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Then there were four. The NFL’s conference championship Sunday has here, bringing with it games between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC and the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC. The victor goes to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX on February 9.
Lincoln Financial Field will host the NFC Championship Game at 3 p.m. ET, while Arrowhead Stadium will host the AFC Championship Game at 6:30 p.m. ET. Between these four teams, there are no unknowns. As NFC East members, Washington and Philadelphia play each other twice a year, and this season, they have split their games. In Week 11, the Eagles prevailed 26–18 in the first meeting, and in Week 16, the Commanders reversed the outcome by winning 36–33. However, this is only the teams’ second encounter in the playoffs. In the wild-card round of the 1990 season, Washington defeated Philadelphia 20–6.
Buffalo defeated Kansas City 30–21 in Week 11 of the Chiefs and Bills’ previous meeting this season. The Bills have a 4-1 regular-season record versus the Chiefs since 2020. However, Kansas City has defeated Buffalo in three consecutive postseason games, including a 27–24 victory in the divisional round last season. Additionally, Kansas City defeated Buffalo 38-24 in the 2020 season AFC Championship Game and 42-36 in the 2021 season divisional round. Here are four other major plot points to watch on Sunday.
NFC: Eagles commanders’
attempt to make Super Bowl history with Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels of Washington has had an unforgettable rookie campaign. He has a rookie-record 46 completions, 567 passing yards, four touchdown passes, and no interceptions in the playoffs, meaning that his success has continued. His passer rating is 116.2. Additionally, in two playoff games, he has 87 rushing yards. Throughout his brief career, Daniels has won 14 games. With another victory on Sunday, he will overtake Ben Roethlisberger (of the 2004 Pittsburgh’s revitalization Steelers) as the rookie quarterback with the most wins, including postseason, in history. The first rookie the line to start a Super Bowl and win three postseason games is Daniels. He can finally join Eli Manning (2007), Tony Eason (1985 The region known as New England Patriots), and Tom Brady (2020 the Tampa Buccaneers).
Roethlisberger (2005 Steelers), Aaron Rodgers (2010 Green Bay Packers), and the New York Giants were the only quarterbacks to win three away games during a postseason run.
Daniels rushed for 81 yards, recorded 258 passing yards, five touchdown passes, and two interceptions in his most recent game against Philadelphia. With six seconds remaining, Daniels led the Commanders to victory with a nine-play, 57-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder. Daniels has led five game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks (four during the regular season and one versus Tampa Bay during the playoffs). Last week, Daniels’ two touchdown passes and 299 passing yards helped the Commanders easily defeat Detroit 45-31 in the divisional round. Is it possible for the brilliant youngster to guide his side to another unlikely triumph?
Eagles injury fears
This time of year, almost everyone is injured, but the Eagles are dealing with injuries at a number of critical spots, which may limit their effectiveness against Washington. In last week’s divisional victory over the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Jalen Hurts sustained a knee injury that limited his mobility in the closing minutes of the game. In the regular season, Hurts had 14 running scores and averaged 42 yards per game, many of which came on the Eagles’ trademark tush-push quarterback sneak play.
In the event that Hurts’ movement is restricted once more on Sunday, Philadelphia’s offense will be significantly diminished. The Eagles will likely rely even more on running back Saquon Barkley, who has averaged 25.5 carries and 162 rushing yards per game in the playoffs, if that is the case. In addition, he scored two rushing touchdowns against the Rams, one at 62 yards and the other at 78 yards. The sole reliable component of Philadelphia’s attack is the running game. DeVonta Smith has only caught eight passes for 76 yards and no touchdowns this postseason, while big-play wide receiver A.J. Brown has only caught three passes for 24 yards.
The tight end Dallas Goedert missed practice this week due to an ankle injury, despite having eight receptions for 103 yards and a score in postseason. He anticipates playing on Sunday. Cam Jurgens, the center, is doubtful due to a back ailment. Concerningly, the Eagles have another injury on the defensive end of the ball. Quinyon Mitchell, an impressive rookie cornerback, was out for the majority of last week’s game due to a shoulder injury. He plans to play on Sunday, but his strength and range of motion may restrict how effective he is. In Philadelphia’s triumph, Mitchell held Washington’s top pass-catcher Terry McLaurin to a single reception
AFC: Chiefs vs. Bills
Can Josh Allen and the Bills overcome their struggles?
Allen has pursued Patrick Mahomes throughout his career. As previously said, he has outperformed his opponent during the regular season. However, Allen has failed when the battles count most. He scored two rushing scores but only completed 26 of 39 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown in the divisional matchup last season. Buffalo only scored seven points in the second half and made a mistake in the fourth quarter that prevented them from scoring. Now that they have another chance to take on Mahomes and the Chiefs, Allen and the Bills have had a full year to consider what they might have done differently.
Despite lacking a top-tier No. 1 receiver, Allen has accomplished more with less in 2024 while leading an offense that finished second in regular season scoring (30.9 points per game). Allen was effective last week against Baltimore, rushing for two scores, passing for 127 yards, and completing 16 of 22 passes. In addition to Allen’s 20 rushing yards, he was helped by a defense that forced three Ravens turnovers and running backs who totaled 127 rushing yards.
During the regular season, Allen and the Bills averaged eight more points per game than the Chiefs and 359.1 total yards compared to 327.6 for Kansas City. Kansas City’s offense has averaged 212 yards and 23 points in one game during the postseason, while Buffalo’s offensive has averaged 372 yards and 29 points in two games. Buffalo’s defense had a plus-3 turnover differential in the postseason and a league-best plus-24 difference in the regular season (Kansas City’s was plus-6). Will Allen finally bring his club over the hump this year?
Defense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super Bowl
Defense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super BowlDefense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super BowlDefense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super BowlDefense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super BowlDefense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super BowlDefense is crucial as the Chiefs look Return of the Super Bowl
In order to go back to the Super Bowl,
After just managing 212 yards in last week’s 23–14 victory against Houston, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense might need a boost. The Chiefs struggled with third downs, converting only four of their 11 attempts. After tight end Travis Kelce exploded for 117 yards and a touchdown on seven catches last week, Mahomes, who only passed for 177 yards and a touchdown, is searching for another receiver to show promise. Kareem Hunt, Noah Gray, and Xavier Worthy combined for just 60 yards and nine catches. Together, Marquise Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, and JuJu Smith-Schuster missed four targets without being caught.
Pressure on a defense that held Houston to just two touchdowns but let the Texans convert 10 of 17 third downs and gain 336 yards may increase as offensive difficulties worsen. The Chiefs defense was one of the most stringent in the league during the regular season, allowing opponents to score just 19.2 points per game, which was the fourth-lowest total. To get to New Orleans, that unit might need to put on one of its best performances to date.
