AFC & NFC Championship preview + Panthers hire Frank Reich & Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett
The Panthers announced the hiring of former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. The Jets hired former Denver Broncos head coach and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new OC. This is huge news for the Cowboys, who manage to hang onto Quinn through yet another head coach hiring cycle. Charles McDonald believes Hurts may be able to throw it deep against San Francisco – the cornerbacks may be their one weakness. 00:25 - The Panthers hire Frank Reich to be their next head coach13:55 - The Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett to be their next offensive coordinator.
wftv.com'Nothing' about Bengals offense impresses Chiefs LB Willie Gay
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay added more fuel to the team's rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals when asked what impressed him most about his opponent's offense. Not many words from #Chiefs LB Willie Gay today but one thing stood out. Chase is tied for sixth with nine receiving touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards per game despite missing five games with a hip injury. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce responded by claiming Arrowhead could break the loudest stadium record because of the Bengals' recent remarks. Now, the Bengals return to Arrowhead once more after a tumultuous season both as underdogs and defending AFC champions.
wftv.comWill easygoing Patrick Mahomes, whose Chiefs could be underdogs come Sunday, finally lean into a slight for motivation?
Growing up in Whitehouse, Texas, the stories of Mahomes' athletic feats are endless and not just in football. There were 300-yard drives in golf, middle school high jump victories and testimonials about how he could make a wiffleball bend like no one had ever seen. He just shrugged and found a school (Texas Tech) where he could play quarterback ... and pitch on the baseball team. Sunday will be something new for Mahomes, he's playing in an AFC championship game where his Kansas City Chiefs were, for at least a little while this week, the betting underdog. It’s not without merit, especially since he’s won his last three duels with Mahomes, most notably in last year’s AFC title game.
wftv.comJoe Burrow, Bengals go for 4-0 vs. KC in AFC title rematch
That was the same score for the Bengals’ overtime victory in Kansas City in this game last season. All-Pro Patrick Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 yards passing and 41 TDs, helping the Chiefs reach the AFC championship game for the fifth straight season. Joe Burrow threw for 4,475 yards and 35 TDs and has led the Bengals to a 5-1 record in the playoffs over the past two seasons. With Burrow leading the way, the Bengals had the fifth-ranked passing offense in the league. Punter Tommy Townsend had an All-Pro season with a net of 45.6 yards.
wftv.comDo Bengals have Patrick Mahomes' number? Not really, though they've had some success
In the second half and overtime of the AFC championship game last season he struggled as much as we've ever seen Mahomes struggle. In the first half Mahomes was getting the ball out fast and the few times he didn't, he was able to find something after scrambling around. The Bengals threw a lot of looks at Mahomes, coverage-wise and in the pass rush. Mahomes threw just 27 passes, his second-lowest of the season (he threw 26 in a season-ending blowout of the Las Vegas Raiders). Later in the quarter Mahomes threw to Valdes-Scantling downfield for a 29-yard gain on third-and-10 when the Bengals sent five rushers.
wftv.comNFL playoffs: Mahomes shrugs off pain, plans to play
Even so, neither quarterback is complaining in the lead up to Sunday's NFL conference championship games. The Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC title game Sunday. “The last few days has been an all-day thing,” Mahomes said, “where you’re doing treatment and rehab and watching film. The two winners from the conference championship games will advance to the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona. 1-seeded team in each conference gets a bye into the second round — that's the Chiefs and Eagles — while No.
wftv.com2023 NFL playoffs: AFC, NFC championship game schedule
The winners will earn a trip to the Super Bowl. The Eagles are the only newcomers in place of last year's Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. ET | CBSThe AFC championship will feature a rematch of last year's game that saw the Bengals advance past the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. But they were favored last postseason before the Bengals stunned them in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl in Burrow's second NFL season. Cincinnati was clearly the better team in Sunday's win over Buffalo and should mount a stiff challenge against the Super Bowl favorites.
wftv.comChiefs' Mahomes to practice as usual on sprained ankle
— (AP) — The Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes went through a morning walkthrough Wednesday and intends to practice as usual, raising expectations that the All-Pro quarterback will not be slowed by his sprained right ankle in this weekend's AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes was hurt late in the first quarter of their divisional win over Jacksonville last Saturday, when Jaguars pass rusher Arden Key landed on him. I haven't gotten to go out and practice yet and put myself in those positions,” Mahomes said Wednesday. It's also not as bad as a toe injury that Mahomes had earlier in his career. That's just how it goes.”Reid said he doesn't anticipate holding Mahomes back in practice this week.
wftv.comPatrick Mahomes will practice Wednesday despite ankle injury, Chiefs coach Andy Reid says
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will practice on Wednesday, a good sign for the quarterback's health ahead of the AFC championship game. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that Mahomes will practice and anticipated he'd do everything, but added "we'll see," according to NFL Media's James Palmer. According to ESPN's Adam Teicher, Mahomes went through the Chiefs' walkthrough on Wednesday morning. Reid said during his media conference on Wednesday that Mahomes will practice. There's little doubt Mahomes will play on Sunday, but the question is how affected he will be by the injury.
wftv.comConference title games are most evenly matched in 25 years
It’s been 25 years since both NFL conference championship games were this evenly matched from an oddsmakers standpoint. The previous time both conference championship games featured spreads under 3 points was 1998. 1 seeds are 32-14 in conference championship games, but only 4-3 since the 2017 season when the Eagles became the last No. Home teams are 34-18 in the NFC title game, 36-16 in the AFC. The Niners are making a record 18th appearance in the NFC title game, second in a row and third in four years.
wftv.comHurts, Jefferson, Mahomes among AP NFL MVP finalists
Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson and Patrick Mahomes are finalists for The Associated Press 2022 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving in his third season with the Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons are the finalists for AP Defensive Player of the Year. Purdy, Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III and New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson are the finalists for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen are the finalists for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
wftv.comMahomes the old man among 4 championship game QBs
Patrick Mahomes will be the old man among the starting quarterbacks in the conference title games. The other three scheduled starting QBs on Sunday are 26-year-old Joe Burrow for Cincinnati, 24-year-old Jalen Hurts for Philadelphia and 23-year-old rookie Brock Purdy for San Francisco. Purdy is looking to become the first rookie to make it to the Super Bowl with those four others all losing. REMATCHThe Bengals and Chiefs will meet in the AFC title game for the second straight season, joining rare company for title game rematches. The only coaches with more conference title appearances in the Super Bowl era are Bill Belichick (13) and Landry (12).
wftv.comDivisional Round Recap: Mahomes on one leg, the Eagles are loaded & Dak's performance was unacceptable
Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Football ForecastApple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google PodcastsMatt Harmon and Andy Behrens recap the first 3 games of the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round, but not before having a debate over whether it is still considered the best weekend for football each year. They start off by talking about Patrick Mahomes, who fought his way through a high ankle sprain to lead the Chiefs to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. There’s a bigger challenge waiting for him in the Bengals next week, but maybe he just needed a good night of sleep? The Eagles absolutely overwhelmed the Giants, as many probably expected, but the Giants had a good season and now have some decisions to make about Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Finally, Dalton Del Don takes Andy’s spot to give us a boots on the ground report from the 49ers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys.
wftv.comBengals safety Jessie Bates wants Patrick Mahomes to be healthy for AFC Championship 'so there is no excuses'
If the Cincinnati Bengals are going to make it to the Super Bowl for the second straight season, safety Jessie Bates III wants to leave no question the Bengals are the best team in the AFC. That's why Bates is hoping Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is fully healthy for the AFC Championship game Sunday. If the Bengals are going to make a title run, Bates wants to beat the best of the best. Here's hoping Mahomes feels good enough to do his usual thing Sunday. Bates will get the tough matchup he wants and fans will get to see a tremendous football game.
wftv.comDivisional Round Recap: Bengals and Eagles look dominant, Chiefs and 49ers survive
The Bills look to make another run next year despite QB Josh Allen's cap hit nearly doubling. The Eagles look like they're just getting warmed up, as they have now won 15 of their 16 games with Hurts at quarterback this season. 55:15 - Charles and Frank give their initial thoughts on the upcoming conference championship games this Sunday: 49ers @ Eagles and Bengals @ Chiefs. Under "Designation," click on "Other" and write in "Terez A. Paylor Scholarship." • Donate directly to the PowerMizzou Journalism Alumni Scholarship in memory of Terez Paylor
wftv.comNFL playoffs: Bengals win streak hits 10, 49ers also advance
That sets up the two conference championship games on Jan. 29: The Philadelphia Eagles will host the 49ers before the Chiefs host the Bengals. The Chiefs will be playing in their fifth straight AFC championship game. The relatively drama-free weekend was much different than last week's wild-card round, when no lead was safe. SUNDAY, JAN. 29San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. EST, FoxCincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, 6:30 p.m. EST, CBSWHAT'S THE FORMAT FOR THE PLAYOFFS? 5 during the wild-card weekend.
wftv.comNFL championship Sunday schedule: Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, 49ers play for Super Bowl berth
The San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals both advanced on Sunday to join the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in next week's conference championship round. The Eagles are the only newcomers in place of last year's Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. NFL championship Sunday scheduleNFC championship: No. 3 Cincinnati BengalsSunday, Jan. 29 | 6:30 ET | CBSThe AFC championship will feature a rematch of last year's game that saw the Cincinnati Bengals advance past the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl. But they were favored last postseason before the Bengals stunned them in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl in Burrow's second NFL season.
wftv.comAP source: Chiefs' Mahomes sustained high ankle sprain
X-rays taken during the game came back negative, and Mahomes returned after halftime to lead Kansas City to the 27-20 victory. “The main thing is that he's safe," Reid said, “or as safe as you can be on a football field. Mahomes said after the game Saturday night that his ankle “feels better than I thought it would feel now.”“Obviously, I have a lot of adrenaline going right now. While Mahomes was out, backup Chad Henne also led the Chiefs on a 12-play, 98-yard touchdown drive. “I've got to tell you, 15 is tough as nails, being able to come back in," Chiefs safety Justin Reid said.
wftv.comChiefs' Henne delivers with Mahomes hobbled in playoff win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — (AP) — The experience is evident in the salt that peppers the beard of Chiefs quarterback Chad Henne. “Definitely, nerves are high,” Henne said afterward, “but once you get in the game and get going, it's just like, repetition. On the 12th and final play of the drive, Henne hit the All-Pro tight end one last time for the touchdown. With Henne again watching from the sideline, the All-Pro quarterback led the Chiefs the rest of the way to victory.
wftv.comNFL playoffs: Top-seeded Chiefs, Eagles handle business
Mahomes — with an assist from backup quarterback Chad Henne — helped the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 on Saturday in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The Chiefs and Eagles didn’t have to play during last weekend's wild-card round because the top-seeded team in each conference received a bye to the divisional round. Saturday's relatively drama-free day of football was much different than last weekend's wild-card round, when no lead was safe. SUNDAYCincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 3 p.m. EST, CBS/Paramount+Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. EST, Fox, Fox DeportesWHAT'S THE FORMAT FOR THE PLAYOFFS? The AFC championship game will be played at a neutral site if Bills beat the Bengals on Sunday, under a rule adjustment approved by NFL owners.
wftv.comJaguars rue missed chances in playoff loss to Kansas City
The Jacksonville Jaguars could not have imagined a better situation than the one they faced late in the first half of Saturday's divisional-round playoff game against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. The upstart AFC South champions, who had to rally from a 27-point deficit against the Chargers last week just to make it to Arrowhead Stadium, found themselves within 10-7 in a hostile environment — and with Patrick Mahomes, a contender for league MVP, hobbling up the tunnel to the Kansas City locker room. Then they kept squandering chances to reach the AFC championship game, eventually falling 27-20 on a cold, snowy night at Arrowhead Stadium.
news.yahoo.comChiefs, led by hobbled Mahomes, beat Jags 27-20 in playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Mahomes missed most of the second quarter after his ankle was landed on by a Jacksonville defender. The Jaguars' last-gasp chance ended when Kansas City recovered an onside kick with 24 seconds to go. Long before Mahomes hobbled to the sideline in pain, he was at his creative best, driving the Chiefs downfield on their opening possession. The 37-year-old journeyman, who once started for the Jaguars, led Kansas City on a 12-play, 98-yard touchdown drive.
wftv.comNFL playoffs: Chiefs fend off Jaguars, advance to AFC title game after Patrick Mahomes toughs out ankle injury
The Kansas City Chiefs have advanced to their fifth straight AFC championship after knocking off the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 in the divisional playoffs on Saturday. The Chiefs moved one step closer to another Super Bowl title even after star quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his ankle in the first quarter. He was replaced by backup Chad Henne for a short time, but eventually returned to play in the second half. Mahomes wound up throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the game. If it's the Bills, the AFC title game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which is the neutral site chosen by the NFL due to the Bills' canceled game earlier in the season.
wftv.comBurrow tops Mahomes again, rallies Bengals past Chiefs 27-24
Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, Samaje Perine rushed for a season-high 106 yards and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in their first meeting since the Bengals prevailed in last season’s AFC championship game.
Mahomes helps Chiefs rally past Titans 20-17 in overtime
Patrick Mahomes ran for the tying touchdown and 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, Harrison Butker atoned for two earlier misses by kicking the go-ahead field goal in overtime, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans 20-17.
Bills rally to beat Chiefs 24-20 in playoff rematch
Josh Allen threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead toss to Dawson Knox with 1:04 left in the game, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 on Sunday to exact a small measure of revenge for their epic overtime loss in last year’s playoffs.
Bengals top Chiefs 27-24 in OT to clinch Super Bowl trip
Evan McPherson kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime after Joe Burrow kept his cool while leading a furious second-half comeback to get the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years with a 27-24 victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.