Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are no strangers to postseason matchups, but their rivalry has taken on a decidedly one-sided nature. This Sunday night, Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs will host Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, marking the fourth playoff encounter between the two star quarterbacks in just five seasons. Mahomes has emerged victorious in all three prior meetings, including the 2020 AFC Championship Game and the 2021 divisional round, both played at Arrowhead Stadium, as well as last season’s divisional round clash in Buffalo.
The rivalry between Mahomes and Allen places them among a select group of quarterbacks who have faced each other multiple times in the playoffs. They become the fifth duo to square off at least four times in postseason history, with most of their predecessors enjoying a more balanced record. Notably, Tom Brady faced Peyton Manning five times in the playoffs, winning the first two before losing the last three. Similarly, Brady split playoff matchups with Joe Flacco, while Ken Stabler and Brett Favre also had mixed results in their respective playoff encounters.
As Mahomes looks to secure his fourth playoff victory against the Bills, a loss would tie Allen with Aaron Rodgers for the most postseason defeats against a single opponent. Meanwhile, in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are making headlines as Saquon Barkley set a franchise playoff record with 205 rushing yards in a recent victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley’s performance, highlighted by two explosive touchdown runs, places him among the elite in playoff rushing history, further emphasizing the significance of his contributions to the Eagles’ success this postseason.
Coaching Turnarounds and Droughts
In a remarkable coaching turnaround, Dan Quinn has led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game after inheriting a team that finished with a dismal 4-13 record last season. A victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday would not only secure Quinn’s place in the Super Bowl as one of the few coaches to achieve this feat in their first full season but would also mark a significant revival for a franchise that has not reached this stage in over three decades. Quinn, who previously led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance, has the chance to become the eighth coach in NFL history to guide two different teams to the Super Bowl.
While Washington celebrates its resurgence, the Dallas Cowboys continue to endure a lengthy playoff drought. Despite being a five-time Super Bowl champion, Dallas has not appeared in the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season. This prolonged absence underscores the challenges the franchise has faced, as they remain tied for the tenth most playoff appearances in the league over that span, yet have failed to reach the conference title game for 29 consecutive seasons. The Cowboys’ struggles highlight the shifting dynamics within the NFC, as 15 of the 16 teams have made it to the conference title game in the last 15 seasons, leaving Dallas as the lone exception.
NFC North’s Playoff Disappointment
The NFC North showed remarkable strength during the regular season, with three teams—Minnesota, Green Bay, and Detroit—each winning at least 11 games. However, this success did not translate into playoff victories, as all three teams were eliminated in the wild-card round. The Detroit Lions, who finished as the NFC’s top seed, suffered a disappointing early exit against Washington in the divisional round. This marked a historic moment, as it became the only instance since the NFL merger where three teams from the same division made the playoffs without winning a single game. Notably, the Lions joined the 2011 Packers as the only teams to win 15 regular-season games and fail to secure a playoff victory, further highlighting the unpredictability and intensity of postseason football.
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