
This Given Sunday: Chiefs, Eagles head for rematch
We have our Super Bowl matchup. In two weeks time, the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII.
Hardly a matchup for the neutral, it seems many analysts, pundits and prognosticators lost their perspective when predicting (wishing) for a Commanders-Bills Super Bowl. The Eagles proved their dominant run game was too much for an unfinished Washington outfit, while Patrick Mahomes once again proved his supremacy in the post season.
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NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Washington Commanders 23 @ Philadelphia Eagles 55
Play of the Game: Saquon Barkley takes it to the house
It would be reductive to suggest the NFC Championship Game was decided on the first two possessions of the game, but it certainly felt like Philadelphia gained a significant mental edge over their division rivals with just half of the first quarter played.
The Commanders looked incisive on their opening drive, chipping away at the Eagles defense routinely. Just as it looked like Philadelphia had Jayden Daniels bottled up, the young quarterback would find the open man to keep the offense rolling and Washington’s 18-play, 54-yard drive could have broken the host’s spirit. Twice the visitors converted on fourth down, silencing the raucous crowd at Lincoln Financial Field but, on fourth-and-four inside the Eagles’ red zone, Dan Quinn decided to take the ball out of Daniels hand and elected to take three points from the boot of Zane Gonzales.
On the next play from scrimmage, Saquon Barkley housed a 60-yard touchdown. Just like that, Philadelphia achieved in one play what Washington couldn’t in 18. It’s the type of play that Barkley has routinely made in this playoff run, exactly the type of play Washington’s defensive coaches will have warned their players to stop. The toss to the left allows Barkley to reach full speed behind the careening momentum of Jordan Mailata, the Commanders fail to set the edge, Bobby Wagner gets caught up in the wash and Washington’s defensive backfield can’t lay a firm shoulder on the presumptive offensive player of the year.
MVP: Saquon Barkley
The seventh year back scored twice more, both from four yards, to cement his status as an Eagles legend after just one season in the City of Brotherly Love. Barkley is averaging 6.7 yards per carry in the postseason, while his latest runaway touchdown makes him the most prolific long-range threat in the history of the game as he passed Jerry Rice for the most 60+ yard touchdowns with seven in both regular and post season play.
Barkley is the final piece in an offense that has long felt powerful if incomplete. Howie Roseman has been reticent to commit resources to the position, instead opting for ageing stars on short-term deals (LaGarette Blount in 2017), short-term rentals with minimal cap hits (D’Andre Swift last season) and younger players on rookie deals (Miles Sanders) in order to finance investments elsewhere. Placing a true star player alongside Jalen Hurts has made the Eagles running game nigh on unstoppable.
Kellen Moore calls a perfect game
That commitment to the run has raised questions about the Eagles passing attack. The Eagles netted just 65 passing yards against the Rams in the Divisional Round, a worrying statistic even in inclement weather.
Barkley again set the table for the Eagles’ success, but Kellen Moore went into his bag, featuring the other star skill players donning the midnight green. Both Dallas Goedert and Devonta Smith were featured on end arounds and jet sweeps, stretching the Commanders’ defense and opening running lanes. A.J. Brown’s number was called repeatedly, a crucial snag on fourth-and-five extending a drive that would turn into one of the Eagles’ eight touchdowns.
Their seven rushing scores, gained with a banged-up offensive line that saw both Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens miss time during the proceedings, is an NFL playoff record, and the Eagles’ 55 points are the most ever in a Championship Game.
Eagles hunt the football
The Commanders will rue several key mistakes that crushed their momentum and gave a rampant Eagles offense help it didn’t really need. Dyami Brown coughed up the ball on Washington’s second possession, Jeremy McNichols fumbled on a kickoff return and Austin Ekeler also relinquished possession attempting to regain his footing after a sliding catch. While Washington will rue these mistakes — all three fumbles were turned into touchdowns — credit must also go to the Eagles’ defenders for their relentless pursuit of the ball, both in stripping the carrier and recovering possession.
Jayden Daniels shows the future is bright in Washington
Washington made it this far by playing calm and collected mistake-free football, allowing their opponents to make those errors and relying on the preternatural poise of their star signal caller.
They certainly didn’t succeed on those first two points on Sunday. Marshon Lattimore was penalised for initiating a scrap with Brown, Frankie Luvu almost gave up a score for repeatedly and gratuitously encroaching prior to a ‘Tush Push’ touchdown and the team made several execution mistakes on both sides of the ball. Even Daniels took some unnecessary sacks attempting to make plays out of structure. That said, however, the rookie made some tight window throws and generally avoided the pressure exerted by the Eagles mountainous defensive line.
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AFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Buffalo Bills 29 @ Kansas City Chiefs 32
Play of the game: Steve Spagnoulo dials up a game-ending blitz
Two minutes to go. The Bills are down by three. It’s fourth-and-five and Josh Allen needs to convert. To keep the season alive, to fulfil his dynasty, to finally beat the Chiefs when it matters most.
Steve Spagnoulo’s sending the house. Six Chiefs are up at the defensive line, split equally either side of the ball. At the snap, two of those Chiefs to Allen’s left bail into coverage and, instead, Trent McDuffie and Justin Read head for the quarterback. The offensive line’s attention is suitably diverted, and Allen is immediately under duress. He rolls out of the pocket to his right, arcing away from the oncoming rush. It draws his eyes away from Khalil Shakir, who’s wide open in the opposite flat. The only option is a desperate heave to Dalton Kincaid. The second-year tight end gets his hands to the rapidly dropping pigskin, but he can’t grasp it. Once again, the Bills and Allen will fall to those indomitable Chiefs.
MVP: Steve Spagnuolo
These exotic blitzes are what Spagnoulo does best. The former Giants head coach has pressure from every angle in his playbook, and his ability to draw up the perfect call in the most clutch of moments has been a core feature of the Chiefs’ success. Spags was sparing in his deployment of the blitz on Sunday, however, only sending five or more rushers on six plays, four of which were in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs were also well prepared for Buffalo’s version of the ‘Tush Push’, keying in on Allen’s propensity to run off left guard in short yardage. Kansas City routinely bottled Allen up in those key situations, including a fourth-and-one when the Bills had a tenuous one-point lead.
Allen and Mahomes ‘storied’ rivalry
It’s hard to think of a more one-sided rivalry, where there is seemingly so little between the two teams and their star players. Josh Allen is now 0-4 in the playoffs against Patrick Mahomes, a figure that will surely haunt the star quarterback and his adoring public in western New York.
Both played admirably. Earlier this season, Buffalo completely stymied Mahomes’ running threat. Kansas City’s quarterback failed to record a single rushing attempt during the defeat in Buffalo. On Sunday, however, Mahomes rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns, routinely breaking containment in the pocket and making defenders miss in the open field. With the season on the line, Mahomes is pushing the envelope, making more plays out of structure while still delivering the ball on time to his strengthened receiving corps. Allen calmed down after an inefficient start, hitting Mack Hollins on two deep completions and getting the ball to his playmakers within the rhythm of the offense.
Some may point to questionable decisions which again fell in the Chiefs favour. That stop on Allen’s QB sneak wasn’t reviewed, many people watching at home felt Buffalo’s quarterback had done enough to move the chains. Regardless, Mahomes again showed an ability to rise to the occasion and pull out just enough plays to vanquish his closest rival.
Xavier Worthy’s breakout game?
The young wide receiver was also part of a contentious decision when the refs ruled he made a contested catch against Bills safety Cole Bishop. Worthy’s grab allowed Mahomes to scamper into the endzone, extending Kansas City’s lead with just a few minutes left in the second quarter.
It came after Worthy showed his electric speed in crossing the whitewash himself. The rookie caught the ball going over the middle in perfect stride, before gassing Damar Hamlin to the pylon for the Chiefs second score. He finished the day with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. With Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins, Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquise Brown all fully fit, Kansas City suddenly looks strong at a position which has been a weakness for the past few seasons. If Worthy can continue to grow through this postseason, his speed could pose serious problems to the Eagles in the Super Bowl.