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Another weekend of football in the National Football League, another weekend Pittsburgh Steelers fans had to choose who else to cheer for. The AFC and NFC championship games offered plenty for Steelers fans to wager over as they bemoaned the state of their own team’s current status. We offer our takeaways as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs walked away as their division’s champions, respectively, en route to Super Bowl LIX.
Chiefs fend off the Bills
For the Chiefs, things couldn’t have gone better unless the NFL was scripted – which many fans have actively proposed with crazy calls going in favor of Kansas City during the 2024 NFL season. Foil hat craziness, or not, officiating in the league has been under heavy scrutiny throughout the past few seasons, so we’ll put pettiness aside. Are you ready for another Taylor Swift montage of coverage? Yeah, we’ll spare you that as well.
Andy Reid has found a winning formula for Kansas City despite coaching a team that won 17 straight games decided by one score or less when they held on to fend off Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Although they led 21-10 late in the first haf, the Bills rallied to go up 22-21 by the end of the third quarter. As they have throughout the season, Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes rallied late in the game to score 11 points and take the AFC. Harrison Butker kicked a 35-yard field goal that gave the Chiefs the 32-29 lead that they were able to hold onto until the game clock hit zero.
One of our biggest takeaways from this game was that just one week removed from a big game against the Houston Texans, Travis Kelce recorded just two receptions for 19 yards. Receivers Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy worked the Bills defense over, instead. Brown and Smith-Schuster had just five catches combined, but those plays resulted in 95 yards of positive offense.
As for the Bills, they failed to get James Cook off to a hot start and that put their defense back onto the field too often in the opening half. Cook did find the end zone twice and had 85 yards in the game. The Bills defense wasn’t at full strength without safety Taylor Rapp (out due to a hip and back injury) and suffered when cornerback Christian Benford had to leave the game due to a first quarter concussion.
Our second biggest takeaway was that Buffalo was just sloppy with the ball. Allen threw two near-interception passes and fumbled the ball three times (and recovered them). Ray Davis also fumbled a carry he was able to recover. They were costly errors that affected game flow and were only shown-up by the special teams unit allowing a 41-yard punt return that set up a Chiefs touchdown.
Eagles rout the Commanders
We all know what Jaylen Hurts is capable of at quarterback, but add “unselfish” to the list of traits. Getting back to the ground game was key to the win over Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders as Saquon Barkley put on a clinic. Barkley ripped off a 60-yard run on Philadelphia’s first offensive series and tacked on three touchdown. Hurts, who didn’t appear to have issues with a left knee injury on his way to three rushing touchdowns and one through the air.
As a rookie, Daniels had an impressive regular season and postseason. On Sunday, his heroics couldn’t save the Commanders from defeat, though, due to four turnovers that dug too deep of a hole. He threw for 255 yards and a touchdown and ran one ball into the end zone, posting 48 yards rushing in the game.
Marshon Lattimore was a liability in coverage for Washington’s defense; he was beaten several times and had an on-field meltdown. Adding insult to injury, teammate Dyami Brown fumbled after a catch at the Commanders 48-yard line that allowed the Eagles to set up a touchdown for a lead Washington had to chase for the remainder of the game.
As for defense, it was Philly who was more dominant – a step up that made their victory a compete team win. Washington, who’d forced five turnovers against the Detroit Lions to advance, earned zero takeaways and forced just two punts. Unable to stop the run, the Commanders lost their opportunity to be victorious.
Who will Steelers fans choose to win the Super Bowl?
This matchup between the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and that “other team in Pennsylvania” – Philadelphia Eagles – may have Steelers fans split in who they cheer-on in the big game.
As fans of a team that has experienced a dynasty, the loyal black and gold may hold an affinity towards the Eagles knocking the Chiefs – representing the AFC conference – down a peg.
Then again, there’s little love between Steelers fans and the Eagles – even if, at one time, the two teams combined in NFL history to be the “Steagles.” Pittsburgh prefers being the big brother when it comes to the in-state rivalry.
Stay tuned to our coverage leading up to Super Bowl LIX (such an unfortunately awkward number) to get updates on that game and other Steelers-related content.
Takeaways: Chiefs, Eagles secure Super Bowl spots appeared first on Steel City Underground.