We’ll take a look at the betting odds — via DraftKings Sportsbook — for Championship Sunday of the NFL Playoffs and mix in our analysis.
NFC Championship Game
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles; 3, Fox
Point Spread: Eagles -6
Moneyline: Eagles -285, Commanders +230
Over/Under: 47.5
Every time we think the Commanders might regress, they impress. Washington’s most impressive performance came in its most recent game, stunning the Detroit Lions with a 45-31 win in the NFC Divisional Round. The Commanders were 9.5-point road underdogs. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to excel in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
After taking down the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the road, Washington is now tasked with doing the same vs the NFC’s No. 2 seed in order to reach Super Bowl LIX.
The Eagles can beat teams in so many ways, whether it’s in the passing game with quarterback Jalen Hurts finding wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, on the ground with superstar running back Saquon Barkley (to go with Hurts offering the dual-threat element), or suffocating opposing offenses with an excellent defense. Barkley ran for a remarkable 2,005 yards in the regular season and followed it up with 205 rushing yards in the Eagles’ 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.
The health and effectiveness of Hurts are in question after he suffered a knee injury against the Rams. If Hurts is unable to go or if he’s not his usual self, the Eagles will likely depend on Barkley to carry the load.
These NFC East rivals split the regular-season series, with the Eagles winning 26-18 at home in Week 11 and the Commanders getting a 36-33 home win in Week 16. In the latter matchup, Hurts left the game in the first quarter due to a concussion and was replaced at quarterback by Kenny Pickett.
Including postseason play, Philadelphia is 10-1 at home this season, while Washington is 7-3 on the road.
It makes all the sense that the Eagles are viewed as clear home favorites, but at this point, it’s also hard to pick against the Commanders to keep the game close, at the very least.
The Pick: Commanders +6; Eagles -285
AFC Championship Game
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs; 6:30, CBS
Point Spread: Chiefs -1.5
Moneyline: Chiefs -125, Bills +105
Over/Under: 47.5
For the fourth time over the last five NFL postseasons, the Bills and Chiefs will face off. Kansas City is 3-0 over the first three matchups. Will the Bills finally get past the Chiefs and reach the Super Bowl?
If not now, Buffalo fans will have to wonder when.
Josh Allen could take home the NFL MVP award after another fantastic season for the Bills, and the 6-foot-5, 237-pound dual-threat quarterback is a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Then again, the Chiefs have a three-time Super Bowl MVP in Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. In fact, Mahomes won the last two Super Bowl MVP awards for the back-to-back champions.
Kansas City has felt as vulnerable as ever in the Mahomes era, but they’ve found a way to go 16-2 and host the AFC Championship Game as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Chiefs started the season 9-0 before the Bills put an end to the undefeated hopes with a 30-21 home win over Kansas City in Week 11. That was Kansas City’s only loss until Week 18, when the Chiefs rested starters in a 38-0 road loss to the Denver Broncos.
Buffalo blew out the Broncos 31-7 in the AFC Wild-Card Round and held off the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 in an AFC Divisional Round classic.
However, the Bills’ two wins this postseason came at home. Arrowhead Stadium presents an extremely difficult challenge for road opponents. Including the playoffs, the Chiefs are 9-0 at home this season, while the Bills are 5-4 on the road.
In what’s essentially a coin-flip matchup, the home team gets the slight edge.
The Pick: Chiefs -1.5
