Commanders QB Jayden Daniels - Emilee Fails/Washington Commanders
The NFL divisional round provided the thrilling moments that the wild card round lacked. Washington pulled off a massive upset over Detroit, and Saquon Barkley carried an Eagles’ victory in the NFC. The Chiefs continued their AFC dominance, while Buffalo won an instant classic over Baltimore. With only four teams remaining in the hunt for the Lombardi trophy, all eyes will be on the NFL this weekend. Here is my full NFL conference championship preview:
Commanders @ Eagles
The Washington Commanders shocked the NFL world last weekend by upsetting the heavily favored Detroit Lions. Their rise this season has many fans wondering what Jayden Daniels could become. Daniels has been one of the most effective scramblers in the league this season, taking off 83 times. The Commanders rely heavily on his ability to create outside of structure. Daniels ran the ball 16 times against the Lions for 51 yards.
The Eagles seem to have found a way to form their immensely talented roster into a true juggernaut. Saquon Barkley is recognized as the star of this team, and rightfully so. In the Eagles’ playoff win over the Rams, Barkley exploded for two touchdown runs of over 60 yards. Behind an elite offensive line, he has the ability to break off a big run at any moment. On the other side of the ball, Philadelphia’s defense has been one of the strongest in the league. Of the four remaining teams, the Eagles have allowed the least points this season.
Philadelphia’s offensive game plan is no secret. They’re going to hand the ball to Saquon Barkley and wait for the inevitable explosive run that will turn the tide of the game in their favor. Washington’s rushing defense has been the third-worst in the NFL this season. Barkley topped 140 rushing yards in both matchups with the Commanders in the regular season. In all likelihood, the Commanders will load the box and force Jalen Hurts to win with his arm. On offense, the Commanders will likely rely on Jayden Daniels’ ability to extend plays with his feet. Both of the matchups between these two teams this season have been decided by one score. Hopefully, they will produce another tight matchup on Sunday.
Bills @ Chiefs
Josh Allen is set to face his boogeyman yet again. In the last five years, the Bills have played the Chiefs in the playoffs three times. Mahomes and the Chiefs have come out on top in every matchup. The Bills have leaned on a physical running game to carry them to a surprising 13-4 record and AFC championship berth. Josh Allen and James Cook have helped produce an offense that finished top-ten in both rushing yards and total yards this season. In their divisional round matchup with the Ravens, Buffalo’s defense capitalized on forcing turnovers.
The Chiefs seem to have stumbled into their 15-2 record. If they go on to win the Super Bowl, they will have more one-score wins than any Super Bowl champion in NFL history. Kansas City’s defense forced consistent pressure on C.J. Stroud in the divisional round, producing eight sacks. They will look to do the same against the Bills. For Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, this game is about more than a trip to the Super Bowl. It’s about becoming the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen.
When these two teams played earlier in the season, the Bills walked away with a nine-point victory. It was the Chiefs’ first of their two losses on the year. In that game, the Bills were able to limit the Chiefs’ passing game, allowing under 200 yards through the air and forcing two interceptions. In recent weeks, the Chiefs’ passing game has grown exponentially. They’ll rely on big plays from receivers like Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown to propel them to their third consecutive AFC championship victory.
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