Josh Allen booked another play-off date with Patrick Mahomes while Jayden Daniels and Saquon Barkley stole the show once again – Sky Sports NFL host Neil Reynolds has the final say on the weekend of the Divisional Round…
After such a wild card weekend, the games and the tension were ramped up in the divisional round and it did not disappoint.
We were filled with great matches, incredible stories, and legacy and career defining early and late career moments. We saw it all.
An old story about bosses
Let’s start in Kansas City, where there was a very familiar feel to the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans. It must be playoff time again because Patrick Mahomes is throwing to Travis Kelce, the two of them combining for over 100 yards and more than 16 yards per reception when Kelce averaged just 8.5 yards during the regular season.
Make no mistake, the Chiefs are a defensive football team right now. They gained just 212 yards of offense, which was the fewest by a playoff winning team since 1991, and they relied on those eight sacks of CJ Stroud to advance to the next round.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Patrick Mahomes finds tight end Travis Kelce to extend the Kansas City Chiefs’ lead over the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs
It’s an incredible run of success for the Chiefs as they prepare to play in the AFC Championship for the seventh straight year. Mahomes is a big, big part of that, but Andy Reid has also been a big factor in how this team has been able to evolve over the years through all these championship runs to where they are now, led by the defense with quite large. played by their ‘magic man’ Mahomes.
They are very, very capable of winning the Super Bowl for the third year in a row.
Detroit’s Cinderella story was destroyed
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of Washington Chiefs at Detroit Lions in Divisional Round of NFL Playoffs
I’d like to say something dramatic at the beginning of this section about a star in the making, but Jayden Daniels was already well on his way as the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback before leading his team to a 45-31 victory on Saturday against the Detroit Lions. .
Just like that, a magical season for the Lions has come to an end. Daniels was so cool, so calm, he looked like the veteran watching a Super Bowl instead of Jared Goff, who was really struggling in the lights. Turned and overturned with these two quarterbacks.
Detroit turned it over five times, which led directly to 21 Washington points, which is huge in a game decided by 14. It was an amazing game, with more than 1,000 yards of offense. Had six shots and 42 points in the second quarter — the latter a playoff record — with five of those shots coming in a six-minute span.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Detroit Lions Sam LaPorta spins in a brilliant one-handed catch against the Washington Commanders, much to the surprise of commentator Tom Brady
The teams went back and forth, but it was Jared Goff who made the key mistakes: a pick-six for a Washington touchdown and an interception in the end zone before halftime. Daniels played with ice in his veins, he was undefeated, made all the big plays in all the big shots and is a big reason why the Commanders, who won just four games a year ago, are just 60 minutes from Super Bowl.
As for the Lions, their Cinderella season has been shattered into a thousand pieces. What else for them? Ben Johnson is the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, Aaron Glenn could also leave. What else for Dan Campbell on the coaching side? And will their Super Bowl window remain open?
Saquon stars in the snow
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Best action from the Los Angeles Rams clash with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs
I was pleased to see a snow game in Philadelphia on Sunday. I love it. It’s just a fantastic backdrop for NFL drama, especially at playoff time.
It must have been deja vu for Matthew Stafford. In 2013, he led the Lions against an Eagles team in a flurry in a game that saw LeSean McCoy rush for more than 200 yards for the Eagles. On Sunday, Stafford was playing the Eagles in a snow game, and Philadelphia’s running back gained more than 200 yards — this time it was Saquon Barkley.
Barkley had broken the Rams’ hearts in Week 12 by rushing for 255 yards, and this time he had 205 yards, scoring on runs of 62 and 78 yards, taking advantage of the big holes created by a big offensive line.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Saquon Barkley kicks a 78-yarder, his second of the game, to clinch the Philadelphia Eagles’ berth in the NFC Championship Game
The blow for the Eagles was the injury to Jalen Hurts, who suffered a knee injury. He was sacked seven times on the night while throwing for just 128 yards after throwing for just 131 last week. Should we be worried about this? And will this lack of a passing game catch up or will it be Barkley who will lead this team all the way to New Orleans?
The Rams showed great fight and almost won the game in the end, the Eagles relied on a late defensive stand. Sean McVay’s team heads into the offseason with plenty to be excited about and optimistic about heading into 2025.
Another lost season for Lamar Jackson
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Best action from the Baltimore Ravens’ clash with the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs
We wrap up with the most eagerly anticipated game of the weekend as the Baltimore Ravens took on the Buffalo Bills.
It was 27-25 Buffalo inside the final two minutes, Lamar Jackson had just produced late heroics to throw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely and the two-point conversion would tie a tense game in freezing conditions — and Mark Andrews gave up football!
His tight end had been so reliable that he caught 11 red-zone snaps this year, but dropped that one after falling backwards toward the field goal. Absolute heartbreak for the Ravens. Another lost season for Jackson, who won’t take much comfort in being named MVP for the third time before the Super Bowl.
Mistakes killed the Ravens in this close game. Lamar threw an interception and missed a fumble, and Andrews also missed a fumble making a catch in the fourth quarter. But I think Lamar was magical when they needed him in right, so he shouldn’t be criticized too much. The fact remains, he has yet to reach a Super Bowl in what has been a glittering career on a personal level.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
We take a look back at the lead-up and highlights from last year’s Super Bowl, when the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious
Buffalo MVP candidate Josh Allen was able to play within himself with just 127 passing yards and no touchdowns while scoring a pair of runs. The Bills were balanced and while they gave up more than 400 yards of offense against Baltimore, they came up with big defensive plays when they needed to.
Buffalo certainly looks capable of going to Kansas City and giving the Chiefs a real run for their money. This is a defining moment for Allen. He has played against Mahomes three times in the playoffs, and each has resulted in a victory for the Chiefs. Can he lead the Bills to the Super Bowl?
What’s next?
It’s the NFL Conference Championship Sunday January 26th – live Sky Sports NFL – with the Philadelphia Eagles first hosting the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game at 8 p.m., and then the Chiefs taking on the Bills at 11:30 p.m.
Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. live on Sky Sports NFL.
