Chris Myers
Announcer, reporter and play-by-play studio host
Editor’s Note: During the NFL playoffs, Chris Myers and his analysis workforce analyze upcoming matchups, whereas offering information, notes and knowledge for inside entry to data that an NFL broadcaster makes use of to organize to name a sport.
As we strategy championship weekend, it ought to be famous that the 4 surviving groups have performed a complete of seven video games with out committing a single turnover. Their opponents had 15 turnovers in that span:
Washington: 6 compelled turnovers (TB 1, DET 5)
Philadelphia: 6 compelled turnovers (GB 4, LAR 2)
Buffalo: 3 compelled turnovers (DAY 0, BAL 3)
Kansas City: 0 Forced Turnovers (HOU)
Will each championship video games be one other turnover-free sport for these 4?
6. Washington commanders at 2. Philadelphia Eagles
We thought the Eagles, because of the current change within the playoff system to incorporate a seventh workforce in every convention, may need an opportunity to be the primary workforce to win three dwelling video games in a postseason, nevertheless it’s really occurred twice earlier than, together with as soon as from Washington.
Both instances occurred in 1982, when after a strike decreased 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. Each received three dwelling video games earlier than Washington received the primary of three Super Bowls below Joe Gibbs.
The Commanders are attempting to grow to be the fifth workforce to succeed in the Super Bowl following a four-win season, most not too long ago by the 2021 Bengals, who went 4-11-1 in Joe Burrow’s 2020 rookie season. All 4 of those groups have performed fewer than their present 17 video games, so the 2024 Commanders could be the primary workforce to lose 13 or extra video games within the season earlier than a Super Bowl look.
Jayden Daniels handed for 567 yards within the two victories, 5 yards shy of Russell Wilson’s rookie postseason file of 572 yards. Two years in the past, Brock Purdy appeared like he might surpass him, however he bought damage early within the NFC championship sport in Philadelphia and completed at 569.
Eagles working again Barkley now has 2,329 speeding yards within the prolonged season (common season and postseason) and desires 148 on Sunday to surpass Terrell Davis’ file (2,476 in 1998) for many speeding yards in video games aggressive video games of an NFL in a season.
Prior to this season, no NFL participant had ever handed for greater than 4,000 yards and rushed for greater than 1,000 in an prolonged season. Now, if Jayden Daniels runs for 22 yards on Sunday (he is at 4,135 passing, 978 speeding), he’ll be a part of Lamar Jackson, whose 2024 season completed with 4,601 speeding and 1,035 passing.
CHRIS MYERS ANALYSIS: “I see the place Jason Kelce says the Eagles have higher gamers at each place. Without getting right into a dialogue in regards to the different positions, and with no disrespect to Jalen hurtsI disagree with the quarterback. He could also be designated as a “rookie,” however Washington’s Jayden Daniels has been very good, each within the common season and within the postseason, comparable even to Josh Allen AND Patrick Mahomes for his comedy this yr. On the opposite hand, Hurts has been good, not nice, and can be coping with a knee harm for this week’s sport. I really feel just like the Commanders have a bonus on Sunday at crucial place of the sport.
“That mentioned, the Eagles are a fantastic workforce that performs in probably the most ‘old skool’ sense, with a fantastic working again and an incredible line. They have their very own rabid fan base cheering them on Sunday and could possibly be dominant on each strains. .
“The Commanders have exceeded all expectations and are enjoying with the house workforce’s cash. They definitely do not should worry the Eagles after splitting two video games, successful the final one. And within the final 5 seasons, even when Washington wasn’t on the rise, the Philadelphia’s lead is simply 6-4 with just one win by greater than 10 factors.
“They’ve already defeated the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds, and I anticipate the Commanders to be very aggressive. And within the powerful moments late within the sport, Daniels confirmed he could make successful performs.”
2. Buffalo payments at 1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t win any of the primary 49 AFC Championship Games (between 1970 and 2018). Then they received 4 of their final 5 over 4 totally different groups, together with the Bills within the 2020 AFC championship sport.
The Bills didn’t seem in any of the primary 18 AFC title video games earlier than a streak of 5 appearances in six years that started in 1988. After dropping that sport to the Bengals, they received 4 straight from 1990 to 1993, the final for 20-20. 13 overcome the Chiefs, who had Joe Montana and Dave Krieg as quarterbacks.
Kansas City did not return till this streak of seven straight appearances started in 2018. They avenged the 1993 loss in 2020 with a 38-24 win over the Bills.
As beforehand mentioned, these Chiefs excel in shut video games, with solely three of their 16 complete wins coming by greater than 10 factors. Part of that’s as a result of Chiefs’ declining offense.
Between 2018 and 2022, Kansas City scored 30+ factors in 48 video games, together with 9 within the postseason. No different workforce has topped 30 greater than 32 occasions (Dallas). Last yr, the Chiefs topped 30 on simply three events, and in 2024 they’re one in all solely three groups to not have performed a sport like that.
In 5 common season video games towards the Chiefs, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has produced 25.8 factors per sport and is 4-1, however regardless of growing that to twenty-eight factors per sport in three postseason conferences, he’s 0 -3 towards Kansas City. Part of that’s as a result of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes was exponentially higher within the postseason towards Buffalo, with 306 passing yards per sport, 8 TDs, and 0 INTs.
He’s not but 30, however Mahomes has 16 postseason wins, tied for second amongst beginning quarterbacks with a former boss, Joe Montana. Although greatest identified for his 4 Super Bowl victories with the 49ers, Montana’s final two postseason triumphs got here with Kansas City in 1993. Tom Brady’s complete of 35 victories appears insurmountable for the time being, however Mahomes is off to a quick begin. massive.
Mahomes has a number of postseason wins in his final 5 seasons and might make it six in a row on Sunday. Brady had eight straight seasons with a number of playoff victories (2011-18).
It’s not Mahomes or Brady, however Josh Allen has received at the very least one sport in every of the final 5 postseasons.
CHRIS MYERS ANALYSIS: “In video games the place the Chiefs have been making an attempt to win, they’re 16-1. And the one workforce that beat them was the Bills. That sport was in Buffalo. Now they meet in Kansas City, the place they’ve received 10 playoff video games since 2019.
“This is a matchup of veteran quarterbacks, two Hall of Famers of their early twenties on the high of their video games. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen entered the NFL with nice abilities together with cannon weapons and distinctive mobility. The Chiefs in 2017 and the Bills each bought it proper in 2018 with the vital first-round quarterback determination, the place so many different groups have failed. Now they’ve reaped the rewards with a protracted streak of division titles.
“It appears seemingly that each quarterbacks can be excellent. The query then is who else might make the game-changing performs – for higher or worse, as we noticed final week with a normally dependable tight finish Marco Andrews of the Crows. Is there a hero or a goat ready within the wings?
“One factor Mahomes has going for him is a Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid paired with an especially skilled defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo. Bills coach Sean McDermott and his offensive coordinator Joe Brady can be going up towards two of one of the best, whereas making an attempt to provide Allen and his teammates the preparation they want.”
“Up till now, it has been the Chiefs with a stellar postseason resume whereas Buffalo, regardless of some success, has failed to succeed in the Super Bowl. This is the yr Buffalo returns to the Big Game for the primary time in 32 years?
“I am unable to wait to seek out out what occurs.”
Chris Myers is an Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer, reporter and studio host for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @The_ChrisMyers.
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