SPECIAL COLLABORATION
We have reached the quarter of aces in the National Football League and the four teams present fully deserve their place in the association final. Indeed, the Chiefs of Kansas City and the Philadelphia Eagles finished first in their respective associations, while the San Francisco 49ers and the Bengals from Cincinnati have the two longest active winning streaks on the Goodell Tour. Everything is in place for a supercharged Sunday. Here is my preview of the two meetings of the weekend.
49ers Offense vs. Eagles Defense
Against all odds, the young quarter Brock Purdy continues to lead the Niners offensive unit with the poise of a seasoned veteran. Far from being flamboyant like the other three quarterbacks of the weekend, Purdy plays inside the system and does not force things. He displays great precision and good decision-making, but above all an Olympian calm under the eliminatory spotlight. In total this year, he threw 16 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions. If he continues to protect the ball this way, the Niners will have a chance to win.
The performances of the young pivot are impressive, but the identity of the 49ers is first to establish the attack on the ground. Conducted by Christian McCaffrey, who has scored a touchdown in his last 8 games, Kyle Shanahan’s ground offense is varied and explosive. In fact, in San Francisco’s 12-game winning streak, the team reached 100 rushing yards 11 times!
Unsurprisingly, Purdy and the Niners offense will face their biggest challenge of the year on Sunday as the pressure mounts with each playoff round. Facing San Francisco, the defense of Seahawks de Seattle held on for a half and that of the dallas cowboys managed to limit the damage. Now, the Philadelphia unit poses a whole different challenge. She ranked first in the NFL this season in passing yards allowed (179.8 yards/game) and sacks (70). So it will be a big term for Purdy. The key will be to produce the ground game while the defense has been more vulnerable in this phase of the game (121.6 yds/game – 16th place).
Eagles offense vs. 49ers defense
Like the Niners, the Eagles offense begins with the ground game. In the regular season, she ranked fifth in the league (147.6 yards/game) and won against the Giants de New York last week with 268 rushing yards. It was the fifth time this year that the team amassed more than 200 rushing yards during a game, it’s solid! It all starts with the offensive line, possibly the best in the NFL. Moreover, if the Eagles are so successful, both in attack and defense, it is because their lines are dominant.
Behind this line on offense, we find Jalen Hurts who had an exceptional season. A real double threat in the backfield, he attracts a lot of attention, which opens up gaps for his carriers. When you force a defense to play 11v11, the ground game becomes very difficult to defend. That’s what the Eagles do well.
Want to stop the ground attack? No problem, the Eagles can beat you through the air. Receivers AJ Brown et DeVonta Smith finished in the top-10 in the league for receiving yards this year. Not to mention the tight end Dallas Goedert who can give you trouble in midfield or give you hard-hitting blocks to open up gaps for teammates.
It is therefore quite a puzzle that awaits the defense of the Niners who will stop at nothing. Considered by many to be the best defensive unit in the NFL, it is equipped to face a challenge of this size. The line is anchored by Nick Bosa, league leader in quarterback sacks in 2022 (18.5). We must identify him before each game and take advantage of the rare moments when he will be on the sidelines to try games with longer development.
If the offense succeeds in neutralizing Bosa, it will then have to find a plan to counter the best linebacker in the circuit, Fred Warner. Warner has given the Cowboys a clinic and he can bring on the kind of play that changes the look of a game at any time. The DeMeco Ryans squad will certainly have a good game plan for the Eagles. The question will be who will perform better?
Prediction : Eagles win 23-20
Bengals Offense vs. Chiefs Defense
In three games, Joe Burrow has never lost to the Chiefs, including his most recent victory in early December. His legendary composure makes him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in important games. From his time at LSU to his fledgling NFL career, Burrow demonstrated he was a prodigy at the most critical position in professional sports. Last week, on hostile ground, behind a patched offensive line, he delivered an inspiring performance. There is no doubt in my mind that he will still have a strong game.
To help Burrow, the offensive line will have to put on a second straight performance. She paved the way and dominate the front of buffalo bills to accumulate 172 rushing yards on 34 carries (avg 5.1/carry). Joe Mixon, who did not face the Chiefs in December, could play an important role in balancing the Bengal attack. If he gets going, it could open windows for the NFL’s top receiving trio. Ja’Marr Chase et Tee Higgins have crossed the plateau of 1000 yards each and represent the greatest threats without neglecting Tyler Boyd who caught 58 passes for 762 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022. Defending a duo of receivers can be difficult, defending a trio is next to impossible.
For its part, the Chiefs defense has proven that it can chase quarterbacks with a total of 55 sacks this season. The dominance of Chris Jonesthe emergence of the young George Karlaftis and the radius of action Nick Bolton make this defense a much better unit than in years past. However, it is necessary to underline the inexperience of several young players in the tertiary sector. Will they be able to disguise their cover to deceive the vigilance of the Bengals? Can they cover the Chase, Higgins and Boyd in man-to-man coverage for 60 minutes?
Chiefs Offense vs. Bengals Defense
All eyes will be on the ankle of Patrick Mahomes until kickoff Sunday. Injured early in the match against the Jaguars de Jacksonville, the star quarterback had to temporarily leave the game and come back on one leg to finish the job. Mahomes is the best player in the NFL and his legs are one of his greatest assets. How limited will he be by his ankle? Without full mobility, will he be able to do enough to stick with Burrow?
Due to this injury, two players will be one to watch in attack. The first is the tight end Travis Kelce, the best of his profession. He set a record last week with 14 receptions in a playoff game. Kelce will be Mahomes’ safety valve and troubleshooter throughout the game. The second player will be the young bearer Isiah Pacheco. He has established himself as the number one carrier of the formation and will have to be called upon often during the match on Sunday. There’s nothing better to protect a static quarterback than a sustained ground game. If Kelce and Pacheco have a good day, the Chiefs’ chances of making it to the Superbowl will increase drastically.
Among the Bengals, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is perhaps the centerpiece of the game. Anarumo is one of the best coordinators in the league and seems to come up with his best game plans for big occasions. Last week his unit muzzled Josh Allen and the Bills for a meager 10 points. Also, in recent meetings against the Chiefs, the Bengals have limited Eric Bienemy’s offense and produced crucial turnovers to win close games. The unit has several good players like the linebacker Logan Wilsonthe tackler DJ Reader and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, but the strength of this defense lies in its cohesion and its execution of the game plan. I expect to see the Cincinnati defense use a lot of movement before the lift, apply a lot of different blitzes and present a lot of different coverage. In my opinion, the game of chess on this side of the ball will be formidable and will determine the outcome of the match.-
Prediction : Bengals win 27-24
