, it would probably be the Broncos, purely because it’s commendable how they’ve managed through the unexpected loss of Bo Nix.

Meanwhile, I’d place the Rams third. Michael and I once discussed on our podcast whether anyone even cared about the Rams winning their last title. As for the Patriots, I’m certainly not interested. That narrative has played out too many times for me.

This is pretty straightforward for me. The Seahawks are the team I’m most eager to see win the Super Bowl.

As a Chargers fan, I really don’t want to see any other teams in the AFC West take the title before us. It’s enough already with the Patriots collecting championships. They’ve had wins over the Chargers on their way to the big game, and right now, there’s a local rivalry brewing again between the Chargers and Rams as they compete further in the playoffs this year.

For me, it all boils down to Seahawks or nothing.