The Week That Was | National Championship Game Recap | NBA Look-In | Divisional Playoffs Recap & Preview of AFC/NFC Championship Games | Coaching Changes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are back on top of the college football world beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by score of 34-23 to capture a national championship for the first time since 2014. Notre Dame's offense got off to a good start with a 18-play,75-yard touchdown drive resulting in a touchdown run by Quarterback Riley Leonard from Notre Dame to go up by score of 7-0. The drive was time-consuming but it is not how you start but how you finish.

The Buckeyes offense would get going scoring 21 points in the first half to take a 21-7 lead at halftime. Running Back Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State was the catalyst scoring 2 touchdowns on passing and running displaying his versatility as a running back. Then in the second half, the Buckeyes offense continued the onslaught going up 31-7 but the Irish showed their trademark resiliency from the season by scoring 2 touchdowns from Quarterback Riley Leonard to Wide Receiver Jaden Greathouse from 34 yards and 30 yards respectively to cut the lead to 31-23. The key play was in the 4th quarter when on 3rd down and 11 from their own 34 yard line where the Ohio State Buckeyes offense had to convert and Quarterback Will Howard of Ohio State was able to do it in a major way by connecting with Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith for a 56-yard completion that sealed the deal in Irish territory at the 10 yard line resulting in a field goal to make it a 34-23 game and final. So the culmination and coronation of the revenge tour is complete for the Ohio State Buckeyes after losing to arch rival Michigan which makes this magnitude of a championship the sweetest for Ohio State.

In the NBA landscape, the NBA All Star break is around and the Cavaliers and Thunder are still the 2 best teams in respective conferences. Is this truly the end of an era for the Golden State Warriors who is currently as of January 24th a .500 record of 22-22. The Milwaukee Bucks are coming on strong with a 5-game winning streak and a 25-17 record currently in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. The NBA All Star Starters were revealed this week. For the Eastern Conference All Star lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Karl Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Western Conference lineup will be LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic.

The Divisional Playoffs last week was much more compelling than the Wild Card Weekend starting with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Houston Texans by score of 23-14. Tight End Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs turned back the clock with a vintage performance with 7 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown catch. The win resulting in a milestone for Head Coach Andy Reid who now has 300 career wins as a head coach. This game was close in the second half when the score was 13-12 after Running Back Joe Mixon scored from 13 yards but the extra point was missed. But in the fourth quarter the Chiefs was able to pull away with a touchdown pass from Quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce: 20-12.

The upset of Divisional Playoff Weekend was Washington beating Detroit by score of 45-31 in Detroit as Rookie Sensation Quarterback Jayden Daniels continued his dazzling play at the position displaying his poise and going beyond just being a game manager but a playmaking quarterback completing 22-31 for 299 yards and 2 touchdown passes. Most importantly, Daniels is not turning the ball over to the opposite team. The Commanders ran for 182 yards. For the Lions they played sloppy especially on the defensive end of the ball. Quarterback Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions who threw 3 interceptions including a pick 6 by Safety Quan Martin for a 40-yard touchdown interception.

This was a bad loss for Detroit as the top seed in the NFC now this week both coordinators from the Lions was able to take head coaching jobs like Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson who is now the new head coach of the Chicago Bears including Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn who is now the new head coach of the New York Jets. Now the 2 coordinators have to replace these 2 gentlemen. On Sunday the Philadelphia Eagles held on to beat the Los Angeles Rams by score of 28-22. Running Back Saquon Barkley of Philadelphia Eagles had a riveting game with a 26 carry, 205 yard rushing game including a 78 and 62 touchdown runs. Despite the rushing prowess of Barkley, the Rams still had the ball in the 4th quarter with an opportunity to win the ballgame as Quarterback Matthew Stafford of the Rams had the ball facing a 3rd down and 2 from the Eagles 13 yard-line but Jalen Carter made a sack to make it a 4th down and 11 at the Eagles 22 yard line. On 4th down Stafford threw an incomplete pass intended for Wide Receiver Puka Nacua. The Eagles will face the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.

Finally the showdown in Buffalo as the Bills hosted the Baltimore Ravens and won 27-25. Yes Quarterback Lamar Jackson of Baltimore Ravens did turn the ball over twice in the first half. But despite trailing 21-10,Baltimore Ravens was able to come back chip away with a field goal:21-13. Then the Ravens went on a 7-play,80-yard drive resulting in a 5-yard touchdown run by Running Back Derrick Henry: 21-19. Buffalo Bills would add a field goal to make it a 24-19 lead but a turning point would be when Tight End Mark Andrews fumbled in an inopportune time on 2nd down and 11 as Linebacker Terrel Bernard forced and recovered the fumble setting up a field goal by Tyler Bass to make the score:27-19. But Lamar Jackson was able to go the length of the field to complete a 8-play, 88 yard touchdown drive when Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown pass to Tight End Isaiah Likely from 24 yards but a 2-point conversion was necessary but Andrews dropped the ball that kept the game from a tie resulting in a loss for the Ravens.

Now Jackson is now 3-5 in the postseason but he will have another opportunity to win it all next season only time will tell. Now the Overview of The AFC/NFC Championship Game Preview and Predictions. The Commanders/Eagles tilt will be the first the game at 3pm. The Commanders defense will have a great challenge to stop Running Back Saquon Barkley who gained 130 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 3 of his carries against Washington this season. This is the 5th NFC Championship Game between NFC East teams since 1986. The Eagles will make adjustments for Quarterback Jayden Daniels and get pressure on him keep eyes on Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith to wreak havoc on the passing game of Washington.

I will go with The Eagles due to the experience factor of playing in big games and the Commanders are the Cinderella team in the final four and the slippers will not fit so the Eagles win 27-20. Quarterback Jalen Hurts will eventually make big plays in the passing game. The AFC Championship Game between the Chiefs and Bills is the last game at 6:30pm. The Bills are in a hazardous situation losing 7 straight road playoff games. The Chiefs have gone 8 straight games including the playoffs without a turnover. So the Bills defense who is top notch in the takeaway department with 35 in the regular season and postseason will have to get takeaways against Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. The Chiefs Defensive End George Karlaftis could be an X Factor because against the Houston Texans last week, Karlaftis had 3 sacks. The Chiefs will win because of who they are especially when they are attempting to make special history of a 3-peat. The Chiefs win 24-17.

Offensive Player of The Week:

Quarterback Jayden Daniels of Washington Commanders

22-31 299 yards 2 touchdown passes, 0 interceptions against the Detroit Lions

Defensive Player of The Week:

Defensive End George Karlaftis of Kansas City Chiefs

3 sacks,5 tackles against the Houston Texans

Coaching News: Brian Schottenheimer named the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys which is the 10th coach in franchise history.

Pete Carroll named new head coach of Las Vegas Raiders