Four teams remain in the 2024 NFL Playoffs.
After an eventful divisional round in which every game remained close well into the fourth quarter, the NFC and the AFC will each produce its champion. Both Conference Championship games will take place on Sunday, with the NFC game preceding the AFC game.
(6) Washington Commanders @ (2) Philadelphia Eagles
A longtime NFC East rivalry will decide who gets to go to New Orleans to play the AFC champion. Washington has surprised everyone this season by making the playoffs and cruising to their first NFC championship since 1991. Last weekend by upsetting the Lions in Detroit, Jayden Daniels became just the third rookie quarterback, after Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Mark Sanchez of the Jets, to take his team to the conference championship. Even with a competent defense and offensive line, Daniels has been the reason for the Commanders’ playoff success. In two games, he’s averaged 284 passing yards with four touchdowns to zero interceptions. To win in Philadelphia, Daniels must have success rushing, which will give him more options in the passing game as well, and keep up his clean, no-turnover, streak.
Contrary to Washington, the Eagles’ success has come from the defense and offensive line. The defense limited the Packers to 10 points. The next week, before a late touchdown, they limited the Rams to 15 points. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has drawn up schemes that have consistently devastated quarterbacks. Through two playoff games, opposing quarterbacks have thrown for just a 58% completion rate. On offense, even though quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for just 131 and 128 yards in his last two games, the best offensive line in the league, has created room for running back Saquon Barkley to run wild. Barkley has rushed for 119 and 205 yards in the two games. The Eagles will have a similar attack against Washington, with a strong emphasis on the ground game.
Prediction: 34-29 Eagles
Philadelphia’s defense will adapt to Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and successfully stop Washington’s dynamic offense. Additionally, Barkley will have success against a defense that has allowed over 4.5 yards per carry to running backs in both games this postseason. Like both matchups in the regular season between these two teams, though, this game will come down to the wire and the team with the ball last will likely win.
(2) (Buffalo Bills @ (1) Kansas City Chiefs
The rematch every NFL fan wanted, between the fan-favorite Buffalo Bills and the hated-just-because-they-succeed Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo recorded an upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, and they will look to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993. Similarly to Washington, Buffalo’s success has come largely from their quarterback: Josh Allen. This postseason, Allen has done everything necessary to advance, whether that be throwing for 272 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 77% completion rate against Denver, or rushing for two key touchdowns against Baltimore.
Kansas City seems to win every close game they enter, and hardly any team finds a way to stop them. Even with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes Jr., and elite defensive players in defensive lineman Chris Jones and defensive end George Karlaftis, they don’t dominate on either side. The Chiefs’ success is truly puzzling, as statistically speaking, nothing they do is special. However, coach Andy Reid has a mind like no other. Additionally, even though Mahomes hasn’t reached 200 passing yards five times this season, he shows up in the huge moments when it matters.
Prediction: 30-27 Chiefs
This season under offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the Bills adopted a run-first offense. Though it has been incredibly effective, with both Allen and running back James Cook, a Chiefs defense that ranked eighth against the run this season may pose trouble. Kansas City may have trouble rushing as well. Starting running back Isiah Pacheco hasn’t looked sharp since returning from a fractured fibula, and the last time these teams played, the Chiefs only managed 78 rushing yards. This game is about as close as it gets, and could very well reach overtime. However, the Chiefs have prevailed in close games and there is no reason for that to change this week. Maybe, if they beat the Bills in overtime this year, though, no one will complain that they only won because they got the ball first.
Two games this Sunday will determine this season’s Super Bowl matchup. As always in today’s NFL, expect two high-scoring affairs that come down to the wire. The question everyone will be asking until the AFC game, though, is whether or not Buffalo can finally dethrone the dynasty of Kansas City, or if the victors will remain victorious.
