NFL play-offs: San Francisco knock out champions Philadelphia as Buffalo and New England also win

New England won the division for the first time since Tom Brady left the team in 2020, ending Buffalo’s recent dominance of the AFC East.

Current Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is one of the favorites to be this season’s MVP, and after New England led the Chargers 9-3 heading into the final quarter, he found tight end Hunter Henry for the game’s only touchdown.

Buffalo were preseason Super Bowl favorites, but New England’s division title meant the Bills had to go on the road in the playoffs, while Jacksonville won the AFC South after finishing the regular season with an eight-game winning streak.

They maintained a tight relationship in Florida; Buffalo led 10-7 at halftime, then led 13-10 entering the fourth quarter.

The game then devolved into a quarterback tug-of-war with former Jaguars draft pick Trevor Lawrence throwing touchdown passes to Parker Washington and Travis Etienne on either side of Josh Allen’s hit to Dalton Kincaid.

Allen then lunged for his second rushing touchdown, which proved decisive as a Lawrence pass was lobbed into the arms of Buffalo safety Cole Bishop on the first play of a game-winning drive for Jacksonville.

It’s a decisive victory for the Bills, who are aiming to reach their first Super Bowl since 1994, and it may be the 29-year-old Allen’s best chance yet to reach the NFL title game.

Kansas City had eliminated Buffalo from the postseason in four of the last five years, but the Chiefs failed to reach this season’s playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Houston Texans on Monday (01:00 GMT, Tuesday) to complete their Divisional Round roster.