Here we are! It’s the week of the AFC and NFC championship games, and we have four teams who are fighting for two spots to play on the biggest stage in sports: Super Bowl LIX. Here is how each team ranks heading into their games and the biggest keys to their success.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins for them in the divisional round, but let’s face it: most of their wins this season weren’t pretty. This is a team that plays great defense and makes just enough plays on offense to win. Depending on who you ask, you might even hear conspiracy theories about how the refs cheat for them and set them up to succeed. Personally, I try to focus only on football, so I won’t get into that, but I will say this: I will be shocked if the Chiefs don’t win the AFC Championship and attempt to win their 3rd straight. With an elite defense and a QB like Patrick Mahomes who always seems to make the clutch play at the most opportune time, sometimes it seems like the Chiefs just won’t lose.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
They are lucky to be able to lean on Saquon Barkley. They might be able to ride him all the way to a Lombardi trophy. They pulled out the big win right at the end of the game, and a win is a win, but there are some red flags about this team right now, too. There is no doubt that they have the talent to go to and win the Super Bowl, but their lack of passing game in both playoff wins and all the sacks that Jalen Hurts took in the win over Rams is concerning. Furthermore, as good as their defense is, they allowed the Rams back into the game late and let them drive down the field with a chance to win in the final 30 seconds. They allowed a ton of big rushing plays from the Rams, too, which is a scary proposition when you consider that now they face Jayden Daniels and a talented rush attack of the Commanders. Brian Robinson Jr. was good against a stout Lions run defense, so those big chunks of yards they gave up against the Rams is something they need to clean up.
3. Washington Commanders
This is easily the most surprising team remaining in the postseason. Many people didn’t even expect them to beat the Bucs in the Wild Card round, and even less people believed they could go into Detroit and upset the Lions. Regardless of who believed it, that’s exactly what the Commanders did. They went into Detroit and beat the number one seed in the NFC, and they did it in convincing fashion, scoring 45 points. Jayden Daniels is playing exceptional football right now, and he has now proven two weeks in a row that no situation is too big for him and that he can lead this team to a win against anyone, anywhere. If he continues his high level of QB play, the Commanders could be Super Bowl bound.
4. Buffalo Bills
Although I think they are better than the Eagles and Commanders, the fact that they have to go into KC and beat the “unbeatable team” is the reason that I am ranking them last. The Bills are a complete team, and they have no weaknesses. There is nothing they need to improve upon; they just need to play their brand of football, trust Josh Allen and the run game, and good things will happen. If there is one team that can knock off the Chiefs, it’s them. I am not saying that because they already did it in Buffalo this season, I am saying it because this offense is balanced, they have an MVP QB, a ferocious defense, and they are DUE!