NFL 2025 playoffs: Neil Reynolds’ biggest storylines as Kansas City Chiefs chase Super Bowl history | NFL News happymamay

There are still only 14 teams on their way to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, and there are stories everywhere you look – Sky Sports NFL host Neil Reynolds picks his biggest playoff trend…

This truly is the most wonderful time of the year in the NFL, the stakes couldn’t be higher – win and you move on, lose and you go home. It’s that simple.

Some of the most iconic plays in history have been made in the playoffs, and legacies have been built in the playoffs — look at Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes.

This is the time when the stars shine their brightest and it really matters.

Here are the five stories I’ll be looking for…

Match winners

This playoff is full of match-winners, players who can take control of the game on their own in one or two magical moments and either flip the script or propel the favored team to victory. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and even Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams in their day.

These quarterbacks can certainly dictate what happens in games. Even Jared Goff gets excited at times, though I think he’s more collegiate with the Detroit Lions.

Saquon Barkley can lead games for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Derrick Henry can lead the Baltimore Ravens on the floor.

You’ll also see the potential for Justin Jefferson to become a red-hot prospect, or even TJ Watt leading the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense to rescue a faltering offense.

These are the stars who can win games on their own.

Quarterback redemption

Each season has stories that capture your imagination and tug at your heartstrings. We have three quarterbacks who have completely rebuilt their careers after at least one team cut them loose.

Jared Goff, who led the Lions to a 15-2 record – let’s face it, the Rams didn’t want him anymore, I’m not sure the Lions really wanted him to begin with, that was a salary dump and a grab for draft picks. Goff was outstanding.

Who would have thought that Sam Darnold would lead the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins on his fourth NFL team, and I think Baker Mayfield showed, on his fourth team, why he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft to the Cleveland Browns in 2018. It was Mayfield. Exciting and at times wanted his team to win.

If you like the underdog story, the tale of career turnarounds, you’ll be rooting for Goff, Darnold and Mayfield in the NFC.

Junior callers are ready to shine

It’s not just the veteran midfielders, there are a couple of rookies here who have been action packed and fun to watch for most of the season.

Both quarterbacks are mirror images of each other, both have maturity, both have dynamic arms and can hurt defenses with their legs. What’s more, they both gave hope to entire cities.

Washington was a franchise on its knees and turned into a 12-win team with the arrival of Jayden Daniels. Denver wasn’t even supposed to be anywhere near the playoffs this season, and they’ve made it to 10 wins under Bo Nix.

The two quarterbacks may not be able to achieve that goal this time, but they will still be in the playoffs for many years to come.

Veteran coaches

When Sean McVay was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams at the age of 31, it started a barrage of young coaches coming into the NFL, and there are many of them doing very well around the league. You can look at DeMeco Ryans in Houston, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, and even Dan Campbell in Detroit as someone new to becoming an NFL head coach.

There are veteran coaches who are tried and tested, especially in the AFC: You have Andy Reid in Kansas City, John Harbaugh of the Ravens, Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers, Sean Payton has the Broncos ahead of schedule, and then Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. .

You’ve got these grey-bearded coaches who have been on this big stage, and that helps, and that’s important at this time of year – it’s not always a young man’s game!

History beckons

As we enter the first round of the playoffs, we will narrow the 14 teams down to two teams remaining in New Orleans on February 9th.

These are the moments that can define careers, where you can write your name in the NFL history books.

Will Kansas City be the first team ever to three-peat? Sometimes it seems inevitable, and I don’t think they will go quietly to the AFC.

Will it be the first Super Bowl win for Buffalo, Detroit or Minnesota? These teams have a passionate fan base that doesn’t want to even dare to dream of standing under those confetti in Louisiana in the Superdome.

It’s a wide-open race to the Super Bowl. The AFC is pretty top-heavy with Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore, but look for the Los Angeles Chargers as well. In the NFC I think it’s between Detroit and Philadelphia.

It’s going to be amazing, there will be plays and moments we’ll talk about for years to come and a champion will be crowned – I can’t wait! Enjoy the qualifiers, we have every match for you live on Sky Sports.

When is the Super Bowl?

Wild Card Weekend will take place from Saturday, January 11 to Monday, January 13 before the playoffs go into the Divisional Round on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, at which point the No. 1 seeds will join the action after a bye.

It will then move on to the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday, January 26, before Super Bowl LIX takes place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.

This will be the 11th time the Super Bowl has been hosted in New Orleans, the first time since 2013, and the eighth game held in the Caesars Superdome.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.