Reynolds: Allen faces defining moment vs Mahomes, Chiefs

Josh Allen booked another blockbuster playoff date with Patrick Mahomes while Jayden Daniels and Saquon Barkley stole the show once again – Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has the final word on Divisional Round weekend…

After a so-so Wild Card Weekend, the games and the tension were ramped up in the Divisional Round, and it did not disappoint.

We were filled with great matches, incredible storylines and legacy and career-defining moments both early and late in careers. We saw it all.

Some old story for the Chiefs

Let’s start in Kansas City, where there was a very familiar feel to the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans. It must be playoff time again, because Patrick Mahomes is throwing strikes to Travis Kelce, those two combining for over 100 yards and more than 16 yards per reception when Kelce had been averaging just 8.5 during the regular season.

Make no mistake, the Chiefs are a defensive football team now. They gained just 212 yards of offense, which was the fewest for a winning playoff team since 1991, and they relied on those eight sacks of CJ Stroud to advance to the next round.

It is an incredible period of success for the Chiefs as they prepare to play in the AFC Championship Game for a seventh year in a row. Mahomes is a big, big part of that, but Andy Reid has also been a huge factor in the way this team has been able to evolve over all these years through all these championship runs to where they are now, defense-led with enough big plays from their ‘magic man’ Mahomes.

They are very, very capable of winning the Super Bowl for a third year in a row.

Detroit’s Cinderella story shattered

I would like to say something dramatic at the start of this section about a star being born, but Jayden Daniels was already well on his way as the rookie quarterback of the Washington Commanders before leading his team to Saturday’s 45-31 stunner against the Detroit Lions.

Just like that, a magical season for the Lions is over. Daniels was so cool, so calm, he looked like the veteran who was chasing down a Super Bowl rather than Jared Goff, who really was struggling in the bright lights. It was flipped and reversed with these two quarterbacks.

Detroit turned it over five times, which led directly to 21 Washington points, which is big in a game decided by 14. It was an amazing game, with more than 1,000 yards of offense. There were six touchdowns and 42 points in the second quarter – the latter a playoff record – with five of those touchdowns coming in the space of six minutes.

Back and forth the teams went but it was Jared Goff who made the key mistakes: a pick-six for one Washington touchdown and an end-zone interception before the half. Daniels played with ice in his veins, he was unflappable, made all the big plays on all the big downs and is a major reason why the Commanders, who only won four games a year ago, are only 60 minutes from the Super Bowl.

As for the Lions, their Cinderella season has been smashed into a thousand pieces. What next for them? Ben Johnson is the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, Aaron Glenn could also be gone. What next for Dan Campbell on the coaching side? And will their Super Bowl window remain open?

Saquon stars in the snow

I was delighted to see a snow game in Philadelphia on Sunday. I love it. It’s just a fantastic backdrop to the drama of the NFL, especially come playoff time.

It must have been deja vu for Matthew Stafford. In 2013, he led the Lions against an Eagles team in a blizzard in a game that saw LeSean McCoy rush for more than 200 yards for the Eagles. On Sunday, Stafford was playing against the Eagles in a snow game, and Philadelphia’s running back gained more than 200 yards – this time it was Saquon Barkley.

Barkley had broken Rams’ hearts in Week 12 by rushing for 255 yards and this time he carried for 205 yards, scoring on runs of 62 and 78 yards, benefitting from huge holes created by a great offensive line.

The knock for the Eagles was the injury to Jalen Hurts, who suffered a knee injury. He was sacked seven times on the night while throwing for just 128 yards, having thrown for only 131 the previous week. Should we be worried about that? And will that lack of passing game catch up or will it be Barkley leading this team all the way to New Orleans?

The Rams showed great fight and almost won the game at the end, the Eagles relying on a late defensive stand. Sean McVay’s side go onto the offseason with a lot to be excited and optimistic about going into 2025.

Another lost season for Lamar Jackson

We end with the most eagerly-anticipated game of the weekend as the Baltimore Ravens took on the Buffalo Bills.

It was 27-25 to Buffalo inside the final two minutes, Lamar Jackson had just produced late heroics to throw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely and the two-point conversion would tie a tense game in frosty conditions – and Mark Andrews dropped the football!

His tight end had been so reliable, he caught 11 red-zone touchdowns this year, but dropped this one as he fell backwards towards the goalline. Absolute heartbreak for the Ravens. Another lost season for Jackson, who is not going to feel much comfort when he is named MVP for a third time before the Super Bowl.

Mistakes killed the Ravens in this close game. Lamar threw an interception and lost a fumble, and Andrews also lost a fumble while making a catch in the fourth quarter. But I think Lamar was magical when they needed him at the right, so he should not be criticised too much. This remains a fact, he has not reached a Super Bowl yet in what has been a glittering career on a personal level.

Buffalo’s MVP candidate Josh Allen was able to play within himself with just 127 yards passing and no touchdowns, while scoring on a pair of runs. The Bills were balanced, and while they gave up more than 400 yards of offense to Baltimore, they came up with big defensive plays when they needed them.

Buffalo certainly look capable of going into Kansas City and giving the Chiefs a real run for their money. This is a defining moment for Allen. He has played three times against Mahomes in the playoffs, and each one has ended in a win for the Chiefs. Can he guide the Bills all the way to the Super Bowl?

What’s next?

It’s the NFL Conference Championships on Sunday January 26 – live on Sky Sports NFL – with the Philadelphia Eagles first hosting the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game from 8pm, and then the Chiefs taking on the Bills from 11.30pm.

Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL.

Source : Sky Sports