Conference Championship Day has arrived.

There are no New England Patriots for the fifth straight year.

And quite possibly no Bill Belichick coaching in the NFL.

What has this world come to?

Of course the great debate is whether or not Belichick should not coach next season at all and then return in 2025. At age 72, 73? It doesn’t seem too prudent, does it?

Belichick not coaching is the worst thing that can happen to New York Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. We think both are good at what they do, but having Belichick’s shadow hanging over MetLife Stadium for Giants owner John Mara to bring in from the bullpen isn’t the best thing for that pair.

The Patriots will have moved on, but having Belichick not coach may keep someone like a Matt Groh helping to pick personnel or open the door for Josh McDaniels to return as offensive coordinator in the hopes of reviving Mac Jones. Ugh. At least the Patriots are naming a defensive coordinator, elevating, according to ESPN, defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington.

But once again the Patriots are out of the success loop. They used to laugh at Dan Campbell; he’s coaching today. They felt they were always smarter than John Harbaugh; he’s coaching today. There was always a healthy Belichickian respect for Kyle Shanahan and of course Andy Reid.

Why hasn’t Belichick been hired? The theory is Rich McKay in Atlanta sabotaged him, but McKay isn’t even going to be involved in football operations according to reports. And that’s the only job he supposedly interviewed for, and likely targeted. In some ways, it’s a shame.

The one opening that made sense was filled by Jim Harbaugh.

But just think of this: Raheem Morris, all due respect, was hired over Bill Belichick.

Who would have thought?

Also, who would have thought we’d got 3-7 over the first two weeks of the playoffs? Let’s try to coach it better, play it better:

NINERS 30, LIONS 17

Time runs out on the feel good story. Detroit’s defense is suspect, and the Lions don’t have Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers do. You win with guys like that, and that’s exactly what the Niners will do today, as they’ve been hungry ever since the disaster of a year ago.

RAVENS 24, CHIEFS 13

The biggest injury in the playoffs is Kansas City and former Patriots guard Joe Thuney. Mahomes will likely be running for his life; the Ravens defense has been stellar. They’ll frustrate the heck out of Travis Swift, er, Kelce. It’s a Niners-Ravens Super Bowl rematch with only one Harbaugh.

LAST WEEK: 2-2

PLAYOFFS: 3-7

REGULAR SEASON: 79-47

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).

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