Finally the Bills, or still the Chiefs? The Eagles back, or the Commanders always higher? This weekend, we will finally see the Super Bowl poster!
Kansas City, the start of serious things?
Monday January 27 – Kick-off at 00.30
Kansas City Chiefs – Buffalo Bills
Finally, the season begins for the Kansas City Chiefs! Obviously, that's an exaggeration, but that's the impression it leaves. After a successful start to the season and tough victories against the Ravens and the Bengals, the Chiefs unfolded. Kansas City seems to have a level of play that ensures its presence in the conference finals. Too bad for the poor mortals who work hard to dream of getting there. So much so that we have the impression that they never needed to surpass themselves to get there. Can they improve their performance further? What are these Chiefs really worth? It's crazy to write, but we won't ultimately know until next week after the upcoming match. And it's not even certain: to win titles, it is sometimes better to avoid mistakes than to have a higher optimal level of play (ask the Lions!).
The best comparison is undoubtedly tennis. For years, rain or shine, with or without panache, Novak Djokovic has tirelessly been in the Grand Slam semi-finals. And if he occasionally reached stratospheric levels of play, the Serb won more than once without appearing untouchable, by mastering the key moments. If we all dream of breathtaking matches between two teams at their peak to conclude a season, the big posters are often played with a knife and in the capacity to manage events. It's hard to bet against the Missouri squad in this game.
The awakening of Travis Kelce
Buffalo nevertheless arrives with certainties. During their first meeting, Sean McDermott's men achieved the feat. Even though the stakes were radically different, they had outplayed the Chiefs. This weekend, Josh Allen showed real qualities to move his team forward without making mistakes, and the ground game worked well against the formidable Ravens defense. The Bills are on track to become the first team in history to commit fewer than 10 turnovers in a season (8).
Facing Steve Spagnuolo's defense, we will have to do at least as well. On defense, it could be more complicated. Yes, the Chiefs are no longer the explosive team they once were. But, as luck would have it, a certain Travis Kelce woke up with the playoffs, and Patrick Mahomes with it. The latter could be the third quarterback in history after Tom Brady and John Elway to reach a 5th Super Bowl. The Chiefs have never scored more than 30 points? Excluding Carson Wentz's game against the Broncos, they only went below 20 4 times, and never below 15.
The Bills, fourth is the right one?
Then, and this is good news for the show, the Bills never had to be ashamed against Kansas City. The three clashes over the last four seasons in the playoffs have all been lost, but the last two times, it was a close call. More than ever, we have the impression this year that Buffalo can win by putting out their best game, that these Chiefs are “taken”. But it will have to be done. At Arrowhead, a week after a huge shock against the Ravens, at the end of a season where we had to fight, it will not be an easy task. This is the price to pay to see if in these circumstances, the Chiefs will have the necessary respondent.
So we come back to this first unknown of the Kansas City ceiling. The Bills could lose again, even if they have nothing to be ashamed of. Ask Tsonga, Berdych, Ferrer and so on… Sport doesn't care about repetitions, even if it's difficult not to wish another fate for this Buffalo team which has already lost three times in four years against this opponent . The New York State franchise, however, knows better than anyone that failing three times guarantees nothing on the fourth attempt.
Speaking of fourth attempts, Sean McDermott will probably have to be more daring if he wants to topple the red and white ogre. With 76% success in 4th down, the coach chose the field goal in the last quarter against the Ravens. He was one loose ball from Mark Andrews away from severely biting his fingers: don't count on Travis Kelce to give the Bills the same gift this Sunday.
Washington, do good stories have an end?
Sunday January 26, kick-off at 9 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles – Washington Commanders
It becomes difficult not to believe in these Commanders. In the well-established system of observer expectations, Washington should never have gone so high. The consequence of this feeling is to say that, naturally, their epic should end against the Eagles who are more established and logically favorites. However, that would be forgetting that Washington is a damn good team.
Dan Quinn's men are on 7 consecutive victories. And in the list of victims is precisely their opponents this weekend in the person of the Eagles. Certainly, Philadelphia had fallen at the time without Jalen Hurts, injured during the match. But Nick Siriani's men cannot look down on their opponents.
Already because Jayden Daniels is just making NFL history. In the event of a victory, the quarterback would be the first rookie in this position to lead a team to the Super Bown by starting all matches as a starter. He would also glean a 15th success of the year, which would beat the mark of 14 for a first year pitcher. This one dates from Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Behind him, Washington is solid. The team did not concede a single ball loss in two matches, while recovering no less than 6 balls. Generally speaking, turnovers are a common theme between the 4 remaining teams: none committed them in the playoffs.
Saquon Barkley, still more?
To continue, Daniels will have a heavy task. Its offensive line will already have to be up to standard, even in the absence of Sam Cosmi. The Eagles' pass rush led by Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith inflicted 5 sacks on Matthew Stafford, while the Commanders have only suffered one in the playoffs for the moment. And, even with Quinyon Mitchell's shoulder injury, Philadelphia has the weapons in the secondary to contain the Terry McLaurin – Dyami Brown duo. On the other side of the field, Philadelphia can trust Saquon Barkley. The runner is in Olympic form and if the Commanders have a weakness, it is in defense against the run (30th in the NFL in yards conceded). The one who accumulates 324 yards in two matches could still play a big role this Sunday. As a reminder, no player has exceeded 500 yards rushing in the playoffs in the history of the league.
If Barkley is a safe bet for Philadelphia, the running game almost showed its limits against the Rams. To go further, Jalen Hurts will have to do better. Too wait-and-see in the pocket, Hurts did not display the level of play he showed two years ago when he led Philadelphia to the Super Bowl.
