[And Then There Were Four: NFL Conference Championship Matchups Set
The NFL conference championship games are set, with huge storylines emerging from both matchups. One win separates the franchises from a spot in Super Bowl LIX.
The matchups are:
* NFC Championship: No. 6 Washington Commanders @ No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles – 3 p.m. ET (FOX)
* AFC Championship: No. 2 Buffalo Bills @ No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs – 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Eagles won 28-22 and will take on the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship. The Chiefs won 23-14 and advanced to their 7th straight AFC Championship.
Taylor Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Houston Texans in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 18.
The Commanders advanced to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1991-92 season, while the Bills will play the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
Mike Evans extended his streak of 1,000-yards in a season for the 11th in a row to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most ever consecutively. The Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 and clinched a playoff berth.
Jimmy Carter before the Washington Commanders hosted the Atlanta Falcons on December 29. Carter, the 39th president, died earlier that day at the age of 100.
The Chargers beat the New England Patriots 40-7.
Hurts said after the game he was confident he would play against the Commanders, but if his mobility is affected by any lingering issues, it would severely hamper a key aspect of what makes him so dangerous.
Saquon Barkley had another outstanding game against the Rams – with 205 rushing yards including two long touchdown runs – and slowing him down will be key for the Commanders if they have any chance of winning.
The AFC Championship game has become a familiar sight in recent years: the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen traveling to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs have knocked the Bills out of the playoffs three of the past four seasons, while Buffalo has dominated the regular season clashes with four straight victories, including handing Kansas City one of its two regular season losses in Week 11 this year.
Games between these two AFC juggernauts have come to define the NFL in recent years, with memorable moments going down in folklore, none more so than the Chiefs’ 13 second drive in the divisional round in 2021 and victory in overtime.
Mahomes added: “When you look at the great rivalries of the NFL, it comes with this. It comes with playing each other every year in the regular season and it comes with playing in the playoffs.”
Allen acknowledged the level of opposition they’ll be coming up against.
Allen added: “The regular season is what the regular season is, and it doesn’t matter how well you perform when you get to the playoffs, it doesn’t really matter.
Despite being just 29 years old, Mahomes enters the game tied for the second-most playoff victories by a quarterback with 16 and with a spot in the history books on the line – Kansas City is looking to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls – he has all the motivation in the world to extend that run.
A big boost for the Chiefs is the return to form for tight end Travis Kelce. After an underwhelming regular season, Kelce had 117 receiving yards in the divisional round win over the Houston Texans, his ninth playoff game with at least 100 yards, the most in NFL history.
And if he can continue to roll back the years, the Bills defense could have a job on their hands to prevent the Chiefs from reaching their third straight Super Bowl.
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