Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are set to face off against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. This encounter marks their fourth playoff meeting in five years.
In the divisional round on Sunday, Allen showcased his skills by scoring two rushing touchdowns, leading the Bills to a narrow 27-25 victory over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. A critical moment came when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews failed to secure a pass from Jackson on a two-point conversion that could have tied the game with just 1:33 left on the clock, allowing Buffalo to hold onto their slim lead and claim the win.
The Chiefs have bested the Bills in each of their previous three playoff encounters, most notably in the conference championship four years ago in Kansas City. However, it’s noteworthy that Buffalo managed to secure a victory over the Chiefs’ starters this season, winning 30-21 at home during Week 11.
In the NFC Championship Game, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley will lead the Philadelphia Eagles against Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. The Eagles secured their place in the championship with a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. They will enjoy home advantage next week as the sixth-seed Commanders pulled off a significant upset against the top-seeded Detroit Lions, winning 45-31 on Saturday night.
Barkley had a remarkable performance, rushing for 205 yards, including long touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards. Philadelphia’s defense was crucial in the final moments of the game, with Jalen Carter sacking Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for a 9-yard loss on the last drive, forcing Stafford to throw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-11.
The Eagles and Commanders, both rivals in the NFC East, will meet for the third time this season, with each team having won on their home turf. Earlier this season, Philadelphia claimed a 26-18 victory over Washington in a Thursday night matchup, while the Commanders emerged victorious with a 36-33 win in December, a game that saw Hurts exit early due to a concussion.
Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett had an opportunity to lead the Eagles to victory in that game, but DeVonta Smith’s dropped third-down pass allowed the Commanders to stage a comeback leading to a last-minute touchdown pass from Daniels to Jamison Crowder.
The Eagles, boasting a 16-3 record, are heading to the NFC title game for the second time in three seasons and the ninth instance in franchise history. They hold a balanced record of 4-4 in these title games and have one Super Bowl victory to their name.
Meanwhile, the Commanders, with a 14-5 record, are making their first appearance in the conference championship in 33 years and their seventh overall. Their success in NFC title games stands at 5-1, having triumphed in three Super Bowl games. As a rookie, Daniels will be looking to overturn the trend of rookie quarterbacks, who are currently 0-5 in conference championships.
The Chiefs secured their spot in the championship by defeating the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday, with Mahomes throwing for 177 yards and a touchdown to Travis Kelce. Kelce, who made seven catches for 117 yards, had prominent figures like Taylor Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark cheering from a suite.
This marks the seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance for Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid, and the Chiefs. Their record in these games stands at 4-2, and they have won three Super Bowl titles, including back-to-back championships. Kansas City aims to make history by becoming the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls in the current era.
The Bills, with a 15-4 record, have a solid track record in AFC title games, boasting a 4-2 record, although they have faced challenges in the Super Bowl, where they have lost four consecutive appearances between 1990 and 1993.
