The National Football Conference and  American Football Conference champion ship games this weekend were pivotal, en ticing matchups that have set the stage for  the National Football League’s peak event,  the Super Bowl. The clashes between the  Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Com manders, as well as the Buffalo Bills and  Kansas City Chiefs, were riveting games  with great importance, and there is now  only a singular game that will determine  the champion for the 2024 NFL season. 

The NFC championship game, which took  place first at the Eagles’ home stadium in  Philadelphia, was a clash between two divi sion rivals that unfortunately never materi alized into a competitive game. The Eagles  got out to a fantastic start and only trailed  for a total of 18 seconds all afternoon en  route to a 55-23 thrashing of their NFC East  foe, the Commanders. The Eagles, powered  by superstar running back Saquon Barkley,  never felt that their lead was in danger as  the Commanders’ defense was powerless  against their attacks on the ground and  through the air. However, it was specifically  on the ground where the Eagles thrived, as  Barkley produced yet another unbelievable  chapter to his storybook, record-breaking  season. Barkley rushed for 118 yards on a mere 15 carries, which resulted in him  scoring an astonishing three touchdowns,  including a 60-yard sprint to the end zone.  

Despite their defeat, the Commanders  can hold their heads high, achieving a 12-5  regular season record and winning two  playoff games. In fact, their appearance in  the NFC championship was their first time  reaching such a stage since 1991. For an  organization plagued by mismanagement,  mediocrity and a discontented fanbase, dy namic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels  was able to engineer one of the greatest  single-season turnarounds in NFL history.  Their performance in the game was atypi cal of their impressive play throughout the  season, and they were particularly foiled by  their four turnovers. This was compounded  by their defense being a sieve that the Eagles  passed through without worry. Neverthe less, the Commanders can hold their heads  high, as Daniels is only 24 years old and has  an extremely bright future ahead of him. 

Conversely, the Sunday night matchup  between the Bills and Chiefs at Arrowhead  Stadium in Kansas City, MO, was a rivet ing classic that came down to the contest’s  final moments. Bills quarterback Josh Al len matched every single blow dealt to him  by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes,  but a late fourth quarter prayer of a throw  was dropped by tight end Dalton Kincaid.  From there, the Chiefs were able to convert  on a couple of crucial fourth downs to tri umph 32-29. Allen, who threw for 237 yards  and two touchdowns, agonizingly still has  not reached the Super Bowl in his seventh  season, with many of his most valiant ef forts stifled by Mahomes and the Chiefs.  Mahomes had a stellar performance, but the  Chiefs’ defense stepped up in major fash ion to ensure their squad’s victory, while  the Bills’ defense ran into trouble tack ling and defending against the many deep  threats the Chiefs can boast at receiver.

And here we go. The end of the season is  nearly upon us! After 284 combined regular  season and playoff games, we only have one  more contest remaining. That contest is the  pinnacle of American team sports: the Super  Bowl. Featuring the Eagles and Chiefs, it  will be a battle of two of football’s greatest  titans. In particular, the Chiefs are striving  to make incredible history by being the first  team to win a three-peat (win three consecu tive Super Bowls). The Eagles, meanwhile,  are aiming to win their second Super Bowl of  all time, only a few years after the triumph  of their 2018 victory. Both of these squads  have been presumptive favorites in their  conferences all year, so expectations will be  sky-high, and hopefully fans will be treated  to an otherworldly display of NFL football.    

Next week will feature a full-length  Super Bowl preview, so stay tuned! 

No games next week (Pro Bowl: 3 P.M.  E.T. on Feb. 2, 2025 in Orlando, FL) 

Game to watch: Super Bowl LIX – Kan sas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Ea gles at the Superdome in New Or leans, LA. 6:30 P.M. E.T. on Feb. 9, 2025.