Four teams walked into Championship Weekend with dreams of playing in Super Bowl LIX, but by the end of the day, only two were left standing with those dreams intact.

On one side, the Eagles delivered a dominant blowout, crushing the Commanders and solidifying their status as NFC kings behind Saquon Barkley’s incredible form. For Jayden Daniels, the rookie QB trying to make history, the Eagles proved too much to handle.

On the other side, the Bills and Chiefs put on a playoff classic, with Patrick Mahomes once again outdueling Josh Allen to end Buffalo’s season. It was yet another chance to take down Mahomes in the postseason that came up just short. And for the Chiefs, the chance at an unprecedented three-peat is alive and well, thanks to their veteran leadership and Mahomes’ brilliance under pressure.

Washington Commanders (23) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (55)

The Clock Strikes Midnight

The Washington Commanders entered the NFC Championship as one of the best stories of the season. Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, their rise from underdog status to being four quarters away from playing in the Super Bowl is every fanbase's dream. 

Unfortunately for Washington, their Cinderella run hit a brick wall in the form of the powerhouse Philadelphia Eagles, who dominated every facet of the game en route to a 55-23 victory.

Daniels, who had a sensational rookie campaign, was kept in check for the first time in these playoffs against the relentless Eagles defense. Philadelphia’s front seven was all over him from the start, constantly pressuring him in the pocket and forcing hurried throws to receivers who just couldn't get open. 

The Eagles’ secondary locked down Washington’s receiving corps, including Terry McLaurin, who managed just one catch for seven yards on four targets when covered by rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell. 

Daniels showed flashes of the brilliance that captivated fans this season — going 25-36 for 185 yards and a 91 passer rating on short passes — but couldn’t keep pace with a powerful Eagles' offense.

Rings Over Records

On the flip side, the Eagles’ offense couldn’t have been more efficient. Saquon Barkley set the tone on their first offensive play, breaking free for a 60-yard touchdown run that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. 

Barkley finished the day with 118 yards and three touchdowns and has now put himself in the conversation with the NFL's top postseason performers. In his three games against the Commanders this season, Barkley rushed for 414 yards (six yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. 

Jalen Hurts was equally impressive, passing for 246 yards and a touchdown while adding three scores on the ground, tying the NFL single-game playoff record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Hurts was able to do all this despite nursing a knee injury from the previous week’s game against the Rams, where his mobility was a major question mark heading into the matchup. When Philadelphia’s rushing attack is clicking like that, they’re nearly impossible to stop.

The Writing on the Wall Before Halftime

The turning point came early in the second quarter. With the Commanders trailing by just seven, Zack Baun delivered a game-changing play by forcing a fumble from Dyami Brown, which the Eagles recovered deep in Washington territory. Hurts capitalized with a short touchdown run, and the floodgates opened. By halftime, the Eagles had built a commanding 27-15 lead, and the Commanders never recovered.

Already having the lead, Philadelphia was inclined to lean on the run in the second half and continued their dominance. The Eagles’ seven rushing touchdowns tied an NFL playoff record, last achieved in 1940. Their 55 points also set a new benchmark for the most scored in a conference championship game. 

One moment that left fans scratching their heads was the rare invocation of the Palpably Unfair Act Rule. After the Commanders kept jumping offside on a goal-line push, the refs had to threaten to award the Eagles a touchdown on their own; a sequence that felt as chaotic as it was unusual.

The Future of the NFC

Ultimately, the Eagles showed why they belong at the top of the NFL hierarchy. This win earned them their second trip to the Super Bowl in four years under head coach Nick Sirianni, who now joins elite company as one of three coaches to reach two Super Bowls in his first four seasons. 

For the Commanders, it was a tough ending to an otherwise inspiring season, but the promise of Jayden Daniels gives them plenty to build on moving forward.

Buffalo Bills(29) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (32)

Familiar Foes on the Biggest Stage

The Bills and Chiefs squared off in yet another chapter of their growing postseason rivalry, and this one didn’t disappoint. Kansas City has been a thorn in Buffalo’s side for years, eliminating them from the playoffs three of the last four seasons before this year. 

Josh Allen was on a mission to rewrite that narrative, but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had other plans. 

Kansas City narrowly edged the Bills 32-29, punching their ticket to their third straight Super Bowl and leaving Allen to stew over a fourth playoff exit at the hands of Mahomes. He became the first to ever get eliminated four times by the same quarterback.

Mahomes Puts on His Cape Once Again

This game was everything fans hoped for: dramatic, intense, and full of superstar moments. Mahomes showed why he’s the league’s premier quarterback, throwing for 245 yards and a touchdown, posting a passer rating of 111. 

But it wasn't his arm that ended up being the difference in the game. Mahomes set new career-highs in both rushing attempts, with 11, and rushing touchdowns, with two in this game. Doing it against a quarterback known for using his legs? That's flipping the script in a way only Mahomes can. 

Josh Allen held his own with 237 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 39 rushing yards, but he faced relentless pressure all night. Completing just 5 of 14 passes under duress, Allen’s usual magic was stifled by a swarming Kansas City defense.

Trading Blows Early in a Heavyweight Bout

Early on, the teams traded punches, with both teams showing why they’ve been so dominant all season. 

As with any game involving the Chiefs, there was no shortage of controversy. One of the most debated moments came early when rookie Xavier Worthy made a contested 26-yard catch that many initially thought was an interception. The play sparked plenty of debate among fans and players but ultimately stood as a catch, setting up a crucial Kansas City touchdown. 

Not to be outdone, Josh Allen answered with a perfectly placed touchdown pass to Mack Hollins right before halftime, keeping Buffalo within striking distance.

Coming out of halftime, both defenses tightened up, cutting down the offensive fireworks we saw in the first half and turning the game into a battle of key moments. James Cook scored the first points of the second half with a 1-yard touchdown on 4th-and-goal, a gutsy call that gave the Bills the lead.

Cook, who rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries, was one of the Bills’ most effective weapons. Despite averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry, Buffalo inexplicably didn’t feed him the ball enough. The Bills missed a clear opportunity to lean on their most effective weapon when they needed it.

Controversy Finds Kansas City Again

The game’s turning points came late, where every yard felt like a mile. Buffalo was stopped on both third and fourth down with spots that came up just inches short of the line to gain. They were within inches both times and many people think they actually got the first down, which, of course, only led to more controversy.

Pat McAfee went on his show on Monday following the matchup and said:

Now, could that easily have been called a first down, and after review stayed with it? Yes. Now, after review, were they going to overturn anything [like] this? Probably not — that’s how it normally goes. The fact it worked out for the Chiefs, yet again, has people saying, 'How many coincidences do we have to see before we start thinking it’s a conspiracy?'

Mahomes and the Chiefs wasted no time, needing just five plays to march down the field and score a touchdown after Allen came up short on fourth down. Buffalo answered right back with resilience, responding to Mahomes’ second rushing touchdown of the night with a touchdown drive of their own to tie the game. But Kansas City, as they so often do, found a way to nudge ahead again, capping their next possession with a field goal to retake the lead. 

A Comeback Cut Short

Down by three points with 3:30 left in the game, Josh Allen got the ball back and had one last shot to send his team to the Super Bowl.

And then came the moment that sealed Buffalo’s fate. After choosing not to send too much pressure at Allen throughout the game, Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called a corner blitz on 4th-and-5, and two rushers quickly broke free. 

Allen lofted it up to tight end Dalton Kincaid just as he was hit, but Kincaid couldn't haul it in. The pass was tough but catchable, and it slipped through his hands, extinguishing the Bills’ hopes of a comeback. It’s the kind of moment that lingers in a fanbase’s memory for years.

With the win, Kansas City moved one step closer to an unprecedented three-peat as Super Bowl champions. For Buffalo, the pain of yet another playoff loss to Kansas City adds to a long list of heartbreaks.

Eagles and Chiefs Heading to Super Bowl LIX

The Eagles and Chiefs have been on completely different paths, but somehow still ended up in the same place. 

After a down year last season, Philadelphia's found themselves back atop the NFC by leaning on the speed of their running back and the sheer power of their offensive line, steamrolling opponents in the trenches. Kansas City, on the other hand, never missed a beat. Relying on the steady leadership of their veterans and the clutch brilliance of Patrick Mahomes, who always seems to deliver in the biggest moments, they're on the cusp of history. 

As these two powerhouse teams prepare for a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, the clash between contrasting styles sets the stage for an unforgettable showdown.

All stats courtesy of NFL Pro.