Bob Kemp - The Bottom Line
Bob Kemp has more than 40 years of award winning sports broadcasting and newspaper experience. Kemp was the National Sports Talk Show Host Of The Decade (2000-09) by Sports Illustrated following his time at Sporting News Radio and KDUS Sports Radio AM 1060 in Phoenix.
BOTTOM LINE (UPDATED 1/25)
NFL CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
*THE BLIZZARD TYPE CONDITIONS IN THE SECOND HALF MADE IT DIFFICULT TO WATCH THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON TELEVISION: Drake Maye’s legs were enough for the Patriots to emerge and escape with a 10-7 win at Denver. Maye ran for the touchdown and 5 rushing first downs, including the game clincher with just under 2:00 remaining ... Jarrett Stidham was the first quarterback to ever start a conference championship game after not taking a regular season snap. He threw a first quarter TD but his backward pass was correctly called a lateral recovered by New England in the Denver red zone to set up Maye’s TD run ... Also, Sean Payton bypassed a near sure field goal in the second half that would have given Denver a 10-0 lead.
*SAM DARNOLD PITCHED THE SEAHAWKS TO THE SUPER BOWL: In the biggest game of his much-maligned career, Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with 3 touchdowns and zero interceptions. In the 2 regular season games versus the Rams, he had just 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions ... Matthew Stafford was also excellent (22 of 35 for 374 yards with 3 touchdowns and zero picks) ... The final 2:00 of the opening half was pivotal. After the Rams went 3 and out with 1:33 remaining, Seattle took a 17-13 lead following Darnold’s 14 yard TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba 20 seconds before halftime.
*FIRED CARDINALS COACH JONATHAN GANNON LANDED A GOOD JOB: He is reportedly Green Bay bound to coordinate a defense with talent, especially when Micah Parsons is healthy
*KLIFF KINGSBURY IS ANOTHER FORMER CARDINALS HEAD COACH LOOKING FOR A COORDINATOR GIG: There is speculation he could land in Baltimore where he would be a good fit with Lamar Jackson.
*THE NFL ALMOST NEVER PUTS PLAYER SAFETY FIRST: The latest is NFL owners are again pushing for 18-game regular season.
*JUSTIN HERBERT IS RUNNING OUT OF EXCUSES: New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel chose the Chargers ahead of offers from the Eagles and Buccaneers.
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