NFL Wrapup: Top seeds end any hopes of another underdog story
January 17, 2019
With a ticket to the conference championship game on the line, it was now or never for the eight remaining teams. Here is what happened this weekend in the NFL:
AFC
#6 Indianapolis Colts @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs
This game was the typical 1v6 seed beatdown that fans have seen many times in years prior. Kansas City stepped on the gas early, and never slowed down. Patrick Mahomes threw for 278 yards, but rushing was key here, as Mahomes, RBs Damien Williams and Darrel Williams, along with WR Tyreek Hill all rushed for one touchdown each. Indy’s Andrew Luck threw for 203 yards and a touchdown in this blowout. The Chiefs won with a final score of 31-13, sending the Colts home packing and bringing the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game next week.
#5 Los Angeles Chargers @ #2 New England Patriots
Going into this weekend, this seemed to be the hardest to predict. Philip Rivers and the Chargers going into Foxborough on a hot streak meeting up with Tom Brady and the Patriots in the playoffs called for a can’t miss meeting. That was not the case however, as the Patriots ran away with a score of 41-28. Tom Brady threw for 343 yards and a touchdown, and even though Philip Rivers threw for 331 yards and three scores, that came in garbage time when the Chargers had little to no chance to win the game. What looked to be a really competitive game on paper was anything but that on the field, as New England advances to their eighth consecutive AFC Championship game.
The AFC Championship will be played on Sunday at 6:40 p.m. on CBS
NFC
#6 Philadelphia Eagles @ #1 New Orleans Saints
Perhaps the most competitive game of the weekend, with the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles going to the Superdome to play the top seeded Saints. This game was exciting from start to finish, with the underdogs getting the early lead, causing the #1 seed Saints to dig deep down to come out with the win. Drew Brees threw 301 yards and two touchdowns for New Orleans, while Nick Foles threw for 201 yards and a touchdown. Both threw their fair share of interceptions, but it was Foles’ second interception that ultimately ended any hope of the Eagles winning after a Saints comeback, with the final score being 20-14 Saints. New Orleans will now play next week in the conference championship game.
#4 Dallas Cowboys @ #2 Los Angeles Rams
Unlike many other NFL games, this was not decided on passing yards, but rather the rushing game. Both teams have a top five running back and their rushing totals on the year have gotten their teams to where they are. The Cowboys have Ezekiel Elliott, while the Rams have Todd Gurley. The Rams blew the Cowboys away in this aspect, as Gurley ran for 115 yards and a touchdown, and even second running back C.J. Anderson ran for 123 yards and two scores, while Elliott only ran for 47 yards and a touchdown. At the end of the day, the Rams defense stopped Dallas’s playmaker, winning 30-22 and advancing them to the championship game.
The NFC Championship will be played on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. on FOX
