In Much Different Games, Top Seeds Baltimore (Easily) And San Francisco (In A Struggle), Advance To Home Title Games Next Week

After “Lam” Jackson (Lamar Jackson is now (1-2) in slots games and (2-3) in ‘offs games) accounted for four touchdowns, (2 rushing and 2 passing) in the Ravens (34-10) “ease job” (though tied at the half), vs Houston (Texans), the S.F. 49ers now (16-3) (our usual ode to Ron Perranoski ’63 when those #’s appear) in home slots games, needed much fortune and an eventual game winning 6 yard TD run by Christian McCaffrey, to (24-21) Green Bay.

The Texans fell to (0-5) in slots games, losing by a greater margin each time-7 to the Ravens in ’11 (I will try a “big gulp,”), 13 to the Pats in ’12, by 18 to them in ’16, by 20 dissipating a 24 point lead at the K,C, Chiefs in ’19 and by the above cited 24 point margin yesterday.

Both the Ravens, who will now host an AFC Title Game/NFL “semi” for the first time in their 28 years as the Ravens, and Niners, who will host an eleventh such “semi,” (12th if you count the unscheduled Western ‘off in ’57 vs Detroit (Lions), who are near TD favorites vs Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) to be the S.F. opponent in the later tilt next week. (All 11 Niners’ NFC title tilts were/will be in the later game and unopposed surely the ’57 ‘offs tilt won by Detroit en route to their last crown with nary a final round appearance and but one semi appearance since, was “late” at least in the East), were approximate 10 point “faves” yesterday.

Next week’s tilt vs today’s Bills/Chiefs Slot 4 game winner, will mark the third time a Baltimore team will host either an NFL (that was the “all the way, 7 years before the Supe and the last season before AFL play began, title tilt that was in and around in the excellent Barry Levinson directed film, “Diner” in ’59, a repeat victory vs the New York Giants) or AFC/NFL “semi” title tilt (in ’70 the Colts got a big John Unitas to Ray Perkins TD play in a win vs the then Oakland Raiders en route to the Supe crown).

S.F. as stated above is approaching a 180 degree term with an 11th time hosting such a tilt, after raising their “slots” mark to (19-7) with a very fortunate 5th straight ‘offs win vs the Pack (That ties the Steelers’ 5 straight wins vs the Colts for the most by one team vs another in consecutive fashion. I believe a major difference is that SF’s ‘offs advantage is (6-4) vs the Pack, while Pitts has won ALL 5 such tilts vs the Colts).

I think on You Tube, one can click and view Joe Montana’s TD pass to Dwight Clark that with “Toe” Wersching’s XP (Wersching is Ray) gave S.F. the lead in the final minute and to stay in a 1981 NFC Title Game win vs Dallas.

The Niners went on to win their first Supe crown, doing so in Pontiac, Michigan, vs the Cincinnati Bengals.