Josh Allen faces defining second in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, says Neil Reynolds | NFL Information

Josh Allen booked one other blockbuster playoff date with Patrick Mahomes whereas Jayden Daniels and Saquon Barkley stole the present as soon as once more – Sky Sports activities NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has the ultimate phrase on Divisional Spherical weekend…

After a so-so Wild Card Weekend, the video games and the strain have been ramped up within the Divisional Spherical, and it didn’t disappoint.

We have been stuffed with nice matches, unbelievable storylines and legacy and career-defining moments each early and late in careers. We noticed all of it.

Some outdated story for the Chiefs

Let’s begin in Kansas Metropolis, the place there was a really acquainted really feel to the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans. It have to be playoff time once more, as a result of Patrick Mahomes is throwing strikes to Travis Kelce, these two combining for over 100 yards and greater than 16 yards per reception when Kelce had been averaging simply 8.5 in the course of the common season.

Make no mistake, the Chiefs are a defensive soccer crew now. They gained simply 212 yards of offense, which was the fewest for a profitable playoff crew since 1991, and so they relied on these eight sacks of CJ Stroud to advance to the following spherical.

It’s an unbelievable interval of success for the Chiefs as they put together to play within the AFC Championship Recreation for a seventh 12 months in a row. Mahomes is an enormous, massive a part of that, however Andy Reid has additionally been an enormous consider the best way this crew has been in a position to evolve over all these years via all these championship runs to the place they’re now, defense-led with sufficient massive performs from their ‘magic man’ Mahomes.

They’re very, very able to profitable the Tremendous Bowl for a 3rd 12 months in a row.

Detroit’s Cinderella story shattered

I want to say one thing dramatic initially of this part a few star being born, however Jayden Daniels was already properly on his method because the rookie quarterback of the Washington Commanders earlier than main his crew to Saturday’s 45-31 stunner in opposition to the Detroit Lions.

Identical to that, a magical season for the Lions is over. Daniels was so cool, so calm, he seemed just like the veteran who was chasing down a Tremendous Bowl relatively than Jared Goff, who actually was struggling within the brilliant lights. It was flipped and reversed with these two quarterbacks.

Detroit turned it over 5 instances, which led on to 21 Washington factors, which is massive in a sport determined by 14. It was an incredible sport, with greater than 1,000 yards of offense. There have been six touchdowns and 42 factors within the second quarter – the latter a playoff report – with 5 of these touchdowns coming within the house of six minutes.

Backwards and forwards the groups went but it surely was Jared Goff who made the important thing errors: a pick-six for one Washington landing and an end-zone interception earlier than the half. Daniels performed with ice in his veins, he was unflappable, made all the large performs on all the large downs and is a serious cause why the Commanders, who solely gained 4 video games a 12 months in the past, are solely 60 minutes from the Tremendous Bowl.

As for the Lions, their Cinderella season has been smashed right into a thousand items. What subsequent for them? Ben Johnson is the brand new head coach of the Chicago Bears, Aaron Glenn may be gone. What subsequent for Dan Campbell on the teaching aspect? And can their Tremendous Bowl window stay open?

Saquon stars within the snow

I used to be delighted to see a snow sport in Philadelphia on Sunday. I find it irresistible. It is only a improbable backdrop to the drama of the NFL, particularly come playoff time.

It should have been deja vu for Matthew Stafford. In 2013, he led the Lions in opposition to an Eagles crew in a blizzard in a sport that noticed LeSean McCoy rush for greater than 200 yards for the Eagles. On Sunday, Stafford was taking part in in opposition to the Eagles in a snow sport, and Philadelphia’s operating again gained greater than 200 yards – this time it was Saquon Barkley.

Barkley had damaged Rams’ hearts in Week 12 by dashing for 255 yards and this time he carried for 205 yards, scoring on runs of 62 and 78 yards, benefitting from large holes created by a terrific offensive line.

The knock for the Eagles was the damage to Jalen Hurts, who suffered a knee damage. He was sacked seven instances on the night time whereas throwing for simply 128 yards, having thrown for under 131 the earlier week. Ought to we be frightened about that? And can that lack of passing sport catch up or will or not it’s Barkley main this crew all the best way to New Orleans?

The Rams confirmed nice struggle and virtually gained the sport on the finish, the Eagles counting on a late defensive stand. Sean McVay’s aspect go onto the offseason with lots to be excited and optimistic about going into 2025.

One other misplaced season for Lamar Jackson

We finish with essentially the most eagerly-anticipated sport of the weekend because the Baltimore Ravens took on the Buffalo Payments.

It was 27-25 to Buffalo inside the ultimate two minutes, Lamar Jackson had simply produced late heroics to throw a landing go to Isaiah Possible and the two-point conversion would tie a tense sport in frosty circumstances – and Mark Andrews dropped the soccer!

His tight finish had been so dependable, he caught 11 red-zone touchdowns this 12 months, however dropped this one as he fell backwards in the direction of the goalline. Absolute heartbreak for the Ravens. One other misplaced season for Jackson, who isn’t going to really feel a lot consolation when he’s named MVP for a 3rd time earlier than the Tremendous Bowl.

Errors killed the Ravens on this shut sport. Lamar threw an interception and misplaced a fumble, and Andrews additionally misplaced a fumble whereas making a catch within the fourth quarter. However I believe Lamar was magical once they wanted him on the proper, so he shouldn’t be criticised an excessive amount of. This stays a truth, he has not reached a Tremendous Bowl but in what has been a glittering profession on a private degree.

Buffalo’s MVP candidate Josh Allen was in a position to play inside himself with simply 127 yards passing and no touchdowns, whereas scoring on a pair of runs. The Payments have been balanced, and whereas they gave up greater than 400 yards of offense to Baltimore, they got here up with massive defensive performs once they wanted them.

Buffalo actually look able to going into Kansas Metropolis and giving the Chiefs an actual run for his or her cash. This can be a defining second for Allen. He has performed 3 times in opposition to Mahomes within the playoffs, and every one has resulted in a win for the Chiefs. Can he information the Payments all the best way to the Tremendous Bowl?

What’s subsequent?

It is the NFL Convention Championships on Sunday January 26 – dwell on Sky Sports activities NFL – with the Philadelphia Eagles first internet hosting the Washington Commanders within the NFC title sport from 8pm, after which the Chiefs taking over the Payments from 11.30pm.

Tremendous Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, dwell on Sky Sports activities NFL.