Still playing: Bills, Bucs risen from Super Bowl droughts

In the 1990s, the Bills buffaloed their way to four successive — if not successful — Super Bowls. No other franchise has managed that.

About a decade later, the long-downtrodden Buccaneers swashbuckled to an NFL title.

Ever since, pretty much nothing for those teams. Until now.

Buffalo Bills' Taiwan Jones (25) celebrates with Dion Dawkins (73) after an NFL divisional round football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 17-3. (AP PhotoJohn Munson)

Next weekend, Buffalo, which last got this far in the 1993 season, heads to reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City. And the Chiefs could be missing their dynamic star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who was concussed in a 22-17 victory Sunday over Cleveland.

“It’s a special time to be a Buffalo Bill, ” tackle Dion Dawkins said.

Meanwhile, TB (as in Tampa Bay), led by TB (as in Tom Brady) heads to Green Bay for the NFC championship game. Yes, the same Bucs who made the postseason once, in 2007, after their 2002 league crown, and not since — until Brady and his six Super Bowl rings arrived from New England for this season. Their 30-20 win at New Orleans sent them to Lambeau Field for the NFC championship match.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman, right, hugs Levi Wallace (39) after an NFL divisional round football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 17-3. (AP PhotoJohn Munson)

“It’s great for our team," said Brady, who further establishes how responsible he was for all those titles in New England with each victory in Tampa. “We worked hard to get to this point. Two road playoff wins is pretty sweet.”

Which two teams will be sweetest? The teams that will head to Tampa — yes, that's where the Super Bowl will be staged on Feb. 7, and no team has played in the big game on its home field.

NFC

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is congratulated by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff after an NFL divisional playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. (AP PhotoMatt Ludtke)

Tampa Bay (13-5) at Green Bay (14-3)

Both teams used key plays by their defense to win in the divisional round, and likely will need similar performances to advance. Sure, the Bucs and Pack are lauded for their offense, from their quarterbacks — Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has had perhaps the best season of his illustrious career — to strong runners Leonard Fournette and Aaron Jones, to a bevy of receivers, to solid lines. But holding down All-Pros Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams is a must for Tampa Bay. So is neutralizing Brady hooking up with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate.

“It was huge. I think the defense was the key to the game,” Brady said after the win over the Saints. It needs to be huge once more."

Green Bay Packers' Jamaal Williams celebrates after an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)

As for the conditions at Lambeau Field, well, forecasts call for temperatures in the 20s, which certainly is cold for a team from Florida, but not frigid. And remember where Brady won all those titles.

Oddly, the Packers have not won an NFC championship game at home since the 1996 season. They are four-point favorites in the earliest betting lines. If that seems low, remember who is quarterbacking the opposition.

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones celebrates during the second half of an NFL divisional round football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. The Chiefs won 22-17. (AP PhotoReed Hoffmann)

Buffalo (14-3) at Kansas City (15-2)

So much will depend on Mahomes' condition. While journeyman backup Chad Henne did well enough after Mahomes departed Sunday in the third quarter, even making two big plays to clinch the win, the Chiefs would be severely hampered if Mahomes can't play.

Andy Reid, whose willingness to gamble and always play to win should be lauded regardless of circumstance, has designed a nearly unstoppable attack — when Mahomes is behind center. It's hard to imagine Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and the other threats being, well, as threatening without him.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones celebrates after an NFL divisional round football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. The Chiefs won 22-17. (AP PhotoReed Hoffmann)

Reid maintains there is something else at play in KC. Asked what impressed him most about the Chiefs holding off Cleveland, he replied:

“Probably just the intestinal fortitude of the guys pounding through, not getting down when Pat went down. That’s easier said than done. Somebody asked that just about the quarterback, so just that part of it, having that trust, having earned that respect from the guys I think is big.

“But listen, nobody got down. I mean, there was nobody that was hanging their head or moping throughout the game.”

Nor will they against Buffalo, which has been the AFC's best team the last two months. The Bills are the most balanced of the four remaining contenders, and might have more confidence than anyone.

They lost at home to the Chiefs in a COVID-19 delayed game in October, 26-17. That game was played in wet weather.

The early betting line is Kansas City giving 3 1/2 points. Mahomes' condition, not the field conditions, will determined the odds. And quite possibly who goes to the Super Bowl.

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