Souhan: Five thoughts on the NFL playoffs and the Vikings after the divisional round

We think we like NFL underdogs. Until we have to watch them play.

We think we like bad-weather games. Until we realize the quarterbacks can’t grip the ball.

The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is supposed to be the best weekend of football we have all year. It wasn’t.

But it was interesting, and perhaps revealing. Here are five thoughts on the NFL and the Vikings as Jarrett Stidham prepares to start for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game with Bo Nix hurt:

I don’t like harping on officiating mistakes. Officials probably make fewer mistakes than players, coaches and announcers. I only cite their mistakes when they are illogical and pivotal.

In overtime of the Bills’ playoff game at Denver on Jan. 17, wide receiver Brandin Cooks caught a long pass from quarterback Josh Allen that would have set up a game-winning field goal. Cooks caught the ball cleanly, went to the ground and controlled the ball as he rolled over. Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian got his hand on the ball as Cooks rolled and pulled it away.

The officials gave Denver the ball.

You wanted fresh faces and new storylines? I have to admit that I missed the big names.

The playoffs aren’t the same without Patrick Mahomes, not to mention Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow.

The quarterback matchups in the final four: Maye vs. Stidham and Sam Darnold vs. Matthew Stafford.

Only one of those four quarterbacks had won a playoff game before this season: Stafford.

Blah.

Weather games look captivating on television. Too bad that bad weather can destroy a modern offense.

We saw a lot of bad football this weekend. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t seem to be able to grip the ball in a 28-16 loss to the Patriots on Jan. 18. The Rams and Bears both came into the weekend with dynamic offenses, yet the score of their game was 17-10 on Jan. 18 until a fourth-down, fourth-quarter Hail Mary by quarterback Caleb Williams.

Blah.

A segment of the Vikings fanbase will scream about Darnold making it to the NFC Championship Game with the Seahawks.

That’s why you need to watch the games, not just the scoreboard.

The Vikings let Darnold leave because he looked overmatched in the two biggest games of his career last season. Darnold played well for a couple of months for Seattle, but over the last month or two has become more of a game manager.

The Vikings needed him to win games by driving their passing attack. Seattle just needs him to not make mistakes.

Darnold made the best decision of anyone on the free-agent market. He picked a powerhouse team that can win even when he doesn’t play well.

The NFL coaching hiring cycle has been complicated by the presence of excellent, veteran coaches. John Harbaugh took over the Giants after being fired by Baltimore. Sean McDermott was fired by Buffalo on Monday, Jan. 19, and could be a prime candidate for a needy team.

As the Vikings wait to see whether defensive coordinator Brian Flores leaves, their top internal candidate to replace him, defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, has a chance to become the Cowboys defensive coordinator.

There is a chance the Vikings will need to replace Flores, Jones, Hutchings and safety Harrison Smith, who is expected to retire.

That’s a lot of brainpower to lose in one offseason.