Editor’s note: Throughout the playoffs, Chris Myers and his research team analyze upcoming matchups, providing news, notes, and access to insider access to the information an NFL broadcaster uses to prepare to call the game.
As we head into tournament weekend, it’s worth noting that the remaining four teams have played a total of seven games without committing a single turnover. Their opponents had 15 turnovers in that period:
Washington: 6 forced turnovers (TB 1, Det 5)
Philadelphia: 6 forced turnovers (GB 4, LAR 2)
Buffalo: 3 turnovers (Dn 0, PAL 3)
Kansas City: 0 forced turnovers (IS)
Will both tournament games be turnover-free for these four?
6. Washington leaders In 2. Philadelphia Eagles
We thought the Eagles, thanks to a recent change in the playoff formula to include the seventh team in each conference, might have a chance to be the first team to win three home games in the postseason, but it’s actually happened twice before, including once by Washington. .
Both instances came in 1982, when after the regular season was reduced to nine games, the playoffs were expanded to 16 teams. Washington was the top seed in the NFC and Miami was the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Each won three home games before Washington won its first three Super Bowls under Joe Gibbs.
The Leaders are seeking to become the fifth team to make the Super Bowl after a four-win season, most recently in 2021 Bengalwhich went 4-11-1 in Joe Burrow’s 2020 rookie season. All four of those teams have played fewer than their current 17 games, so the 2024 leaders would be the first team to lose 13 or more games in a season before a Super Bowl appearance.
Jayden Daniels passed for 567 yards in the two wins, five yards short of the rookie record in the postseason. Russell Wilson At 572 yards. 2 years ago, Brooke Purdy He looked in line to break it but was injured early in the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia and finished at 569.
Eagles Running Backley now has 2,329 rushing yards in the extended season (regular season and postseason) and needs 148 on Sunday to pass Terrell Davis’ record (2,476 in 1998) for most rushing yards in competitive games by one NFL running back. One in one season.
Before this season, no player in the NFL had passed for 4,000+ yards and rushed for 1,000+ in an extended season. Now, if Jayden Daniels rushes for 22 yards on Sunday (he’s 4,135 years old, 978th rushing), he’ll join Lamar Jackson, who finished the 2024 season with 4,601 rushing and 1,035 passing.
Chris Myers Analysis: “I see where Jason Kelce says the Eagles have better players at every position. Without getting into a discussion on the other positions, and without respect for that.” Jalen hurtsI disagree at quarterback. He may be labeled a “rookie,” but Washington’s Jayden Daniels has been great, both in the regular season and the postseason and even more. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes for his stadium this year. Hurts, on the other hand, has been good, not great, and for this week, he’s dealing with a knee injury. I feel like the leaders have the advantage on Sunday in the game’s most important position.
“However, the Eagles are a great team that plays the game in the old sense” with a great running back behind a tremendous line. They have a passionate fan base cheering them on on Sunday and can be dominant on both lines.
“The Leaders have exceeded all expectations and are playing for house money. They certainly shouldn’t be afraid of the Eagles after splitting with them in two games, winning the last two seasons, even when Washington wasn’t on the rise. Philadelphia’s advantage is just 6-4 with only one win by more than 10 points.” .
“They’ve already beaten No. 1 and No. 3 seeds, and I expect the leaders to be very competitive. And in the tight moments at the end of the game, Daniels showed that he makes winning plays.”
2. Buffalo Bills In 1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs did not win any of their first 49 AFC Championship games (between 1970 and 2018). They then won four of the last five with wins over four different teams, including the Bills in the 2020 AFC Championship Game.
The Bills did not appear in any of their first 18 AFC title games five years ago in a six-year stretch beginning in 1988. After losing that game to the Bengals, they won four in a row from 1990 to 1993, the last a 20-13 victory over the Chiefs, Which had Joe Montana and Dave Craig at quarterback.
Kansas City didn’t even come back until this current run of seven straight games began in 2018. They avenged the 1993 loss in 2020 with a 38-24 win over the Bills.
As discussed before, these Chiefs excel in close games, with only three of the 16 overall leading by more than 10 points. Part of that is due to the decline in tribal crime.
Between 2018 and 2022, Kansas City scored more than 30 points in 48 games, including nine times in the postseason. No other team tops the 30 more than 32 times (Dallas). Last year, the Chiefs were only 30 on three occasions, and in 2024, they are one of only three teams to never have such a game.
In five regular season games against the Chiefs, Bills’ Josh Allen has produced 25.8 PPG and is 4-1, but despite increasing that to 28 PPG in three postseason meetings, he is 0-3 against Kansas City. This is partly because Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes was dramatically better in the postseason against Buffalo, with 306 yards per game, 8 TDs and 0 INTS.
He’s not 30 yet, but Mahomes has 16 postseason wins, ranked second among starting quarterbacks with a former Chiefs, Joe Montana. Although he is best known for his four Super Bowl wins with 49ersMontana’s last postseason victories came with Kansas City in 1993. Tom Brady’s 35-year-old total seems insurmountable right now, but Mahomes is off to a great start.
Mahomes has multiple postseason wins over his last five seasons and could make it six in a row on Sunday. Brady has had eight straight seasons with multiple playoff wins (2011-18).
It’s not Mahomes or Brady, but Josh Allen has won at least one game in each of the last five postseasons.
Chris Myers’ analysis: “In the games the Chiefs are trying to win, they’re 16-1, and the only team that beats them is the Bills. That game was in Buffalo. Now they meet in Kansas City, where they’ve won 10 playoff games since 2019.”
“This is a quarterback matchup for the ages, and Hall of Famers enter in their late 20s at the top of their games. In 2018, both quarterbacks earned a first-round decision, where many other teams failed.
“Both quarterbacks seem likely to be great. The question is who else might make the crucial plays – either for good or bad as we saw last week with the usually reliable tight end Mark Andrews Of crows. Is there a hero or goat waiting in the wings?
“One thing Mahomes has going for him is a Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid teamed with a very experienced defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo. Bills coach Sean McDermott and his offensive coordinator Joe Brady will face two of the best, as they try to give Allen and company the preparation they need.” “.
“So far, the Chiefs have been with stellar postseason resumes while Buffalo, despite some success, has fallen short of the Super Bowl. Is this the year Buffalo returns to the big game for the first time in 32 years?
“I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Chris Myers is an Emmy Award-winning play-by-play broadcaster, reporter, and studio host for Fox Sports. Follow him on Twitter @the_chrismyers.
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