NFL play-offs: Bills and Eagles reach Conference Championships

NFL Playoffs: Bills and Eagles Reach Conference Championships – As It Happened

In a thrilling weekend of NFL playoff action, the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles each secured their spots in the Conference Championship games. Both teams faced fierce competition, but they ultimately emerged victorious in their respective divisional matchups, advancing one step closer to the Super Bowl. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the action, with highlights, key moments, and standout performances.

Buffalo Bills 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

The Setting:
The game took place at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York, with the Bills looking to capitalize on their top seed in the AFC. The Bengals, coming off an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens, were riding high, but they had to contend with the Bills’ explosive offense and a frenzied home crowd.

First Half:
The game started off with both teams feeling each other out. The Bengals struck first with a field goal by Evan McPherson, putting them up 3-0. Buffalo responded in typical fashion, with Josh Allen connecting on a deep pass to Stefon Diggs for a 35-yard gain that set up a touchdown. Allen then found Gabe Davis in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown, and the Bills were up 7-3.

However, the Bengals weren’t deterred. Quarterback Joe Burrow, a known postseason performer, orchestrated a quick drive that culminated in a beautiful touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase, who evaded two defenders to make an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone. The Bengals took a 10-7 lead, and it seemed like the game could be a back-and-forth affair.

Buffalo regained the lead thanks to a pair of field goals from Tyler Bass, making the score 13-10. However, just before halftime, Burrow connected again with Chase for a 40-yard gain, putting the Bengals in field goal range. McPherson knocked in a 48-yard attempt to tie the game at 13-13 going into halftime.

Second Half:
The second half saw the Bills begin to assert themselves. Allen, with his arm and legs, seemed determined to take control of the game. He led a masterful drive, ending with a 5-yard touchdown run that gave Buffalo a 20-13 lead. On the ensuing drive, Burrow appeared to be poised for another scoring opportunity, but the Bills’ defense stepped up, sacking Burrow twice and forcing a punt.

Buffalo continued to dominate on offense, with Allen hitting Davis for a 10-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 27-13 midway through the fourth quarter. The Bengals weren’t finished, though. Burrow rallied his team, leading a quick drive capped off by a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Hurst. The Bengals’ defense forced a stop, giving Burrow and the offense one last chance to tie the game.

However, time was not on their side. Burrow drove the Bengals down to the Bills’ 30-yard line, but with just seconds left, his final pass was knocked away by Buffalo cornerback Tre’Davious White. The Bills held on for a 27-24 victory, advancing to their first AFC Championship since the 1993 season.

Key Performances:

Josh Allen: 24/34, 302 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 7 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
Stefon Diggs: 7 receptions, 108 yards
Joe Burrow: 25/38, 285 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Ja’Marr Chase: 9 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD

Philadelphia Eagles 31, Dallas Cowboys 17

The Setting:
The NFC showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys took place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Eagles, the NFC’s top seed, came into the game as heavy favorites, but they were facing a tough Cowboys team that had knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the previous round.

First Half:
From the outset, it was clear that the Eagles were ready for the challenge. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had been dealing with a shoulder injury in recent weeks, showed no signs of rust. He opened the game with a precision 12-play drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, giving Philadelphia an early 7-0 lead.

Dallas responded with a strong drive of their own, but quarterback Dak Prescott’s deep ball to CeeDee Lamb was intercepted by Eagles safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who made a spectacular one-handed grab. Taking advantage of the turnover, Hurts marched the Eagles down the field and connected with A.J. Brown for a 21-yard touchdown, putting the Eagles up 14-0.

Dallas needed to respond quickly, and Prescott delivered. On the next drive, he found Michael Gallup for a 30-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7. The Cowboys’ defense then made a key stop on fourth down, giving Prescott another opportunity to tie the game. The Cowboys drove into field goal range, and Brett Maher nailed a 47-yard attempt, making the score 14-10.

However, the Eagles were unfazed. Hurts engineered another masterful drive, capping it off with a 5-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 21-10 before halftime. The Cowboys had a chance to trim the deficit before the break, but Maher missed a 53-yard field goal attempt, and the Eagles went into the locker room with a two-possession lead.

Second Half:
The Cowboys came out of halftime with renewed energy and immediately got to work. Prescott connected with Lamb for a 50-yard gain, and the Cowboys quickly found themselves in scoring position. However, the Eagles’ defense stiffened, and on a crucial 3rd-and-6, linebacker Haason Reddick sacked Prescott, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal. Maher’s 36-yard attempt was good, but it wasn’t enough to erase the 21-13 deficit.

Philadelphia continued to dominate on offense. Hurts, playing with confidence and poise, led an efficient drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Miles Sanders, extending the lead to 28-13. The Cowboys attempted to claw their way back, but Prescott’s next drive ended with an interception thrown right to Eagles cornerback Darius Slay. With less than five minutes remaining, the Eagles took over and drained the clock, capping off the game with a 41-yard field goal by Jake Elliott to make it 31-17.

The Eagles’ victory sent them to their first NFC Championship game since the 2017 season, a year they went on to win the Super Bowl.

Key Performances: