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The NFL is down to its final four as fans look ahead to the AFC and NFC title games. Before turning the page to two intriguing conference championship matchups, here’s what went down during divisional playoff weekend:
➤ Buffalo Bills 27, Baltimore Ravens 25 — The divisional round continues to be a stumbling block for Lamar Jackson, who has lost three of four divisional playoff games. The Bills capitalized on three Ravens turnovers to prevail, but the biggest moment was Mark Andrews’ drop on what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion catch late in the game. You could just hear Verne Lundquist’s famous call from Super Bowl 13 after Andrews was unable to secure that pass.
What’s next for the Ravens?
➤ Philadelphia Eagles 28, Los Angles Rams 22 — The snow provided a dramatic backdrop to the Eagles’ grind-it-out win over the Rams, a victory that has Philadelphia in the NFC title game for the second time in three seasons. Just as he’d done in a matchup vs. the Rams earlier this season, Saquon Barkley was a tour de force on Sunday, rushing for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
What’s next for the Rams?
➤ Washington Commanders 45, Detroit Lions 31 — This was an absolute stunner. A team that steamrolled – despite numerous injuries – to a 15-2 finish and home-field advantage for the first time in franchise history during the Super Bowl era was bounced in dramatic fashion by the upstart Commanders. While Washington will play in its first NFC championship game since the 1991 season – ending the conference’s longest such drought, which is now owned by the Dallas Cowboys – the Lions’ efforts to stay on top might get even harder.
What’s next for the Lions?
➤ Kansas City Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 14 — Patrick Mahomes is 7-for-7 in divisional playoff games and has the Chiefs in the AFC championship game for a seventh consecutive season. Kansas City is one step closer to becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Again, as has been the Chiefs’ wont this season, the team wasn’t exactly impressive in defeating the Texans, with controversial calls the main takeaway from this one.
What’s next for the Texans?
Key storylines from divisional playoffs
➤ Divisional playoff winners and losers: The NFL might be down to its final four teams but the path to the conference title games was paved with heartbreak.
➤ Mark Andrews drops potential game-tying two-point conversion: The Ravens’ usually reliable tight end had a game to forget in Sunday’s divisional playoff loss to the Bills.
➤ Lamar Jackson is likely NFL MVP, but should he be? Jackson is a good bet to win his third NFL MVP. But with the Ravens QB’s playoff exit and others remaining, Nate Davis wonders if it is time to rethink the award?
➤ Saquon Barkley reminds Giants what they’re missing: There have been worse moves than the New York Giants letting Saquon Barkley go, but you’d be hard pressed to think of one right now, Nancy Armour writes.
➤ Beginning of the end for Lions’ revival? The Lions have enjoyed an exhilarating renaissance which has mirrored their city’s. Unfortunately, a return to the football dark ages might be unavoidable, Nate Davis writes.
➤ Rookie phenom’s uncommon cool changes everything in playoffs: Nothing about Saturday’s game in Detroit could make Jayden Daniels flinch, and the Commanders rookie QB delivered a stunning upset, Jarrett Bell writes.
➤ Decades of despair to sheer delight for Commanders fans: The Washington Commanders will be playing in the NFC championship game next Sunday, one game away from the Super Bowl. Susan Miller asks, how is that sentence even possible?
➤ Winning ugly? It’s a playoff formula that’s served Chiefs well for years: Are the Chiefs actually vulnerable? Only if you’re ready to discount an approach that continues to pay off for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, Nate Davis writes.
➤ Texans react to controversial calls on hits to Patrick Mahomes: The Texans were flagged for two penalties that involved hits on the Chiefs quarterback, and each sparked significant controversy.
➤ Cowboys now own longest NFC championship game drought: The Commanders are in the NFC title game for the first time since the 1991 season, meaning their longtime rivals now are owners of an undesirable streak.
NFL playoff schedule
DIVISIONAL ROUND RESULTS
Saturday, Jan. 18
Kansas City Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 14
Washington Commanders 45, Detroit Lions 31
Sunday, Jan. 19
Philadelphia Eagles 28, Los Angles Rams 22
Buffalo Bills 27, Baltimore Ravens 25
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 26
NFC championship game: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (FOX)
AFC championship game; Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
SUPER BOWL 59
Sunday, Feb. 9
AFC champion vs. NFC champion (in New Orleans), 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
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