396 Rational Emotions

How did the 2017 playoff season end up like this?

The four teams' quarterbacks, combined, had zero conference final experience -- all first-timers.

Not just the quarterbacks, but the defensive group also lacked stars like JJ Watt, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, and Von Miller, pushing the season's chaos and intensity to new heights.

No star power, no highlights, no talking points.

Goodell: "This is really tough for me."

Moreover,

at least the National Conference final was a clash between the first and second seeds, expected from their regular season performances, but the American Conference final? Continued upsets, one after another, culminating in this scenario—

since 2002, for the first time there was no Manning, Brady, or Roethlisberger in the American Conference final stage.

This is history, unquestionable history. The three pillars that dominated the American Conference fell at the doorsteps of the final after fifteen years, turning a new page.