NFL Conference Championship Games Now Set
And then there were four.
The Final Four of the 2022-23 NFL season is now all set after the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers took care of business on Sunday setting up two intriguing conference championships next Sunday.
The Bengals pounded the Buffalo Bills 27-10 in a torrential snow storm at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bengals entered the game with a huge chip on their shoulder for the NFL’s handling of the conference championship schedule, and took it out on the Bills.
Joe Burrow was phenomenal, tossing two touchdowns in the win, while running back Joe Mixon gashed the Bills on the ground for 105 yards.
The @Bengals clinch the W with an INT! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/bxlG9RmXJG
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2023
The Bengals will head to Kansas City for the second straight season for the AFC Championship Game. The Bengals have won three straight against the Chiefs, all by the score of 27-24.
The status of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be the story of the week. Mahomes sprained his ankle in the Chiefs 27-20 win over Jacksonville on Saturday. Mahomes is best when he is able to make plays on the move. A hobbled Mahomes could play into the hands of Bengals heavy blitz packages.
Meanwhile in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles whipped the floor with the New York Giants to the tune of 38-7, and will enter the week as favorites against the 49ers.
San Francisco outlasted Dallas 19-12 thanks to stellar play from its defense, and the cool delivery of rookie quarterback Brock Purdy.
Oh my George.
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2023
📺: #DALvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/WBXF8YHjXz pic.twitter.com/xL37X9alVx
Perhaps the biggest play of the Dallas-San Francisco game came when Purdy connected with George Kittle, who had the ball bounce out of his hands, off his face-mask, and back into his grasp for a 30-yard catch. That acrobatic play was the key to a 10-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that gave San Francisco a 16-9 lead.
Dallas struggled offensively. They lost Tony Pollard to a nasty ankle injury, and Dak Prescott struggled all night.
The veteran quarterback tossed two interceptions, and was under duress all night.
The Niners victory sets up an wild match-up in Philly. The Eagles are a high powered offense led by Jalen Hurts, going up against the top ranked defense in the NFL in San Francisco. And keep in mind the Purdy story is something to watch.
He was the last pick in the NFL draft, and is building a Tom Brady-esque storyline.
Chiefs vs. Bengals. 49ers vs. Eagles. Who you got going to the Super Bow?