Start of a new era
AFC’s young guns, old nFC guard create huge age gap
Andy Reid has been here before, with a young franchise quarterback on a team contending for the Super Bowl year after year.
The Kansas City coach is at it again with Patrick Mahomes, and thrilled to see similarly youthful leaders among the AFC playoff teams in what is the biggest QB age discrepancy between conferences in the divisional round since the merger.
How big’s the gap? Well, for starters, a pair of 40-somethings will face off in the NFC with Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Drew Brees of New Orleans. Meantime, the elder statesman of AFC playoff quarterbacks is 25-year-old Baker Mayfield.
“I think it’s great for the game, this influx of new guys at the position,” said Reid, who went to four consecutive NFC championship games with Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, starting with the 2000 season. “It’s great for viewers, fans, cities. It gives these different cities an opportunity to compete.”
To Reid’s point, Buffalo won a playoff game for the first time in 25 years with 24-year-old Josh Allen in charge. Cleveland ended an 18-year playoff drought behind Mayfield and humbled six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh in the wild-card round.
Reid and Mahomes, also 25 but 156 days younger than Mayfield, are a win over the Browns away from their third consecutive AFC championship game after the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl in 50 years last season.
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, the 24-year-old 2019 MVP, has his first playoff victory in hand, over Tennessee, as the Ravens prepare to visit the Bills.
“My mother-in-law sent me something the other day saying I was the old guy,” Mayfield said. “Somebody sent me just how close everybody is in age. It’s pretty crazy to see between Josh and Lamar and obviously Pat. Pat’s got the most experience out of all of us.”
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay’s decision on a starter will determine whether all four AFC quarterbacks are younger than the NFC quartet. If it’s John Wolford, the 25-yearold is 29 days younger than
Tampa Bay raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening period on Palat’s rebound goal on the power play, Joseph’s redirect that bounced in off Subban, and Cirelli’s deflection of Erik Cernak’s shot.
Stamkos made it 4-0 with a power play goal in the second and Point one-timed Stamkos’ pass from the slot in the third.
Strome broke the shutout
bid with a power-play goal that bounced in off the skate of Vasilevskiy with 3:24 remaining.
NO TOEWS
Chicago played without captain Jonathan Toews, who is out indefinitely with an undisclosed illness.
CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER
Tampa Bay unveiled its 2019-20 Stanley Cup championship banner in a pregame ceremony, but will wait to raise it to the rafters until fans can be in attendance.
FOOTE’S DEBUT
Rookie defenseman Cal Foote, the son of former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, made his NHL debut for the Lightning. He took the customary solo lap before pregame warmup. Foote had one hit in 10:47 during the game.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Tampa Bay on Friday.
Lightning: Host Chicago on Friday.