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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 24 January 2023
Analysis: Defense still wins in the NFL playoffs

By ROB MAADDI we couldn’t get him the
AP Pro Football Writer ball tonight, we’re going to
Defense stills wins in the have to learn from.”
playoffs. The Bengals will meet the
The San Francisco 49ers Chiefs again in a rematch
and Cincinnati Bengals ad- of last year’s AFC champi-
vanced to the conference onship game that was won
championship games with by Cincinnati. Burrow is 3-0
excellent defensive perfor- against Patrick Mahomes
mances on Sunday. and the Chiefs.
The Philadelphia Eagles In the final game of the
also had a standout defen- weekend, the 49ers’ top-
sive effort Saturday night. ranked defense flustered
While high-flying offenses Dak Prescott throughout a
led by star quarterbacks 19-12 victory, forcing two
get most of the attention, interceptions and hold-
defense matters. ing the Cowboys to just
It was evident in the NFL 282 total yards. San Fran-
divisional round this week- cisco had a few more op-
end. portunities at turnovers but
Chiefs defensive coordi- couldn’t hang on to a cou-
nator Steve Spagnuolo’s ple of picks.
aggressive unit forced two Niners defensive coordina-
turnovers in the fourth quar- Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred tor DeMeco Ryans, a can-
ter, helping Kansas City Warner during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game in Santa Clara, Calif., didate for several head
beat Jacksonville 27-20 in Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. coaching vacancies, im-
the first game. Associated Press proved his case with an-
“We focused throughout was No. 2 in the league this coordinator. “Obviously, Defensive coordinator Lou other stellar game plan.
the week, especially on the season, was downright nas- we have great players. ... Anarumo put the Bengals “I’m pretty sure DeMeco is
week we had off, focused ty in a 38-7 rout over New But this guy is an unbeliev- in position to constantly gonna have a head coach-
on maybe punching the York. able coordinator. ... He’s pressure Allen and knock ing job after this year,” Nin-
ball a little bit more or hop Coming off an impressive going to be a head foot- him out of rhythm. Allen ers defensive back Jimmie
on the ball or just catch- 301-yard passing game in ball coach in the National had only one turnover late Ward said. “You see it with
ing the ones that they give an upset over 13-win Min- Football League because in the game, but he mis- the play calling. We went
us,” Chiefs linebacker Nick nesota, Daniel Jones had of what he does. This guy is fired on some throws and out there and shut down
Bolton said. “I dropped one no chance against Haason a stud. He’s a stud.” didn’t click with his receiv- a playoff team and one
early, but it’s one of those Reddick and Philly’s fero- Cincinnati’s defense had ers. Allen kept his head of the best teams in the
things you kind of have to cious D. the most impressive all- down and didn’t look up league this year.”
keep going on, and in play- Jones was sacked five around game of all, con- when wide receiver Stefon Next up for the 49ers is a trip
offs, you understand that times, threw a pick, com- sidering its opponent. The Diggs approached him on to Philadelphia to face one
they count times two when pleted just 55.6% of his Bengals shut down Josh Al- the bench and yelled a of the league’s most well-
you get them.” passes and looked lost. The len and Buffalo’s dynamic few times in his direction rounded offenses in the
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ Eagles held the Giants to offense in a 27-10 win. The midway through the fourth NFC championship game.
offense were unstoppable, only 227 total yards. Bills were only 4 for 12 on quarter. “Get ya popcorn ready,
especially dominating the “Jonathan Gannon puts third downs, went three- “He wants the ball,” Allen man,” Ward said. “Heavy-
Giants on the ground with these guys in great posi- and-out three times and said of Diggs, who had just weight fight right there.
268 yards rushing. But Phila- tions,” Eagles coach Nick managed just a field goal four receptions for 35 yards. Get ready. It’s gonna be a
delphia’s defense, which Sirianni said of his defensive in the second half. “And whatever it was that good show.”q

Lifeguard Luke Shepardson wins

Hawaii surfing “Super Bowl”

(AP) — Luke Shepardson 89.1 points out of a possible in Waimea Bay on Oahu’s
was declared the winner 90 to edge out defending North Shore goes forward
in one of the world’s most champion Florence, the only when the surf is con-
prestigious and storied Star-Advertiser reported. sistently large enough dur-
surfing contests held in Ha- Mark Healey took third ing the winter big-wave
waii over the weekend for place and Billy Kemper surfing season from mid-
the first time in seven years. took fourth. December through mid-
Shepardson was declared The competition also fea- March.
the winner of The Eddie Ai- tured female surfers for the Before this year, it had only
kau Big Wave Invitational first time in its 39-year his- been held nine times since
Sunday, while John John tory, and six competed. the initial competition in
Florence—the winner of Andrea Moller made his- 1984.
the event in 2016, the last tory as the first female to The competition honors
time it happened—was ride a competitive wave legendary Native Hawai-
named runner-up. Shepa- at “The Eddie," the news- ian waterman Eddie Aikau
rdson, a Honolulu Ocean paper reported. for his selflessness, courage
Safety lifeguard, scored The one-day contest held and sacrifice.q