Following their upset of the No. 1-seeded Detroit Lions, the No. 6 Washington Commanders are headed to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years.
The Lions (15-3) were favored to win the game by 10 points or more, but lost 45-31, to the Commanders (12-5) who snuck past Tampa Bay the week before, 23-20.
Washington will play at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. CST, on Fox.
In 1992, Washington defeated Detroit, 41-10, in the NFC title game. Back then, the Washington team was known as the Redskins and were led by head coach Joe Gibbs, quarterback Mark Rypien, running back Gerald Riggs, and wide receiver Art Monk.
I remember this NFC Championship very well, because the team that won the AFC Championship that year was my Buffalo Bills who then faced Washington in Super Bowl XXVI. Washington beat the Bills, 37-24. It was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances for the Bills, and the second of four losses.
This will be Philadelphia’s ninth appearance in the AFC Championship game. The last time the Eagles played for the conference title was in 2023, beating San Francisco, 31-7. The Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, losing to Kansas City 38-35.
The Bills will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CST, on CBS.
It will be the third time these two teams have faced each other in the AFC title game. Buffalo beat the Chiefs in January 1994, 30-13, to advance to the Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys.
In their second matchup, in January 2021, Kansas City beat Buffalo, 38-24 and moved on to play Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl.
This will be the seventh consecutive AFC Championship game appearance for the Chiefs. They won four of the previous six. Buffalo is in the AFC Championship game for the first time since losing to the Chiefs in 2021.
I predicted in this column last week that Buffalo would face Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, on Feb. 9, and that the Bills would finally win the Super Bowl. I’m sticking to my prediction. As a life-long Bills fan and having lived more years in my past than I have in my future, I would certainly like to see the Bills win in my lifetime. Many of my friends and family know of my love for the Bills, and after their win this past Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens, I received several text messages of congratulations.
Winning on Sunday was great, but it’s still too early to celebrate. I won’t fully enjoy the results of this season until Buffalo actually wins the Super Bowl. You may have to check in on me on February 9, around 9:30 p.m. to see how I’m holding up.
ORU DIAMOND DINNER
The annual ORU Baseball Diamond Dinner is coming up on Jan. 31 at 6:00pm in the Glenpool Convention Center. This event is a major fundraiser for the ORU baseball program and a great way to kick off the start of the baseball season.
The evening will include a buffet style meal, dozens of silent auction items, and a live auction. The ORU baseball team will be introduced to the audience and several players and coaches will have an opportunity to speak.
To reserve your spot, contact Debbie Gimlin, Director of Executive Operations, at 918-495-7951 or email [email protected].
TULSA BEACON RADIO
Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. The guests this week will be Tulsa Oilers owner Andy Scurto and Dr. Paul Sunseri, author of Gentle Parenting Reimagined. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.