NFL 2025 playoffs: Neil Reynolds’ biggest story as Kansas City Chiefs chase Super Bowl history | NFL news
Just 14 teams remain on the road to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans and the stories are everywhere you look – Sky Sports NFL host Neil Reynolds picks his biggest playoff entry…
It truly is the best time of 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 famous plays in history were made in the playoffs, legacies were built in the playoffs – look at Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes.
This is the time when the stars shine the brightest and when it really counts.
Here are five stories I’ll be keeping an eye out for…
Match winners
This playoff is full of match-winners, players who can single-handedly take over a game in one or two magical moments and either change the script or lead the favored team to victory. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, even Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams on their day.
Certainly those backs can dictate what happens in games. Even Jared Goff has gotten hot at times, although I think it’s more of a collective with the Detroit Lions.
Saquon Barkley can take over plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, as can Derrick Henry for the Baltimore Ravens on the field.
You’ll also see the possibility of Justin Jefferson catching fire, or even TJ Watt leading the Pittsburgh Steelers defense to save a struggling offense.
These are stars who can win games by themselves.
Redemption guards
Every playoff season has stories that capture the imagination and lift the heart. We have three running backs who have completely rebuilt their careers after being waived by at least one team.
Jared Goff, who led the Lions to their 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, it was shedding salary and grabbing draft picks. Goff was outstanding.
Who would have thought that Sam Darnold would lead the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins in his fourth NFL team, and I think Baker Mayfield showed, in his fourth team, why he was the first pick in the NFL draft for the Cleveland Browns in 2018. Mayfield was sensational and sometimes he pushed his team to victory.
If you like an underdog story, a career turnaround story, then you’ll be rooting for Goff, Darnold and Mayfield in the NFC.
Beginners play ready to shine
It’s not all veteran linebackers, there are several rookies here who have been action-packed and fun to watch for most of the season.
Both guards are mirror images of each other, both have maturity, both have lively hands and can hurt defenses with their feet. And more than that, they both gave hope to entire cities.
Washington was a franchise on its knees, and the arrival of Jayden Daniels turned them into a 12-win team. Denver wasn’t supposed to be even close to the playoffs this season, and they have 10 wins under Bo Nix.
These two running backs may not go all the way this time, but they will be in the playoffs for many years to come.
Veteran coaches
When Sean McVay was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams at the age of 31, it started a flurry of young head coaches coming into the NFL, many of whom are doing very well in the league. You can look at DeMeco Ryans in Houston, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, even Dan Campbell in Detroit as someone new to being 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 with the Ravens, Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, Sean Payton with the Broncos before the deadline, and then Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
You have these greybeard coaches who have been on this big stage, and that helps, that’s important at this time of year – it’s not always a young man’s game!
Call history
As we head into the first round of the playoffs, we’ll whittle down the 14 teams to two that will remain in New Orleans on February 9th.
These are the moments that can define a career, where you can write your name in the NFL history books.
Will Kansas City be the first team ever to three-peat? Sometimes they just seem inevitable, I don’t think they will go quietly to the AFC.
Will it be the first Super Bowl win for Buffalo, Detroit or Minnesota? Those teams have passionate fan bases that won’t dare dream until they’re standing under the confetti in the Louisiana Superdome.
The race for the Super Bowl is wide open. The AFC is pretty strong with Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore, but keep an eye on the Los Angeles Chargers as well. In the NFC, I think it’s between Detroit and Philadelphia.
It will be fantastic, there will be games and moments we will talk about for years to come, and a champion will be crowned – I can’t wait! Enjoy the play-offs, we have every game 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 enter the Divisional Round on Saturday January 18 and Sunday January 19, at which point the respective No. 1 seeds will join the action after the bye.
Then comes 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.
It will be the 11th time the Super Bowl has been held in New Orleans, the first since 2013, and the eighth game to be held at Caesars Superdome.
Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
