1. Did Bill Belichick and Bailey Zappe inadvertently crush the Patriots on the way out the door when New England beat Denver on Christmas Eve 2023?

The Washington Commanders secured their first playoff win since the 2005 season after Zane Gonzalez doinked a game-winning field goal off and through the upright to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Sunday night. The Commanders will next head to Detroit to face the top-seeded Lions in the divisional round.

On Sunday night, we will know the two teams that will face off for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans on 9 February. Here Michael McQuaid identifies five things to look out for on a monumental weekend.

Coach Nick Sirianni said Thursday that center Cam Jurgens (back) and tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) would be practicing, but when practice rolled around at the Linc, both players sat out.

Coach Nick Sirianni said Thursday that center Cam Jurgens (back) and tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) would be practicing, but when practice rolled around at the Linc, both players sat out.

Daniels is one more upset away from becoming the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl. He is only the sixth to reach a conference championship game. The previous five are Brock Purdy, Mark Sanchez, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger and Shaun King.

Sixteen years after Joe Flacco helped lead the Ravens to the AFC title game, Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels eyes a Super Bowl berth.

And then there were four. The Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, and Commanders live to fight another day on their journey to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Then Jayden Daniels came along with the Washington Commanders, and he moved the bar up again. Daniels' unbelievable rookie season will continue in the NFC championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been so good, he has opponents calling him the greatest rookie quarterback in NFL history.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, Caleb Williams – who was selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick – was considered to be the can’t-miss quarterback prospect in the class.

Jayden Daniels will join a select group of rookie QBs to start in a conference championship when the Commanders face the Eagles.

The road to Super Bowl LIX takes us to Lincoln Financial Field where the Philadelphia Eagles will host the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game. For one of these NFC East rivals, they'll have their ticket to New Orleans stamped and will head to the Super Bowl as NFC champs,