There are just 14 teams left on the road to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, and there are stories everywhere you look. Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds picks his biggest play-off destination…
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year in the NFL, the stakes couldn’t be higher, win and you go, lose and go home. It’s as simple as that.
Some of the most famous plays in history have been made in the playoffs, legacies have been built in the playoffs; look at Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes.
This is when the stars shine brightest and when it really matters.
Here are the five stories I’ll be looking for…
The winners of the game
These playoffs are filled with game-winners, players who can take over a game in one or two magical moments and either flip the script or lead a favorite team to victory.Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, even Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. from and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams on their day.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Josh Allen runs through the Kansas City Chiefs defense for a brilliant 26-yard touchdown on fourth down late in the fourth quarter.
Of course, those quarterbacks can dictate what happens in games. Even Jared Goff gets hot at times, although I think it’s more of a collective with the Detroit Lions.
Saquon Barkley can take over plays for the Philadelphia Eagles like Derrick Henry did on the ground for the Baltimore Ravens.
You’ll also see Justin Jefferson getting red-hot, or even TJ Watt leading the Pittsburgh Steelers defense to save a struggling offense.
These are the stars who can win games on their own.
Marman quarterbacks
Every playoff season has stories that capture the imagination and tug at your heartstrings.We have three quarterbacks who completely rebuilt their careers by giving up at least one team.
Jared Goff, who led the Lions to a 15-2 record; let’s face it the Rams didn’t want him anymore, I’m not sure the Lions really wanted him in the first place, it was a salary drop and a draft pick; Goff has been great.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff trips Sam LaPorta with a fake hook against the Chicago Bears.
Who would have thought Sam Darnold would lead the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins in his fourth NFL team and I think Baker Mayfield showed in his fourth team why he was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns In 2018, Mayfield was sensational and willed his team to victory at times.
If you like an underdog story, a career turnaround story, you’re rooting for Goff, Darnold and Mayfield in the NFC.
New players are ready to shine
It’s not all about the veteran defenders, there are some newcomers here that have been action-packed and fun to watch for most of the season.
Both of these quarterbacks are mirror images of each other, both have maturity, both have lively hands and can hurt defenses with their feet, and both have given hope to entire cities.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Washington Commanders Jaden Daniels throws a Hail Mary to Noah Brown to beat the Chicago Bears.
Washington was a franchise on its knees, and with the arrival of Jaden Daniels, they turned into a 12-win team.
These two quarterbacks may not go all the way this time, but they will be in the playoffs for years to come.
Veteran coaches
When Sean McVay was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, there was a flurry of young head coaches coming into the NFL, and many are doing very well around the league.You can watch DeMeco Ryans in Houston, Kevin O ‘Connelly in Minnesota, even Dan Campbell in Detroit, as a rookie to become an NFL head coach.
There are veteran coaches who are tried and tested, especially in the AFC; you have Andy Reid in Kansas City, John Harbaugh in the Ravens, Sean Payton in the Broncos early, and then Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
You have these gray-bearded coaches who have been on this big stage and that helps, which is important at this time of year; it’s not always a young man’s game.
History is telling
As we move into the first round of the playoffs, we’ll whittle down the 14 teams to two that remain in New Orleans on February 9th.
These are the career-defining moments where you can write your name in the NFL history books.
Will Kansas City be the first team to ever three-peat Sometimes they just look inevitable, I don’t think they’ll go easy on the FFA.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
We look back at the leaders and highlights from the Super Bowl, where the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious.
Will it be the first Super Bowl win for Buffalo, Detroit or Minnesota?Those teams have passionate fans who won’t want to dream until they stand under that Louisiana confetti in the Superdome.
It’s a wide open race to the Super Bowl. The AFC is pretty loaded with Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore. In the NFC, I think it’s between Detroit and Philadelphia.
It’s going to be fantastic, there will be games and moments we’ll talk about for years, and a champion will be crowned. can’t wait enjoy the playoffs we have every game for you live on sky sports.
When is the Super Bowl?
Wild Card Weekend will run from Saturday, January 11 through Monday, January 13 before the playoffs enter the divisional stage on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, at which point the respective #1 seeds will join to the action after their farewell.
Then it’s on to the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday, Jan. 26, before Super Bowl LIX takes place on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
This will be the 11th time the Super Bowl has been played in New Orleans, the first time since 2013, and the eighth game at Caesars Superdome.
Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
