NFL Divisional Recap & Conference Championship Predictions!

This weekend had very exciting divisional round games and they were super fun to watch!

The first game of the weekend was between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. The game was low-scoring, and Texans QB CJ Stroud was unable to generate much offense against the Chiefs pass rush. (The referees also made some questionable calls favoring the Chiefs.) The Chiefs were able to win 23-14.

The second game on Saturday was between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions. Unlike the previous game, both offenses thrived and the game went back-and-forth. Ultimately, costly interceptions from Lions QB Jared Goff allowed the Commanders and take advantage, shocking the Lions, and winning 45-31.

The first game on Sunday was between the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. The snowy conditions picked up as the game progressed, and it was evident that it had an effect on the players. The game remained close throughout, and as the Rams attempted to take the lead, they were unable to convert on a crucial 4th down conversion, leading the Eagles to win, 28-22.

The last game of the divisional round was between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. This game was also highly anticipated, and similar to the Rams-Eagles game, Buffalo's snowy conditions would affect the game. So much so that the Ravens had crucial turnovers. The Bills had a 27-19 lead, but Ravens QB Lamar Jackson would throw a touchdown to Isaiah Likely to make the score 27-25. On the 2-point attempt, Ravens TE Mark Andrews dropped the pass that would've tied the game. The Bills would escape and win 27-25.

The matchups are now set!

The NFC championship will be between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 PM ET

The AFC championship will be between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, January 26 at 6:30 PM ET

Notes before the games:

The Bills and Chiefs already played each other in the regular season this year, with the Bills winning 30-21

The Bills and Chiefs have already played three times against each other in the playoffs with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes as quarterbacks

Mahomes and the Chiefs have won all three

Including the 2020 AFC Championship Game, which is both Allen and Mahomes' first matchup in the playoffs against each other, and the last time the Bills have appeared in an AFC Championship Game

Meanwhile, this is the SEVENTH consecutive year that the Chiefs have appeared in the AFC Championship Game

Of which, six out of the last seven have been at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (last year it was in Baltimore)

The three closest attempts to three-peats have all ended with losses in the conference championship game (The 1976 Steelers, the 1990 49ers, and the 1994 Cowboys)

This is the Commanders' first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991

Meanwhile, the Eagles have made two out of the last three NFC Championship Games

A rookie quarterback has never won a conference championship game before, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has the opportunity to be the first

Being division rivals, the Commanders and Eagles have already played against each other twice this year: The Eagles won the first game 26-18, and the Commanders won the second game 36-33

I only got two out of my last four predictions right...

But, I'm going to redeem myself!

The Bills and Chiefs will be interesting because the Bills consistently beat the Chiefs in the regular season and the Chiefs consistently beat the Bills in the playoffs. It's crazy because every time the Bills have played the Chiefs in the playoffs, I've picked the Bills. And every time my prediction is wrong. But I don't care: I think this time will be different, I'm picking the Bills to win this game. I understand that it's near impossible to stop Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, but I just think the Bills offense is just too high-powered to lose to the Chiefs. I can see the Chiefs winning, since they always find a way to do so, but I don't think they'll be able to beat the Bills.

I completely underestimated the Commanders, as I expected the Lions to win the divisional playoff game easily, so right now they look like a fun team that can win this game. But the factor that makes me hesitate is how inexperienced the team is as a whole. Another factor to be considered is weather. The NFC Championship Game will be played in Philadelphia, where it snowed for the divisional round. The Commanders played their last two games in Tampa and Detroit (indoor stadium). I think they would struggle in the cold weather more than the Eagles would. The Eagles, I believe, are a fundamentally better football team, and I think they will win this game.

What do you think the Super Bowl matchup will be this year? Which of these four teams will become the next Super Bowl champion? Is your favorite team still in the playoff race? Let me know what your predictions are!