The NFL Playoffs have reached the Conference Championship stage. Here, the two teams playing in the Super Bowl will be known. But, after a divisional round where the favorite in the NFC were eliminated, would we see any upsets here?
NFC Championship: Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
This year’s NFC Championship game was an all-NFC East affair between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. The Eagles were widely expected to get to this stage, but not for the Commanders. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has taken the four-win team to the conference championship game and is now one win from becoming the first rookie quarterback to make the Super Bowl. But would he be able to do it?
The Commanders had the first possession of the game and would be able to get the first set of points from it. Starting from their 30-yard line, the Commanders’ offense was able to slowly make its way down to the Eagles’ 16-yard line. This is where the drive would stall, setting up a 34-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez. He made it, giving Washington the early lead.
But, the lead lasted one play. On their first touch of the game, the Eagles found the endzone. Saqoun Barkley ran for 60 yards to record a rushing touchdown. Any hopes that the Commanders would have been able to contain the running back were well and truly shot down in that one play. On their next drive, things got worse for the Commanders when Dyami Brown fumbled the ball. This was scooped up by the Eagles on Washington’s 48-yard set, setting themselves up for another scoring opportunity.
This was something that they were able to take. The Eagles’ offense, led by Jalen Hurts, made its way down to the Commanders’ four-yard line. Here, Barkley found the endzone for his second touchdown of the game.
Washington was able to get something on their next drive. Daniels and company made their way down to the Eagles’ 28-yard line, where their drive would again stall. This set up a 46-yard field goal from Gonzalez, which he was able to make. Philadelphia would attempt a field goal of their own on their next drive. Jake Elliot had an attempt from 54 yards out however it went wide-right.
The Commanders heavily reduced the Eagles’ lead on their next drive. On the Eagles’ 36-yard line, Daniels found Terry McLaurin for the touchdown pass. The Commanders then attempted a two-point conversion, but this was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the lead was only two points.
But, this did not last long. On the next drive, the Eagles were down at the one-yard line, so you could guess what play happened next. The Tush push for the touchdown. As with the score before it, the Eagles attempted a two-point conversion, which was also unsuccessful.
Washington then made a mistake when they fumbled the kickoff return. The loose ball was recovered by the Eagles on the 24-yard line. A few plays later, Hurts found A.J Brown for a four-yard touchdown pass to further their lead. The Commanders did attempt to cut into the lead before the half, but could only manage a field goal.
This meant that at halftime, the Eagles had a 27-15 lead over the Commanders.
The Eagles were able to extend their lead early in the second half. Starting from their 42-yard line, the offense made its way down to the Commanders’ nine-yard line. Here, Hurts found the endzone for the rushing touchdown.
The Commanders responded to this with a touchdown of their own. On the Eagles 10-yard line, Daniels would run into the endzone for the score. Washington then attempted a two-point conversion, which this time was successful.
But, any momentum that the Commanders gained from their previous drive was lost on their next one. On the 50-yard line, another fumble would fall the Commanders’ way, which again led to a loss in possession. This mistake would be something that the Eagles would capitalize on, with Hurts and company moving down to the one-yard line. Here, the quarterback found the endzone again for a touchdown.
This lead would get even bigger on the next drive when Barkley found the endzone for a four-yard rushing touchdown, his third of the game. This put the game well and truly out of the reach of the Commanders.
To celebrate their spot in the Super Bowl, the Eagles picked off Jayden Daniels one more time, and a few plays later, Will Shipley found the endzone for a four-yard rushing touchdown.
This meant that the Philadelphia Eagles had defeated the Washington Commanders 55-23 to win the NFC and earn a spot in Super Bowl LIX.
This is the second time in three years that the Eagles have made it to the Super Bowl and their fifth conference championship. As for the Commanders, no one can take away what they have achieved this year, and if they keep this form up, they will definitely be back at this game in the future.
So the Eagles have made the Super Bowl. But who would play them?
AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
This was the game that a lot more people were interested in, and who could blame them? The Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Buffalo Bills in a game everyone outside of Kansas City wanted the Bills to win. This would be another encounter between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Allen has never defeated Mahomes in the postseason but was able to get the better of him in the regular season. Could this year be the year that Buffalo made it to the Super Bowl?
The Bills had the first drive of the game but would be unable to do anything with it. The Chiefs were able to get something on their first drive. Starting from their 10-yard line, the Mahomes-led offense made its way down to the Bills’ 12-yard line. Here, Kareem Hunt found the endzone for the rushing touchdown.
In response to this score, Buffalo were able to put their first set of points on the board. Their drive would stall at the Chiefs 35-yard line, which set up a 53-yard field goal attempt from Trevor Bass. This is something he would make.
Then, the Chiefs made a mistake. On the Bills’ 28-yard line, Mahomes fumbled the ball, and this was recovered by the Bills defense. Buffalo was able to capitalize on this mistake, as Allen and company would move the ball down to the Chiefs’ six-yard line. Here, James Cook found the endzone for the rushing touchdown to give the Bills the lead.
But, this lead did not last long. On the next drive, the Chiefs would shake off their previous mistake and make their way down to the Bills’ 11-yard line. Here, Mahomes found Xavier Worthy for the touchdown pass. Kansas City would extend their lead on their next drive when Mahomes scrambled for a one-yard rushing touchdown.
However, Buffalo would be able to keep themselves in the game before halftime. On the final drive of the half, Allen found Mack Hollins for a 34-yard touchdown pass. The Bills then decided to attempt a two-point conversion, which was unsuccessful.
This meant that at halftime, the Chiefs had a 21-16 lead over the Bills.
The Bills were able to take the lead early in the second half. Starting from their 20-yard line, the Allen-led offense slowly made its way down to the Chiefs’ one-yard line. Then, on a fourth down attempt, Cook found the endzone for the rushing touchdown. Buffalo then decided to attempt another two-point conversion. However, Allen was sacked on the attempt, which failed. But the touchdown did give the Bills a one-point lead as the teams went into the fourth quarter.
This lead soon disappeared. A few drives into the fourth quarter, the Chiefs would strike back. Mahomes would bring his offense down to the Bills’ 10-yard line. Here, he found the endzone for the rushing touchdown. The Chiefs then attempted a two-point conversion, and unlike the last two attempts from Buffalo, this one was successful.
However, Kansas City then got a taste of their own medicine and saw their lead exist no more. On the next drive, Allen found Curtis Samuel for a four-yard touchdown pass. The Bills then decided to take the PAT, which was successful. This tied the scores with six minutes left to play.
The Chiefs had the next possession and would be able to bring the ball down to the Bills’17-yard line but no further. The stalled drive led to a 35-yard field goal attempt from Harrison Butker. Butker made the kick, giving the Chiefs a three-point lead with three minutes left on the clock. The Bills needed to find the endzone on their next drive, or it would likely be curtains.
The drive started on their 30-yard line, and Josh Allen was able to bring his Bills’ offense down to their 47-yard line. Here, a very important fourth-down attempt occurred. Buffalo needed to find five yards, or it would be game (and season) over. Allen threw a deep pass to Dalton Kincaid, which was incomplete.
This meant the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 32-29 to win the AFC and earn their spot in a third consecutive Super Bowl.
We have the teams for Super Bowl LXI. It will be the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs, a rematch of the Super Bowl from two years ago.
From a fan perspective, this is the game no one wanted. However, we are going to have to accept that this is happening again, and neither team winning is going to be a good thing (especially for me)