Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen definitely are going to do their half. And Saquon Barkley might need his personal chapter within the Commanders’ defensive recreation plan. No one doubts the importance of Jayden Daniels’ position for Washington.
However the matchups inside the matchups are set to find out which groups advance on Championship Sunday to Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
We reviewed the vital issues in every recreation to find out 5 under-the-radar gamers who will decide the result this weekend. The primary within the sequence shifting Thursday-Saturday: Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.
General dependable and counted on for six area targets within the playoffs and not using a miss, Elliott’s 2024 season wasn’t worthy of the Golden Toe award. He related on 77.8 p.c of his kicks. In comparison with the 11 kickers with not less than 15 makes who completed the season with a FG proportion of 90 or higher, some would possibly say Elliott is a priority in a do-or-die recreation.
The Eagles disagree.
Elliott, who turned 30 this week, has by no means missed a area purpose within the playoffs (22 of twenty-two).
The priority stems from two missed additional factors final week in a six-point win over the Rams.
Snow and wind weren’t components, in response to head coach Nick Sirianni.
However there is a easy rationalization, in response to Eagles particular groups coordinator Michael Clay.
“You see No. 26 (Saquon Barkley) again there. He might take it 80 yards within the blink of a watch,” Clay stated.
That is proper, the big-play again for the Eagles with an NFL report six landing runs of 60-plus yards (together with playoffs) units the particular groups into a hearth drill on the sideline when he goes the gap.
Clay stated the adrenaline on the performs towards the Rams — Barkley broke an enormous play within the fourth quarter and quarterback Jalen Hurts sounded the alarm with a 44-yard dash to the tip zone within the first — put Elliott’s regular routine into fast-forward, ending in predictable outcomes.
“I do not suppose Jake actually dwells on it. He is the sort of man that has nearly like a golfer’s mindset,” Clay stated. “You’ll hit a nasty shot right here as a golfer, however how do you bounce again from it?”
Elliott’s final missed additional level previous to the divisional playoff win was Nov. 14 within the first of two regular-season conferences with the Commanders.
Barkley scored touchdowns of 39 and 68 yards within the these two video games.
–Subject Degree Media