![Colin McRaven ('24) prepares to pitch the ball to an Anclote batter during the Varsity pre-season game."I like striking people out, since it's fun. The game against Anclote was pretty easy because they were less talented than our team and [I think] we were better than them in every aspect," Colin McRaven ('24) said.](https://jwmhshoofbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1538-1200x928.jpg)
The first round of the playoffs came to a close that narrowed the competition to 8 teams, which include the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Green Packers, Detroit Lions, Kansas Chiefs, San Francisco 48ers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rounds of playoff games have been filled with intense feelings over teams with the odds in their favor. Fans watched as the team Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys both fell to teams that were lower seeds than them.
Many fans, such as Owen Cavanagh (‘24), were surprised by the outcome of the games, especially the Dallas Cowboys vs the Green Bay Packers.
“Honestly, it’s been pretty surprising you, know, I didn’t expect the Packers to destroy the Packers by that much,” Cavanagh said. “Then also Baker Mayfield taking down the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Another watcher, Micheal Houllis (‘25) was surprised at the performance of the rookie C.J. Stroud in his first playoff game.
“It’s been a good couple [of] good upsets, you know Texans getting a big win [with] C.J Stroud,” Houllis said.
Along with stakes that made the games interesting the extreme cold made for more interesting games especially the Bills vs Steelers which was delayed from the Saturday spot to the Monday spot. Another game that was affected was the Chiefs vs. the Dolphins, which was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history.
One fan, Logan Rawlins (‘26) saw the weather at the game and was surprised at the result of the game.
“It felt like negative 24 degrees out there and Miami, they’re not used to that,” Rawlins said.
Fans have already picked for the teams that they hope to make it to the Superbowl. They hope their favorite teams win the big game at the end of the playoffs. Cavanagh hopes for the 49ers and Ravens Superbowl as they are both the number one seeds facing each other.
“Right now, I’m kind of learning towards the Ravens and for the ‘Niners for the Superbowl. Honestly, I [hope] the Baltimore Ravens win the Superbowl,” Cavanagh said.
Fans can watch the next round of games with the Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 with the 4 divisional games.
EDITOR NOTE: The divisional round has ended with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens facing each other for the AFC championship and the Detroit Lions against the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 28. The winners of these games will face each other in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11.
