- Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes now has the maximum scrutinized proper ankle withinside the NFL, if now no longer beyond.
The Kansas City Chiefs superior to the AFC Championship Game with a 27-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the tale for the subsequent week might be the fitness in their quarterback. Mahomes suffered a proper ankle damage early towards the Jaguars, and ignored the relaxation of the primary 1/2 of on Saturday afternoon. He back to the recreation — throwing a landing byskip on simply one leg — and completed the day having finished 22 of 30 passes for 195 and 2 scores.
X-rays carried out at halftime had been negative, however Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network stated on Saturday night time that the quarterback suffered a excessive ankle sprain.
Given how Mahomes fought to stay withinside the recreation, and back to the sector after halftime, it’s far tough to assume that he could be out for Sunday. And his head train regarded to agree after the recreation: “Hes a difficult youngster,” Chiefs head train Andy Reid stated after the recreation. “So, he desired to be in there. He desired to be competing. Its a tribute to him and his competitiveness. However, you purchased to make certain hes bodily OK in which he can defend himself. If he cant then he cant play, and we must visit the subsequent guy. But hes a difficult nut. I inform you, hes competitive. Hes very, very competitive.”
But how may Mahomes appearance after a week?
How the damage affects him, and the Kansas City offense, is a huge problem to song over the approaching days.
So too might be the query of the way the Chiefs will fare towards the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes and agency have misplaced three-instantly to the Bengals, which include final yr`s AFC Championship Game.
— Mark Schofield
three. Cincinnati Bengals
Following the Bengals27-10 victory over the Bills, quarterback Joe Burrow changed into requested approximately the NFLs plans to host a ability AFC Championship recreation at a impartial web website online among the Chiefs and Bills and the way that subject matter influenced him and his crew heading into the divisional round.
The third-yr passer most effective wished 4 phrases to articulate his thoughts: “Better ship the ones refunds.”
After a posting a 2-three report via the primary 5 weeks of the season, many believed the Bengals had been headed for a few shape of a Super Bowl hangover. But ultimately, Cincinnati could cross directly to win 10 in their subsequent eleven video games and end the yr 12-four en path to snatching the AFC North crown.
Now, theyre the winners of playoff video games and are headed for his or her 2d consecutive AFC championship recreation in which theyll tour to Kansas City to stand the Chiefs for a rematch of final yr`s name tilt.
While the excessive-octane offense has been the calling card of the Bengals over the last seasons, dont sleep on protective coordinator Lou Anarumo and the extremely good task hes completed constructing his unit into a collection worth of complementing the elite institution on the alternative facet of the ball.
— Michael Peterson
four. San Francisco 49ers
Full disclosure: I voted the 49ers at No. 1.
Why? This crew is stacked.
At the start of the playoffs, I anticipated the playoffs in my thoughts and I had the 49ers beating Kansas City withinside the Super Bowl. The first rounds of the playoffs, San Francisco wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, did not anything to sway my thoughts.
The largest motive is that rookie Brock Purdy keeps to expose he’s a gain and now no longer a determent to the 49ers. He`s now no longer perfect, however the youngster is a extraordinary healthy for this crew.
So, quarterback isn’t always an problem in San Francisco. Combine that with a humiliation of offensive weapons, a sturdy offensive line and a timely, relentless protection and there may be not anything
- Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes now has the maximum scrutinized proper ankle withinside the NFL, if now no longer beyond.
The Kansas City Chiefs superior to the AFC Championship Game with a 27-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the tale for the subsequent week might be the fitness in their quarterback. Mahomes suffered a proper ankle damage early towards the Jaguars, and ignored the relaxation of the primary 1/2 of on Saturday afternoon. He back to the recreation — throwing a landing byskip on simply one leg — and completed the day having finished 22 of 30 passes for 195 and 2 scores.
X-rays carried out at halftime had been negative, however Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network stated on Saturday night time that the quarterback suffered a excessive ankle sprain.
Given how Mahomes fought to stay withinside the recreation, and back to the sector after halftime, it’s far tough to assume that he could be out for Sunday. And his head train regarded to agree after the recreation: “Hes a difficult youngster,” Chiefs head train Andy Reid stated after the recreation. “So, he desired to be in there. He desired to be competing. Its a tribute to him and his competitiveness. However, you purchased to make certain hes bodily OK in which he can defend himself. If he cant then he cant play, and we must visit the subsequent guy. But hes a difficult nut. I inform you, hes competitive. Hes very, very competitive.”
But how may Mahomes appearance after a week?
How the damage affects him, and the Kansas City offense, is a huge problem to song over the approaching days.
So too might be the query of the way the Chiefs will fare towards the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes and agency have misplaced three-instantly to the Bengals, which include final yr`s AFC Championship Game.
— Mark Schofield
three. Cincinnati Bengals
Following the Bengals27-10 victory over the Bills, quarterback Joe Burrow changed into requested approximately the NFLs plans to host a ability AFC Championship recreation at a impartial web website online among the Chiefs and Bills and the way that subject matter influenced him and his crew heading into the divisional round.
The third-yr passer most effective wished 4 phrases to articulate his thoughts: “Better ship the ones refunds.”
After a posting a 2-three report via the primary 5 weeks of the season, many believed the Bengals had been headed for a few shape of a Super Bowl hangover. But ultimately, Cincinnati could cross directly to win 10 in their subsequent eleven video games and end the yr 12-four en path to snatching the AFC North crown.
Now, theyre the winners of playoff video games and are headed for his or her 2d consecutive AFC championship recreation in which theyll tour to Kansas City to stand the Chiefs for a rematch of final yr`s name tilt.
While the excessive-octane offense has been the calling card of the Bengals over the last seasons, dont sleep on protective coordinator Lou Anarumo and the extremely good task hes completed constructing his unit into a collection worth of complementing the elite institution on the alternative facet of the ball.
— Michael Peterson
four. San Francisco 49ers
Full disclosure: I voted the 49ers at No. 1.
Why? This crew is stacked.
At the start of the playoffs, I anticipated the playoffs in my thoughts and I had the 49ers beating Kansas City withinside the Super Bowl. The first rounds of the playoffs, San Francisco wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, did not anything to sway my thoughts.
The largest motive is that rookie Brock Purdy keeps to expose he’s a gain and now no longer a determent to the 49ers. He`s now no longer perfect, however the youngster is a extraordinary healthy for this crew.
So, quarterback isn’t always an problem in San Francisco. Combine that with a humiliation of offensive weapons, a sturdy offensive line and a timely, relentless protection and there may be not anything
