Home Feature The Divisional Championships are here. What you need to know for Sunday’s...

The Divisional Championships are here. What you need to know for Sunday’s matchup

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in courtesy of Explore Wonders

After a tough and cold matchup in Western New York, the Buffalo Bills edged out the Baltimore Ravens 27-25, avoiding an upset. Despite trailing by almost two touchdowns in the first half, the Ravens presented an impressive comeback, dominating on both defense and offense. However, a missed catch by tight end Mark Andrews in a crucial moment at the end of the game ultimately sealed their fate.

The Bills now advance to face the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC title, marking their fourth postseason matchup in five years. During the regular season, the Bills handed the Chiefs their only loss, raising the stakes for this showdown. Can Buffalo stop Kansas City from securing a third consecutive Super Bowl victory?

Quarterback Josh Allen has been phenomenal, solidifying his status as a top-three quarterback and a leading MVP contender. Allen ranks second in passer rating among active quarterbacks and has delivered spectacular touchdowns throughout the season. Running back James Cook has also been a standout, achieving over 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive year, providing the Bills with an offensive threat. On defense, linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano have been dominant, combining for 18 tackles in the postseason so far.

In courtesy of Sky Sports

On the other side, Patrick Mahomes continues to shine in postseason play. The Chiefs’ star quarterback is leading the team to its seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game. Mahomes’ clutch performances could be the key to another Super Bowl appearance. In their divisional win against Houston, tight end Travis Kelce showcased his postseason dominance, catching seven of eight targets in the divisional round. Mahomes’ connection with Kelce remains one of the league’s most reliable, especially in the playoff season. However, Mahomes will need to maximize the potential of wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown to overcome a talented Bills squad.

According to BetMGM, the Chiefs are slight favorites in this highly anticipated AFC Championship Game.

On the NFC side, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a 28-22 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite quarterback Jalen Hurts sustaining a knee injury, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expects him to play against the Washington Commanders this Sunday.

Even with Hurts’ injury, the Eagles boast a strong offense led by running back Saquon Barkley, who has averaged 227 yards per game in the playoffs. However, Philadelphia’s passing game has been inconsistent, as evidenced by their mere 65 net passing yards against the Rams—the lowest total for a winning team in the playoffs in 14 years.

The Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning upset against

In courtesy of Sports Illustrated

the Detroit Lions, a team favored by many to win the Super Bowl. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders’ explosive offense, scoring 45 points against the Lions.

 

While Daniels continues to impress, the Commanders’ defense must rise to the occasion and hold the Eagles under 30 points to counter Philadelphia’s top-ranked defense. The Commanders and Eagles split their two regular-season meetings. In Week 11, the Eagles scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure a 26-18 win. In Week 18, the Commanders staged a dramatic comeback, with

In courtesy of Bleacher Report

Daniels throwing three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to clinch a 36-33 victory. Will their third encounter deliver the same level of excitement?

 

The Eagles’ path to the Super Bowl is dependent on a healthy Hurts leading their offense to complement their elite defense. Despite Hurts’ injury concerns, betting markets still favor the Eagles by 6.5 points.

In courtesy of AI and USA Today.