Expect Elite QB Play on AFC/NFC Championship Sunday

fbpronoy92@gmail.comJuly 5, 20252 Mins read6

Chaotic football is ready to ensue on Championship Sunday.

It’s an NFC East showdown and the latest chapter in the Patrick Mahomes–Josh Allen rivalry.

Let’s study how each of the four starting quarterbacks and their defenses got here.

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts – seeking second Super Bowl appearance in three years
Jayden Daniels – seeking to be the first rookie quarterback to make the Super Bowl
Josh Allen – seeking his first Super Bowl appearance and first MVP
Patrick Mahomes – seeking a three-peat

Jalen Hurts

Hurts against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday:

Converted three passes on seven third-down attempts
Threw against seven or more defenders in coverage 20 times and completed 11 passes
Took what the defense gave him and completed four check-down passes

Jalen Freaking Hurts 44-yd run ladies & gentlemen 😌@jalenhurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/9Hc4tUz3zI

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2025

In this early-game clip, Hurts keeps it himself, making the perfect read on the Pro Bowl rookie Jared Verse. He has the strength to break two tackles en route to the end zone.

It’s a zone counter (each of the offensive linemen blocks a particular area), and both the guard, Landon Dickerson (#69), and tackle Jordan Mailata (#68) pull outside.

Dickerson completely walls off an angle on a defender, and the play is so good that Mailata does not even need to engage with a defender downfield.

Jayden Daniels

Daniels continues to play lights out against the blitz. His 90.3 QBR against the blitz puts him in the top three among quarterbacks in that category.

Daniels against the Detroit Lions’ 16 blitzes on Saturday:

12 completions
191 yards
1 touchdown

Here is a highlight reel of the rookie beating Detroit’s blitz packages:

A handful of Jayden Daniels’ biggest completions against the blitz in the Commanders win vs Detroit

The poise he has cannot be overstated. The Lions continually dared him to execute under pressure, and he did pic.twitter.com/c9HFKZezvg

— Football Digest (@FoootballDigest) January 19, 2025

And when the Commanders’ offense is down to its last down, Daniels has answered the call.

In two playoff games, Daniels has converted four of six fourth-down attempts.

Daniels also can show that when he’s not blitzed, he can complete passes against seven in coverage.

TOUCHDOWN ON 4TH DOWN

Terry McLaurin gives Washington (+3) the lead with under 10 minutes to go in the 4th
pic.twitter.com/Rt3G93vzIB

— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) January 13, 2025

This play is a “box and one” with man coverage on the Commanders’ best weapon, Terry McLaurin, and zone coverage everywhere else.

Daniels zips a perfect pass over two defenders in coverage, Deion Jones (#45) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (#31).

Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes against the Houston Texans on Saturday:

Converted two passes, including one touchdown on seven third-down pass attempts
Blitzed seven times and completed six passes
Three passes that went 20+ yards

The three-time Super Bowl champion’s best play in the Divisional Round:

Patrick Mahomes, while falling, throws a perfect Touchdown pass to Travis Kelce pic.twitter.com/2DAtMAgb6u

— Highlight Vault (@HighlightVault) January 18, 2025

He has amazing arm strength to throw a perfect touchdown pass while being tackled. He also uses his eyes to move Azeez Al-Shaair (#0) away from his intended target.

Josh Allen

Allen against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday:

Of his 16 completions, 12 came out in less than two seconds.
Threw against seven or more defenders in coverage 16 times for 13 completions.
On third down, he converted two of four rushing attempts, including one touchdown; on one fourth-down attempt, he converted it with his legs.