Last Sunday, after much anticipation, the NFL Conference Championship games finally arrived. Both games were set up to be quarterback duels between the young guns and the legends: Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady. 

In the first game of the night, football fans everywhere were lucky to watch two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time duel for potentially their last Super Bowls. While I wish I could say the real story in this game was Tom Brady, leaving the Patriots last year to prove he could get it done with a new team and a different coach, the stout defense really won this game for Tampa. Jason Pierre Paul and Shaquil Barrett combined for five sacks and Tampa twiced stopped the Packers’ offense, the most efficient red zone offense in the league, in the red zone.

In the other game were two of the best young quarterbacks in the game. Drafted only one year apart, both early in the first round, these QBs were selected for their incredible arm talent and strength. Neither were expected to make immediate impacts, but once each was given their chance at the starting spot, they took it and ran (improving their teams tenfold along the way). 

The Chiefs exploded for three touchdowns in the second quarter, grabbing a 21-12 lead at the half. Despite the Bills’ steady stream of scores, they were unable to retake a lead. The Bills had two controversial 4th and goals. “I thought about going for it on both occasions. Maybe if I had to do it over again, I would have went for maybe one of them,” McDermott said, “but the one before the half, I wanted to get points.” By the end of the game, the powerhouse Chiefs offense proved too much, scoring 38 points to the Bills’ mere 24.

On February 7th, the Buccaneers and the Chiefs will play for the Lombardi trophy. It is the first time in Super Bowl history that a team will be playing in their home stadium.