Last week, we brought you details of the Super Wildcard Weekend fixtures, as well as a quick preview on the games taking place in the Divisional Round this past weekend.
We also gave you a quick update of how things stand in the NFL Draft and after this weekend’s four Divisional Round games, we are now a little clearer on who will pick in which position in April’s Draft at Union Station in Kansas City.
Additionally, now that we know the identities of the four teams that will battle it out to be their respective Conference Champion and thus earn a place in the Super Bowl, remember you can find all the latest betting on both next weekend’s huge games with bet365 Sport.
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After an exciting weekend of action and some intriguing games, we now know which teams will be battling it out for the AFC and NFC Conference Championships and a place in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, on 12th February.
So let’s take a look at the major stories from this weekend’s NFL action.
The Chiefs win was a closer one than many expected and was marred by a high ankle sprain that saw Patrick Mahomes miss some game time before returning to lead the Chiefs to a narrow win. Chad Henne converted his one drive into a key touchdown, that proved decisive in the game and he will be on stand by for next weekend’s Conference Championship if Mahomes is not able to play every snap.
Two key turnovers cost the Jags, both occurring in the Chiefs red zone and that effectively set the seal on the Chiefs win, with Travis Kelce once again a huge factor catching 2 touchdowns amongst his 14 total receptions in the game.
Doug Petersen will take solace his Jags team pushed the Chiefs so close in Kansas and they look likely to be a playoff team for the next few years. The Chiefs now move on to the Conference Championship game for a fifth year in a row.
A first-half blitz from the Eagles provided the foundation for this comfortable victory for the Eagles as they took a 28-0 half time lead into the locker room against the somewhat dumbstruck Giants.
Even with Jalen Hurts not at 100%, the Eagles dominated all phases of the game, rushing for 268 yards, passing for 154 yards and scoring five touchdowns as they dominated their NFC East rivals on offense and defense.
The Eagles pass rush choked the life out of the Giants in the first half and Daniel Jones was unable to get anything going until Saquan Barkley broke out for a 35-yard run in the third quarter, a prelude to the Giants only score of the game. However, this was as one-sided as the scoreline suggests and the Giants still look a long way away from being a genuine NFC contender.
Perhaps the best performance of any team in the Divisional round came in Buffalo where the Bengals produced a masterclass in controlling a game as they not only beat the Bills, but did so in snowy weather conditions and in all facets of the game against a team many felt were the best in the NFL at the start of the season.
There’s no doubt that Von Miller’s absence was keenly felt by the Bills on defense as they struggled to cope with Joe Burrows and his offense. If Burrows wasn’t dicing them through the air, his running backs were doing so on the ground, chewing up the clock after establishing a 14-point lead in the first quarter.
When the Bills tried to fight back, the Bengals defense continually shut them out, holding them to 10 points and ensuring that the 27 the Bengals scored were more than enough to secure the win. This was a hugely impressive and fully deserved win for the Bengals and one that will sting for the Bills.
In a game which the two defenses were dominant, it was a story of turnovers that eventually saw the 49ers get past the Cowboys. Dak Prescott’s two interceptions proving key as the home side scored their only touchdown in the fourth quarter to claim the win.
That Christian McCaffrey score proved vital as the 49ers took the lead in the fourth quarter but they were helped by some poor play by Prescott who, just a week after a superb performance in the Wildcard Weekend game, once again struggled post-season against a top quality defense.
He wasn’t helped by a questionable call on the last play of the game but in the end Brock Purdy was the more reliable of the two hitting 19/29 passes for 214 yards and, most importantly, no turnovers, as his stellar form continues and he leads the 49ers into another Conference Championship game.
The remaining four picks will be decided by the results of the two Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl.
Teams that have traded away their 2023 are shown in italics.
The Miami Dolphins were penalized their 2023 first round pick and so will not pick in this round of the draft. The Dolphins were scheduled to have the 21st pick in the 1st round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but instead the Chargers will move up to select in that spot with the teams below them also moving up one spot in the draft.
Round 1 of the draft will therefore only have 31 picks in 2023.
Stunning wins for the Eagles and Bengals move them into the top two of my Playoff Power Rankings, the 49ers remain third with the Chiefs dropping to fourth mainly because of the injury to QB Patrick Mahomes and if he isn’t fit, then their chances of reaching the Super Bowl take a huge hit.
Check back later this week when we give you our detailed preview of the two Conference Championship games taking place next Sunday.
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