The Final Four 🏈

01/23/2023 The Final Four 🏈

By: Jeff Yoder

It’s Chiefs-Bengals (AFC) & Eagles-49ers (NFC) Heading Into Championship Sunday

And then there were four! The Divisional Round produced a pair of blowouts and a pair of one-score games over the weekend to whittle the NFL Playoffs down to the final four. The Eagles and Bengals ran roughshod over the Giants and Bills, respectively, while the Chiefs and Niners squeaked by with wins by a touchdown. It’s a rematch of last year’s AFC title game between the Chiefs and Bengals while the Eagles are flying high into a showdown with San Fran. Here’s how the Divisional Round played out:

 

AFC: Chiefs def. Jaguars (27-20)

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs held off Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars in a tight one at Arrowhead on Saturday afternoon. Kansas City never led thanks to an efficient night from Mahomes (22/30, 195 yards, 2 TDs) as he tossed 14 balls to TE Travis Kelce (14 catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs). The battle between Andy Reid and Doug Pederson — Reid’s former quarterback in Philadelphia — belonged to the legend. Reid is now the first NFL head coach with 10 postseason wins for two different franchises.

 

NFC: Eagles def. Giants (38-7)

The only major blowout of the weekend occurred in Philly where the Eagles hammered the Giants and never let off the gas. Philadelphia scored 28 unanswered in the first half behind a massive ground game (44 rushes, 268 yards, 3 TDs). QB Jalen Hurts — who rushed for 1 TD — threw for 154 and 2 TDs, and the Eagles’ defense racked up five sacks while holding RB Saquon Barkley to just 11 touches and no scores. Philly is heading back to the NFC title game for the first time since 2017 when they went on to win the Super Bowl.

 

AFC: Bengals def. Bills (27-10)

The ultra-hyped Bills-Bengals rematch saw Damar Hamlin in attendance for a snowy showdown in Buffalo, but it was all Bengals on Sunday. QB Joe Burrow (23/36, 242 yards, 2 TDs) and RB Joe Mixon (22 touches, 123 yards, 1 TD) led the Cincy offense to a 17-3 halftime lead while Buffalo failed to find offense. The Bengals’ defense recorded just one sack, but they had eight QB pressures on Josh Allen who failed to throw for a touchdown. He was, however, the Bills’ leading rusher with just 26 yards and the lone touchdown. And for the second straight year, Burrow and the Bengals will meet the Chiefs in the AFC title game.

 

NFC: 49ers def. Cowboys (19-12)

A field goal outbreak took place in the Bay Area on Sunday night when the 49ers and Cowboys found themselves in a low-scoring defensive struggle. Both teams scored just one touchdown while Robbie Gould went 4-for-4 on field goals for San Francisco. The game was tied 9-9 going into the 4th before the 49ers found the end zone via Christian McCaffrey. Dak Prescott’s two interceptions were the only turnovers. QB Brock Purdy wasn’t flashy, but he didn’t have to be (19/29, 214 yards). The game came down to a last-minute drive where the Cowboys failed to move the ball. The 49ers are heading back to the NFC title game for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years. They’ll do it riding a 12-game win streak.

 

Championship Sunday Schedule

NFC: 49ers at Eagles (3:00 pm ET)

AFC: Bengals at Chiefs (6:30 pm ET)

 

Odds to Win Super Bowl LVII

Chiefs (+260), Eagles (+260), Bengals (+275), 49ers (+320)

 

Additional Storylines

USA Today: 32 Things We Learned From NFL Divisional Playoffs

Yahoo! Sports: Defense Carries 49ers to Win Over Cowboys & Trip to NFC Championship

CBS Sports: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Intends to Play Through High-Ankle Sprain in AFC Title Game

 

Photo: Lachlan  Cunningham / Getty Images