NFL Insider Playoff -Forests: Coaches, Execs Pick Conference Championship Winners

Kansas City Chiefs is still standing, but they still have to deal with some heavy weights ready to finally add some new fingerprints to the Lombardi trophy.

With conference championship games on us, it’s still about Chiefs’ quest to become the first three-peat Super Bowl winners. They are only two wins away from immortality from football, but going with them in the NFL’s Final Four are a few opponents desperate for a title and a new team that is eager to go down to the party.

There is a 50-50 chance of getting a Super Bowl-Rematch. If the two hosts win over the weekend, Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will adopt another roof of the Super Bowl LVII. However, if it’s the two road winners, Buffalo Bills and Washington commanders will renew acquaintances from a lifetime page on the Super Bowl XXVI.

Once again, The athletic Has requested a panel of coaches and leaders from the entire league to predict the winners. As a reminder, choices were not requested from anyone in the panel if their team is involved in one of the matches this weekend.

No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) on No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Kickoff: 15:00 A SUNDAY
Expert choices: Eagles 9, commanders 3

Jayden Daniels is the sixth rookie quarterback to lead his team to a conference championship game and he will try to be the first to win one.

His journey has been the most impressive, albeit because of a profit that will make his next task, all the more scary. The previous five rookie QBS – Shaun King (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1999), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004), Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens, 2008), Mark Sanchez (New York Jets, 2009), Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers , 2008), 2022) – Everyone came so far with a defense that was ranked in the top three allowed points. Roethlisberger, Sanchez and Purdy did it with No. 1 defense.

Daniels has led the commanders to the NFC title game with support from the No. 18 defense in the league.

“Quarterback will continue to be X-Factor until the teams can sit down and really study how to attack him,” said a staff manager. “He looks very comfortable and in command. He is not rattled. He understands where the pressure comes from. Teams have been unable to press or rattle him because of his ability to run. It has been a huge neutralizer. “

Daniels has led 11 scoring drives on 16 Playoff property, exclusive of the pub. They have set once and have not made a turnover. Their three revenue on Downs and an unanswered field target were all inside their opponent’s 30-yard line, so Daniels has driven the commanders into the scoring area of ​​a cool 93.8 percent of their belongings.

They are an average of 31.3 points per Excursion during their seven-game-winning row, including a 36-33 victory against Eagles in week 16.

“The commanders play well, but at some point going to end, right?” Executive added. ”(Head coach Dan Quinn) is special. Quarterback is special. (But Eagles’) Running games are just too strong. “

The Eagles were an average of 218.5 rushing yards when they shared the season series with their NFC East Rivals, so they have proven that they can run the ball on the commanders. With Saquon Barkley’s production throughout the season and into the playoffs, it would be foolish to expect any other type of performance.

But does it matter? Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been appalling in his two matches since returning from the concussion, which he suffered from the loss to Washington. Hurts is 28-of-41 passing in 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs, and he has added 106 yards and a score on earth. But these inefficiency have led to the lean show from Wideouts AJ Brown (three receptions, 24 yards) and Devonta Smith (eight receptions, 76 yards).

“I don’t think Jalen can beat them to throw the ball,” a director said. “But if (Barkley and Hurts) both go into the running, they are really, really hard to beat. If Washington can stop (Barkley) they have a chance. “

The Eagles have won, so it is not a problem and they are effective in key situations. But if they do not establish themselves on Sunday as an aggressor, commanded ‘trust will continue to grow. They have been inadequate in late situations, most recently in their late Wild-Card victory against Buccaneers, but they were also coupling throughout their uprising over the top-seeded lions who scored on 4-of-5 possessions (with exception an unanswered field goal) After Detroit scored.

Eagles have the best offensive line that is back in the playoffs, and it is evil that has to take advantage of it. While carrying their weight in the running gap, Hurt’s seven sacks and a security in the division round took the Los Angeles Rams. He has not seen any open recipients, which in turn may be due to the injury -related absence.

“(Eagles are) a much more complete team,” a coach said. “If QB takes care of it and avoids taking seven sacks, including a security, I like their chances of winning big.”

The game is likely to be decided by fourth-down conversions and takeaways. The commanders are 6-of-9 on the fourth down in the post-season, a transfer from going 20-of-23 during the regular season, and it was a huge catalyst in both their victories. The Eagles are 2-for-2 in the playoffs and went 19-of-27 during the season as they have run Hurts’ tush push for more success.

Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, whose group allowed the second best points in the league during the regular season, can try to get creative on the first and second to slow down Daniels’ reader and force commanders into long yardage that could take fourth down from the board.

“Fangio will add a wrinkle or two to confuse Daniels,” a director said.

Eagles have 30 takeaways during their last 13 games, including a 6-0 edge in revenue in the playoffs. They forced two crucial fumbles in the fourth quarter against Rams.

The commanders also have a 6-0 advantage in revenue in the playoffs after snagging five takeaways against the lions. And they overcome a 5-2 takeaway margin five weeks ago to beat Eagles.

“This game could be a good one,” said a coach.

No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) at Nr. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Kickoff: 18:30 a Sunday
Expert Selection: Chiefs 7, Bills 6

This has been the NFL’s most exciting rivalry over the last half decade, and it appropriately drew the most tightly disputed vote during the playoffs from our panel.

The result boils down to a key determination: Is Patrick Mahomes inevitable, or has Josh Allen become invincible?

Chiefs have won all three playoff meetings with the bills for the past four years, including the AFC Championship Game after the 2020 season. But since 2021, the bills have gone 4-0 against chiefs in meetings in regular season.

It is not that Chiefs have been resolute better than the bills as both organizations increased prominently. But it is undeniable that Chiefs has shown the superior clutch because they have swept matchups on the most important step.

“Should be a phenomenal forward-and-back game,” a coach said. “It will go down to the cord.”

Chiefs won last year in the divisional round, 27-24, thanks to running back Isiah Pacheco’s decisive 4-yard touchdown race on the second game in the fourth quarter. Allen and the offense could not score over their last three belongings, including Tyler Bass’ missing 44-yard field goals with 1:43 back.

Three years ago, Allen went off the field with 13 seconds to play and a 36-33 lead in his pocket. He never touched the ball again when Chiefs won in overtime.

“Although I think this could be the year Buffalo comes over the hump, I just can’t get past the story,” another coach said. “The Chiefs defense will be the difference and force a few key revenue.”

Chiefs have been away a bit throughout the season, the proof of several close calls and crucial mistakes from their opponents. But that was also the case in 2023 and they were running in the postal season. Their crucial victory last week against Houston Texans, who controlled almost any important statistical category, provided several evidence that Chiefs can handle their opposition’s best shot and still move on.

After all, Chiefs have won 16 consecutive matches decided by a possession.

“I don’t have a good reason (choosing the bills) other than percentages,” a director said. “(Chiefs) can’t continue to win like that, can they? The bills have been better than the teams that Chiefs have played. “

When two teams know each other so well and have become accustomed to meet in such a high-stakes environment, matchups on paper may not have as much weight. It’s more about having a sense of the game, making appropriate adjustments and avoiding seasonal errors.

“(Chiefs) defense is better and I can’t see Mahomes lose at home against a defense that can’t deny the ball,” another coach said.

These intestinal reactions can also go the other way.

“This Buffalo team feels like they are the most connected team and will do everything to win,” another director said.

A coach added: “It’s Josh Allen’s year.”

(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The athletic; Photos: Mitchell Leff, Bryan Bennett and Kara DurreTe / Getty Images)