Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen certainly are going to do their part. And Saquon Barkley might have his own chapter in the Commanders’ defensive game plan. Nobody doubts the significance of Jayden Daniels’ role for Washington.
But the matchups within the matchups are set to determine which teams advance on Championship Sunday to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
We reviewed the critical concerns in each game to determine five under-the-radar players who will determine the outcome this weekend. The first in the series moving Thursday-Saturday: Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.
Overall reliable and counted on for six field goals in the playoffs without a miss, Elliott’s 2024 season wasn’t worthy of the Golden Toe award. He connected on 77.8 percent of his kicks. Compared to the 11 kickers with at least 15 makes who finished the season with a FG percentage of 90 or better, some might say Elliott is a concern in a do-or-die game.
The Eagles disagree.
Elliott, who turned 30 this week, has never missed a field goal in the playoffs (22 of 22).
The concern stems from two missed extra points last week in a six-point win over the Rams.
Snow and wind weren’t factors, according to head coach Nick Sirianni.
But there’s a simple explanation, according to Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay.
“You see No. 26 (Saquon Barkley) back there. He could take it 80 yards in the blink of an eye,” Clay said.
That’s right, the big-play back for the Eagles with an NFL record six touchdown runs of 60-plus yards (including playoffs) sets the special teams into a fire drill on the sideline when he goes the distance.
Clay said the adrenaline on the plays against the Rams — Barkley broke a big play in the fourth quarter and quarterback Jalen Hurts sounded the alarm with a 44-yard sprint to the end zone in the first — put Elliott’s normal routine into fast-forward, ending in predictable results.
“I don’t think Jake really dwells on it. He’s the kind of guy that has almost like a golfer’s mindset,” Clay said. “You will hit a bad shot here as a golfer, but how do you bounce back from it?”
Elliott’s last missed extra point prior to the divisional playoff win was Nov. 14 in the first of two regular-season meetings with the Commanders.
Barkley scored touchdowns of 39 and 68 yards in the those two games.
