The NFL playoff picture serves up spicy matchups as we enter Championship Sunday. With the regular season long over, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty of the postseason.
As we head to the Championship Round and the road to the 2024 Super Bowl continues, I'll break down the postseason picture and latest playoff bracket:
2024 AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) vs 2. Buffalo Bills (15-4) - Chiefs vs Bills betting preview
Josh Allen came out on top in the battle of the NFL MVP candidates against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in the Divisional Round. His reward? A fourth playoff meeting in five season with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Allen vs Mahomes is must-see TV. After all, the Bills vs Chiefs matchup has given NFL fans and bettors plenty to get excited about.
Allen is 4-1 SU against Mahomes in the regular season, including a triumphant 30-21 victory in Week 11. However, the Bills quarterback is 0-3 against his nemesis in the playoffs, and will need to play the game of his life to overcome the Chiefs at Arrowhead stadium.
Three of Mahomes' six-highest rated postseason games have come against the Bills:
— Quarrels Omenihu (@emceereach) January 21, 2025
2023: 131.6 (4th)
2021: 127.6 (5th)
2020: 123.1 (6th)
In those games, he was 79-of-105 (75.2%) with 8 TDs and 0 INT's. Good for a 126.1 rating overall.
He's ALWAYS at his best vs. BUF.
Mahomes has gone absolutely ballistic against the Bills in the playoffs. He's torched Sean McDermott's team time-and-time again. Can Buffalo limit the great Mahomes-Kelce connection in the AFC Championship and pull off the upset? We'll soon find out.
2024 NFC Playoff Picture
2. Philadelphia Eagles (16-3) vs 6. Washington Commanders (14-5) - Eagles vs Commanders betting preview
Dan Quinn's Washington Commanders shocked the world on Saturday night. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels led an unbelievable 45-31 upset over the Detroit Lions. The Heisman Trophy-winner looked like a seasoned vet in Detroit, expertly navigating the blitz and destroying the Lions' defense with his legs.
Still not over this Jayden Daniels throw.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/50IEs5lwja
Now, the Commanders take on the Philadelphia Eagles for the third time this season. Only this time, this game will decide which team advances to the Super Bowl. Quinn's 28th ranked rushing defense will need to limit the impact of Saquon Barkley in order to win this contest. Barkley has rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on just 51 carries so far this postseason. He's looked unstoppable. As Saquon goes, so do the Eagles and shutting him down will be the first thing on every Commanders' mind.
Washington's defense has looked better over the past month - but a closer look shows the Commanders accomplished that against terrible competition. Washington faced Cooper Rush, Will Levis, Kenny Pickett, Michael Penix and Trey Lance to finish off the year. The Commanders gave up 6.5 yards per play to Tampa before surrendering 7.7 yards per play to Detroit. Quinn's stop-unit will need to tighten up for the Commanders to have any hope of pulling off another upset as 5.5-underdogs in the NFC Championship game.
