Three of the four franchises had already reached this stage of the competition last year, only the Eagles are bringing something new.
The last square is finally known. After 20 weeks of competition, there are only 4 franchises left to claim the final victory. Among them, 75% were already there 2021. Kansas City and Cincinnati had already faced each other in the AFC conference finals last year. The Bengals had emerged victorious from a hung duel to climb to the Super Bowl. The rematch is scheduled for Sunday.
On the other side, the 49ers are also regulars in these games. San Francisco has reached the conference final three times in the past four seasons. So far, Kyle Shanahan has one win and one loss. Sunday, they go to Philadelphia which is an intruder. The Eagles aren’t here by accident, however, with the NFL’s best regular-season record and impressive performances. Very smart one who can predict the poster of the Super Bowl.
The dual :
Kick-off Sunday at 9:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (1) – San Francisco 49ers (2)
Hard to imagine better opposition to crown the NFC champion this year. On the one hand, Philadelphia dominated the regular season from start to finish and despite a (short) slump at the time of the injury of Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia has maintained the best record in the league. Before a show of force during the Divisional Round. Opposite, the 49ers did not start the season particularly well, but they ended it with a cannonball. It’s simple, the Californians’ last defeat dates back to October 23 last (vs. Kansas City, 44-23). Since then, they have just chained a series of 12 wins straddling the end of the regular season (10) and this start of the playoffs (2). Suffice to say that Kyle Shanahan’s training has been the team to beat for several months.
On both sides of the ball, this team seems to be armed to take on anyone. In defense first with certainly the best squad in the league. At all levels, the 49ers defenders perform, like these linebackers who scare everyone in the middle of the field. The attack is not left out either, carried by a Brock Purdy who has still not lost and playmakers still as effective. Except that opposite, Philadelphia also has the respondent. Like San Francisco, the Eagles are capable of winning on both ends of the field. Since his Jalen Hurts returned to 100%, as evidenced by his performance last week against the Giants. But the defense is not outdone in Pennsylvania. the front seven is one of the best in the NFL and the opposition with the Californian offensive line will be worth the detour.
The payback ?
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday at 0:30
Kansas City Chiefs (1) – Cincinnati Bengals (3)
How’s Patrick Mahomes’ ankle? This is THE question that everyone is asking as this match approaches. The answer could condition many things in this meeting. For the moment, the quarterback has resumed training and his coach, Andy Reid, wants to be reassuring. But the stakes are such that only the field on Sunday will reveal the true physical condition of the pitcher. In the meantime, we are obliged to consider all hypotheses. In a scenario where Patrick Mahomes was diminished, Kansas City would necessarily have less chance of winning. Cincinnati is walking on water right now and last week’s victory once again demonstrated that feeling of power and serenity that this team exudes. The Bengals are no longer the surprise of last year, now they have a status they assume, no offense to Joe Burrow.
On the other hand, if the injury of the MVP 2018 were to not handicap him on Sunday, as we want to say on the side of Kansas City, the opposition would be much more balanced. The Chiefs have indeed an almost incomparable offensive strike force. Travis Kelce is walking on water right now and both lines are dominating their opponents. Be careful though, Mahomes to 100% does not automatically mean victory for the locals. The Bengals Joe Burrow appear more and more like the pet peeve of these Chiefs. This season, for example, Cincinnati is one of three teams to have defeated Kansas City in the regular season. If we look at last season, Ja’Marr Chase and his teammates also knocked out Andy Reid’s players in the regular season before eliminating them in the conference final. Repeat again sunday ?
The posters
Kick-off Sunday at 9:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (1) – San Francisco 49ers (2)
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday at 0:30
Kansas City Chiefs (1) – Cincinnati Bengals (3)
