Chris Myers
Play-by-Play Announcer, Reporter and Studio Host
Editor’s Word: All through the NFL playoffs, Chris Myers and his analysis group analyze upcoming matchups, whereas offering information, notes, and nuggets for inside entry to the knowledge an NFL broadcaster makes use of to arrange for calling a recreation.
As we head into Championship Weekend, it needs to be famous that the surviving 4 groups have performed a complete of seven video games with out committing a single turnover. Their opponents have had 15 turnovers in that span:
Washington: 6 turnovers pressured (TB 1, DET 5)
Philadelphia: 6 turnovers pressured (GB 4, LAR 2)
Buffalo: 3 turnovers pressured (DEN 0, BAL 3)
Kansas Metropolis: 0 turnovers pressured (HOU)
Will each championship video games be one other turnover-free for these 4?
6. Washington Commanders at 2. Philadelphia Eagles
We thought that the Eagles, because of the latest change within the playoff system to incorporate a seventh group in every convention, may need an opportunity to be the primary group to win three house video games in a single postseason, but it surely really has occurred twice earlier than, together with as soon as by Washington.
Each of these situations got here in 1982, when after a strike diminished the common season to 9 video games, the playoffs have been expanded to 16 groups. Washington was the highest seed within the NFC and Miami was No. 2 within the AFC. Every received three house video games earlier than Washington received the primary of three Tremendous Bowls beneath Joe Gibbs.
The Commanders are searching for to develop into the fifth group to make the Tremendous Bowl after a four-win season, most lately the 2021 Bengals, who went 4-11-1 in Joe Burrow’s rookie 2020 season. All 4 of these groups performed fewer than the present 17 video games, so the 2024 Commanders can be the primary group to lose 13 or extra video games within the season previous to a Tremendous Bowl look.
Jayden Daniels has handed for 567 yards within the two wins, 5 yards from the rookie report for a postseason set by Russell Wilson in 572 yards. Two years in the past, Brock Purdy appeared in line to interrupt it however he was damage early within the NFC Championship Recreation in Philadelphia and completed at 569.
Eagles operating again Barkley now has 2,329 dashing yards within the prolonged season (common season and postseason) and wishes 148 on Sunday to go the report of Terrell Davis (2,476 in 1998) for probably the most dashing yards in aggressive video games by one NFL again in a single season.
Earlier than this season, no NFL participant had ever handed for 4,000+ yards and rushed for 1,000+ in an prolonged season. Now, if Jayden Daniels rushes for 22 yards on Sunday (he’s at 4,135 passing, 978 dashing), he’ll be part of Lamar Jackson, whose 2024 season is over with 4,601 dashing and 1,035 passing.
CHRIS MYERS ANALYSIS: “I see the place Jason Kelce says the Eagles have higher gamers at each place. With out getting right into a dialogue on the opposite positions, and with no disrespect to Jalen Hurts, I disagree at quarterback. He could be designated as a ‘rookie’ however Washington’s Jayden Daniels has been excellent, each within the common season and postseason and compares with even Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes for his play this yr. Then again, Hurts has been good, not nice, and for this week’s recreation he’s coping with a knee damage. I really feel the Commanders have a bonus on Sunday on the recreation’s most vital place.
“That stated, the Eagles are an impressive group that performs the sport in probably the most ‘old school’ sense with an amazing again operating behind an amazing line. They’ve their ardent fan base cheering them on Sunday and may very well be dominant on each strains.
“The Commanders have exceeded all expectations and are taking part in with home cash. They definitely mustn’t worry the Eagles after splitting with them in two video games, successful the final. And over the previous 5 seasons, even when Washington was not ascendant, Philadelphia’s benefit is just 6-4 with just one win by greater than 10 factors.Â
“They’ve already defeated the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds, and I’d count on the Commanders will likely be very aggressive. And within the tight moments on the finish of the sport, Daniels has proven he makes the successful performs.”
2. Buffalo Payments at 1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t win any of the primary 49 AFC Championship Video games (between 1970 and 2018). Then they’ve received 4 of the final 5 with wins over 4 completely different groups, together with the Payments within the 2020 AFC Championship Recreation.
The Payments didn’t seem in any of the primary 18 AFC title video games earlier than a run of 5 appearances in six years that began in 1988. After shedding that recreation to the Bengals, they received 4 straight from 1990 to 1993, the final a 20-13 overcome the Chiefs, who had Joe Montana and Dave Krieg as quarterbacks.Â
Kansas Metropolis didn’t return till this present run of now seven straight appearances started in 2018. They avenged the 1993 loss in 2020 with a 38-24 win over the Payments.
 As has been mentioned earlier than, these Chiefs excel in shut video games, with solely three of their 16 whole wins coming by greater than 10 factors. A part of that’s because of the decline within the Chiefs’ offense.Â
Between 2018 and 2022, Kansas Metropolis scored greater than 30 factors in 48 video games, together with 9 occasions within the postseason. No different group topped 30 greater than 32 occasions (Dallas). Final yr, the Chiefs solely topped 30 on three events, and in 2024 they’re one in every of solely three groups that has not had such a recreation.
In 5 regular-season video games towards the Chiefs, Payments quarterback Josh Allen has produced 25.8 PPG and is 4-1, however regardless of upping that to twenty-eight PPG in three postseason conferences, he’s 0-3 towards Kansas Metropolis. It is partly as a result of Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes has been exponentially higher within the postseason towards Buffalo, with 306 go yards per recreation, 8 TDs and 0 INTs.Â
He isn’t 30 but, however Mahomes has 16 postseason wins, tied for second amongst beginning quarterbacks with a former Chief, Joe Montana. Though greatest identified for his 4 Tremendous Bowl wins with the 49ers, Montana’s closing two postseason triumphs got here with Kansas Metropolis in 1993. Tom Brady’s whole of 35 appears insurmountable for the time being, however Mahomes is off to an amazing begin.
Mahomes has a number of postseason wins in his final 5 seasons and might make it six in a row Sunday. Brady had a run of eight consecutive seasons with a number of playoff wins (2011-18).
It is not Mahomes or Brady, however Josh Allen has received no less than one recreation in every of the final 5 postseasons.
CHRIS MYERS’ ANALYSIS: “In video games the Chiefs have been attempting to win, they’re 16-1. And the one group that beat them was the Payments. That recreation was in Buffalo. Now they meet in Kansas Metropolis, the place they’ve received 10 playoff video games since 2019.
“This can be a quarterback matchup for the ages, two Corridor of Famers of their late 20s on the prime of their video games. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen entered the NFL with nice abilities together with cannon arms and distinctive mobility. The Chiefs in 2017 and the Payments in 2018 each obtained it proper with the crucial first-round quarterback determination, the place so many different groups have failed. Now, they’ve reaped the advantages with a protracted line of division titles.Â
“It appears seemingly that each quarterbacks will likely be excellent. The query then is who else may make the decisive performs – both for good or dangerous as we noticed final week with normally dependable tight finish Mark Andrews of the Ravens. Is there a hero or goat ready within the wings?
“One factor Mahomes has going for him is a Corridor of Fame coach in Andy Reid teamed with a supremely skilled defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo. Coach Sean McDermott of the Payments and his offensive coordinator Joe Brady will likely be going towards two of the perfect, as they attempt to give Allen and firm the preparation they want.”
“Till now, it has been the Chiefs with the stellar postseason resumé whereas Buffalo, regardless of some success, has fallen wanting the Tremendous Bowl. Is that this the yr Buffalo returns to the Large Recreation for the primary time in 32 years?Â
“I can not wait to search out out what occurs.”
Chris Myers is an Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer, reporter and studio host for FOX Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @The_ChrisMyers.
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