NFL playoffs: Rumor has it

The GIST: After yesterday’s conference championships, February 13th’s Super Bowl matchup is set, but we’re still recovering from whiplash after Saturday’s news about the GOAT.

AFC: The underdog Cincinnati Bengals became the big cats yesterday, overcoming an 18-point deficit to defeat QB Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime (OT) and advance to Cincy’s first Super Bowl since 1989.

• Bengals safety Vonn Bell came up clutch with an OT interception, then kicker Evan McPherson nailed the walk-off field goal, his second in two weeks. Shooters shoot.

• As for Cincinnati's other offensive star, QB Joe Burrow — just over a year removed from a torn ACL — is now the first No. 1 overall draft pick to lead his team to the Super Bowl in one of his first two seasons.

NFC: The Bengals will face the LA Rams, who scored 13 unanswered fourth quarter points and capped it off with a huge interception from linebacker Travin Howard to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 20–17 and start a home field Super Bowl streak.

• After multiple chances to put the Rams away, the Niners quite literally dropped the ball, allowing the Rams to claim their first victory over their Cali rivals since 2018. What better time to get the job done.

The biggest news: The internet was sent into a frenzy on Saturday when news broke that Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady — the winningest QB of all time — was retiring after 22 seasons.

• But then, after the tributes had been posted and the tears had been shed, more news broke that Brady…might not actually be retiring? Brady’s agent tried to deflect and Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians said Brady’s “not even close to making up his mind yet.”

• So, what’s the deal? Some believe Brady’s waiting to retire until after he’s paid his multi-million dollar signing bonus on February 4th, some believe the leak was false and that he’ll be back in September...and this will be us until we hear it straight from the GOAT’s mouth.