THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

NFL 2024-2025 Conference Title Games Recap

The Divisional Playoffs are in the history books.

The Conference Championship Games are set.

NFC Title Game: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles was the Sunday afternoon game. These teams split the season series. The Commanders are back in the NFC Title Game for the first time in 33 years when they were known s the Redskins. The Eagles were looking to go to their second Super Bowl in 3 years. The Commanders were feeling confident after going on the road and shocking top seeded Detroit last week. Jayden Daniels is a rookie and Dan Quinn in in his first year as Commanders coach. The Commanders after a touchback went on a mind numbing 18 play drive that went 54 yards and took 7 minutes off the clock. On 4th and 3 from the Philadelphia 16, Quinn played it safe. Zane Gonzalez hit the 34 yard field goal for the 3-0 

Commanders lead. Gonzalez hit the ensuing kickoff out of bounds to set up the Eagles at their own 40. One play and 18 seconds later, the Eagles had the lead. Saquon Barkley raced for a 60 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Eagles. The Commanders took over at their own 27. For their own 39, a short completion was fumbled. The Eagles took over at their Washington 48. Jalen Hurts hit Dallas Goedert for 10 and Devonta Smith for 20. Hurts hit AK Brown for 11. Barkley ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 14-3. Eagles.

The Commanders moved from their own 27 to the Philadelphia 28 as the first quarter ended/ The second quarter began with a failed run and a pair of Daniels incompletions. Gonzalez hit from 46 to have the Commanders within 14-6. The Eagles moved from their own 29 to a 3rd and 6 at the Washington 27. Hurts was sacked for a 9 yard loss. Nick Sirianni went for a 54 yard field goal try but Jake Elliott’s kick was no good. The Commanders took over at their own 44. On 3rd and 3 from the Washington 36, Daniels went to Terry McLaurin, who worked his way all the way for the touchdown. Dan Quinn went for 2 unsuccessfully but the Commanders were within 14-12. 

The Eagles soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 37. Hurts did the tush push and got the yard. Barkley ran for 10. With 2:14 left in the half on 4th and 5 from the Washington 45, Nick Sirianni gambled. Hurts went deep to AJ Brown for a 31 yard gain. On 3rd and 13 from the Washington 17, Hurts threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 16 yards and 1st and goal at the one. Again it was a Hurt tush push fo the touchdown. Sirianni went for 2 unsuccessfully but the Eagles led 20-12 with 1:44 left. A close game was broken open when the Commanders fumbled the ensuing kickoff. he eagles recovered at the Washington 24. On 3rd and 10 a completion only gained 4 yards but defensive unnecessary roughness added 10 more. Hurts went to Brown for a 4 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 27-12 with 39 ticks left.

The Commanders managed a third field goal before the half but in the third quarter the Eagles kept coming. A field position game had the Eagles taking over at their own 42. Hurts went to Brown for 16, to Goedert for 7, and to Goedert again for 26. Hurts ran for a 9 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 34-15. After a touchback Daniels hit Brown for 12 and Zac Ertz for 21. On 3rd and 1 from the Philadelphia 10, Daniels ran it in. Dan Quinn again went for 2 and Jones hit Zaccheaus successfully. The Commanders only trailed 34-23 after three quarters. The Commanders got the ball back at their own 20 and moved to a 1st and 10 just shy of midfield. On the last play of the third quarter, the Commanders fumbled and the Eagles recovered just shy of the mid stripe. In the fourth quarter the Eagles carpet-bombed the Commanders into oblivion. 

Hurts went to Brown for 19. Goedert ran for 9 and Barkley added 22 down to the one. Trying to prevent the tush push touchdown, the Commanders kept diving over the pile offsides trying to guess the snap count. After 3 straight penalties, exhausted officials offered to penalize the Commanders in a way that may not even be legal according to the rules. The officials warned that the next time the Commanders jumped offsides from the one inch line, the Eagles would simply be given the touchdown. This is unprecedented and again may not even be allowable within the rules. The issue became moot when Hurts did tush push his way into the end zone for a 41-23 Eagles lead with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. 

After a touchback and forced to go for it on 4th and 11 from their own 40, Daniels was sacked. The Eagles took over at the Washington 31. On 3rd and 4, Hurts threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 17 yard gain. Barkley ran for a 4 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 48-23. The Commanders moved from their own 35 to a 3rd and 10 at the Philadelphia 29. Daniels went deep and was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback. With 5 minutes left in regulation, Nick Sirianni pulled his starters. From his own 20, Shipley did the rest as Barkley watched in excitement. Shipley ran for 16 and then ripped off a 57 yard gain. Shipley ran for a 2 yard touchdown with 3 minutes left to complete the scoring. 

The Eagles win the George Halas Trophy for the second time in 3 years. The Eagles ran for 229 yards on 36 carries, led by Barkley’s 118 yards on 15 carries. One week after winning the turnover battle 5-0, the Commanders lost the turnover battle 4-0. The Commanders had a great season, but the Eagle experience won out on this day. They lost in the Super Bowl to Kansas City 2 years ago on a last second field goal. Now they get a rematch. It took the Eagles 13 years to exact revenge on New England. They can avenge their Kansas City loss in just 24 months. 55-23 Eagles  

AFC Title Game: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs was the Sunday night game. In the 2020 AFC Title Game in Kansas City, the Chiefs overcame a 9-0 deficit and won 38-24. In the 2021 AFC Divisional Playoff Game, the Bills took the lead 36-33 with only 13 seconds remaining. That was enough time for the Chiefs to tie the game in regulation, and score the winning touchdown in overtime. The Bills never saw the ball in overtime, prompting a change to the overtime rules. In the 2023 Divisional Playoffs, the Bills had home field advantage. Yet the Chiefs won 27-24 when Buffalo’s tying field goal attempt was no good. The bottom line is simple. In this so-called rivalry, Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs win while Sean McDermott, Josh Allen and the Bills lose. The Bills routinely beat the Chiefs in the regular season, which means nothing. The Chiefs routine win very close games in controversial fashion. 

The Chiefs took over at their own 10. Mahomes went to Malcolm Hollywood Brown for 11 and 9 and to Xavier Worthy or 10. Mahomes hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 31. Kareem Hunt for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Chiefs. after a touchback the Bills moved to a 4th and 5 at the Kansas City 35. Tyler Bass hit the 53 yard field goal to have the Bills within 7-3. The Chiefs moved from their own 32 to a 2nd and 2 at the Buffalo 23. Mahomes out of the shotgun fumbled the snap and the Bills recovered at their own 28. James Cook ran for 9 and 3 as the first quarter ended. The second quarter began with Allen hitting Cook for 17 with defensive holding adding 5 more. On 3rd and 9 from the Kansas City 37, Allen went to Amari Cooper for 10, to Mack Hollins for 7, and to Shakir for 24. Cook ran for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Bills. 

The Chiefs after a touchback soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 39. Kareem Hunt got stopped for no gain. Walrus Andy Reid took a major gamble knowing that a stop could have the Chiefs down by 2 scores. Mahomes ran for 6. Mahomes went to Worthy for 10 and to Deandre Hopkins for 11. On 3rd and 4 from the Buffalo 27, Mahomes went to Worthy for 5 with a defensive facemark adding 11 more yards. Mahomes went to Worthy for an 11 yard touchdown. Rather than possibly trail 17-10, the Chiefs led 14-10 Chiefs with 4 minutes left in the half. The Bills went 3 and out and took barely more than 30 seconds off the clock. A 41 yard punt return had the Chiefs set up at the Buffalo 34. On 3rd and 5, Mahomes went to worthy for 26. On 3rd and goal at the one, Mahomes got in. The Chiefs were about to put the game away up 21-10 with 1:55 left in the half. 

The Bills took over at their own 27. Runs and short passes had the Bills at the Kansas City 46 with 43 seconds left. Allen went to Coleman for 12. Allen then went to Hollins for a leaping 34 yard touchdown with 23 seconds left. The extra point was good and for a moment the Bills were within 21-17. Yet the Chiefs committed a defensive penalty on the extra point. Sean McDermott took the extra point off the board and tried a 2 point conversion from the one. This was a major mistake that would affect the entire game. Samuel got the carry and got stopped cold for no gain. The Bills trailed 21-16 at the half. In the third quarter the Bills took over at their own 20 and played smash mouth. Cook ran for 5, 33, and 5 more. On 4th and 1 from the Kansas City 33, McDermott gambled. Allen gained 3. Johnson gained 8 and Allen added 13. On 3rd and goal at the one, Allen got stopped. McDermott gambled again. On 4th and goal at the one, Cook got around the right end for the touchdown. The Bills led 22-21, but because of the earlier failed 2 point conversion, McDermott decided to double down and chase points with another 2 point try. Again it failed. 

The Bills got it back at their own 30 and moved to a 4th and 1 at their own 48 to start the fourth quarter. Sean McDermott kept gambling. Allen gained 2, fumbled, and somehow fell on top of the ball to retain possession. With 13 minutes left in regulation, the Bills faced 4th and 1 at the Kansas City 41. The Bills had all the momentum. They were pounding the Chiefs into submission on the ground. McDermott gambled and controversy ensued. Allen ran into the pile and after a great second and third effort appeared to just barely get the first down. Officials ruled Allen was short. McDermott challenged the spot and lost. The Bills howled in protest. Those who believe the games are rigged in favor of the Chiefs had more ammunition. This was a terrible call and of course it greatly affected the game. 

Mahomes ran for 7 and then went deep to Smith-Schuster for 29. Hunt ran for 7 and 6. Mahomes ran for a 10 yard touchdown. Walrus Andy Reid went for 2. Mahoems went to Watson for the conversion. Just like that, the Chiefs led 29-22 with 10 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback Cook ran for 9. Allen went to Cook for 23. On 3rd and 8 from the Kansas City 36, Allen went deep to Hollins for 32. On 4th and goal at the 4 with 6:15 left in the game, mcDermott of course went for it. Allen went to Samuel for the touchdown. This thriller was tied 29-29. 

The Chiefs took over at their own 32 and moved to a 1st and goal at the 10. Mahomes was then sacked and threw incomplete twice. Harrison Butker hit the 35 yard field goal. The Chiefs led by 3, the same margin they won by against Buffalo last year. Yet they did not bleed the clock. A full 3 1/2 minutes remained. Now it was time for Sean McDermott and Josh Allen to silence their critics and for Allen to finally be the hero. They moved after a touchback to a 4th and 5 at their own 47 at the 2 minute warning. Allen under heavy pressure from a Steve Spagnuolo blitz threw a deep ball prayer that could have been caught. Kincaid dropped it. 

The Bills were not dead yet. They had all 3 timeouts on defense. They needed a stop. Mahomes went to Isaiah Pacheco for a 10 yard gain. Everything came down to 3rd and 9 at the Buffalo 35 with 1:35 left and the Bills out of timeouts. Mahomes went to Perine for 17 yards and then took a couple of knees. For the third time in four years, the Chiefs led by Walrus Andy Reid and Mahomes won while the Bills led by Sean McDermott and Allen lost. Yes, the officiating was miserable on that early fourth quarter 4th down call. Allen absolutely had the first down. Yet McDermott made the same mistakes that John Fox made in the 2003 Super Bowl regarding failed unnecessary 2 point conversions. Instead of trailing 32-29, the game should have been tied 31-31. That is on McDermott, not the officials. 

The Chiefs won the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the third straight season. They hav a rematch in the Super Bowl with Philadelphia, who they beat 2 years ago. The Chiefs are the 2 time defending champions. No team has ever won 3 straight super Bowls. Walrus Andy Reid and Mahomes are going for more than a Super Bowl win. They are one win from football immortality. This makes andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 32-29 Chiefs 

Super Bowl XLIX (59) is set. AFC Kansas City Chiefs vs NFC Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, February 9th.

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Top 10 NFC Title Games in NFL History

The NFC Title Game Trophy is named after Papa Bear George Halas. 

Halas was the Founder, owner and coach of the Chicago Bears, originally named the Decatur Staleys. The team has stayed in the family. Halas’s 102-year-old daughter Virginia Halas McCaskey owned the team since her father’s death in 1983.  

The San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 NFC Title Game. 

While the Super Bowl is for the ultimate championship, it is often anti-climactic. The focus is frequently on the entertainment spectacle aspect of it rather than the football game itself. People who do not watch football the entire season attend Super Bowl parties. They obsess over the halftime show and even the commercials. They talk during the game and demand silence during things that have nothing to do with football. The Super Bowl is usually played in a warm weather city or indoor stadium so the celebrities and other wealthy plutocrats who can afford the tickets can be comfortable.

The Conference Title Games are real football. The winner goes to the Super Bowl and the loser suffers the pain of being agonizingly close but yet so far. The game is often played in brutally cold weather that tests the mettle of the coaches, players and fans. The Super Bowl is for casual fans. The Conference Title Games are for Leatherheads. 

For those who love football, here are the Top 10 greatest NFC Title Games.

10.) 2011 — Giants 20, 49ers 17, OT — The Giants were only 9-7, and the 11-4-1 49ers seemed far superior. The 49ers actually outplayed the Giants the entire game, but two fumbled punts killed San Francisco. This would rank higher except the Giants were a very confident bunch from having won it all in 2007. They would go on to win it all again in 2011. Plus, the 49ers pretty much gave the game away. 

9.) 2007 — Giants 23, Packers 20, OT — The Giants were only 10-6. While they did go on the road and beat Tampa Bay and then top-seeded Dallas, Green Bay won their playoff game by 22 points. At home, on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, Brett Favre was expected to get the Packers back to the big game. The Giants out-played the Packers, and a key interception by Favre in overtime turned out to be his final pass in green and gold. That led to the winning field goal. In bitter cold, Lawrence Tynes atoned for two earlier misses by nailing a 47 yarder for the win. The Giants would then shock the world by defeating 18-0 New England in the Super Bowl after Eli Manning threw a miracle pass that David Tyree caught off of his helmet. Coach Tom Coughlin and Manning would lead the Giants four years later to another Super win over the heavily favored Patriots.  

8.) 2012 — 49ers 28, Falcons 24 — The 2010 Falcons had home field advantage throughout the playoffs only to get blasted in the NFC Divisional round by Green Bay. The 2011 49ers on their home field fumbled away the NFC Title Game against the Giants. In 2012, the Falcons went 13-3 for the second time in three years to again have home field advantage. In the 2012 NFC Title Game, the Falcons led 17-0 at halftime. They took their foot off the gas, a problem that would plague Matt Ryan in the playoffs. Down 28-24, Ryan led the Falcons to a 1st and goal at the 9 yard line in the waning moments. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the man nicknamed Matty Ice and his entire team went ice cold. The 2012 49ers and their coach Jim Harbaugh faced off in the Super Bowl against Baltimore, coached by his older brother John Harbaugh. The 49ers fell behind 28-6 seconds into the third quarter, closed to within 34-29, and had a 1st and goal of their own late with a chance to win. This time it was the 49es who were unable to capitalize on four tries from inside the 10 yard line. The Falcons would reach the Super Bowl in 2016 but blow a 28-3 lead and lose to New England 34-28 in overtime. Ryan is still with the Falcons but his team has been a shell of itself since that Super Bowl collapse.  

7.) 2018 — Rams 26, Saints 23, OT  — The 2017 Saints overcame a 17-0 deficit in the Divisional round at the Minnesota Vikings to lead 24-23 with 10 seconds left. From their own 39, the Vikings were hoping to complete on long pass and attempt the winning field goal. Case Keenum then threw what became the “Minneapolis Miracle.” Stefan Diggs caught the ball near the sideline, but the defender missed the tackle. Diggs raced for the touchdown and the 29-24 Vikings victory. So the 2018 Saints were in Super Bowl or bust mode from the beginning of the season. They hosted the NFC Title Game and jumped out to a 13-0 lead over the Los Angeles Rams. This time the roles were reversed as the Saints gave up the big lead. 

With under two minutes left, the game was tied 20-20 but the Saints were deep in Rams territory. Drew Brees threw a pass close to the goal line that fell incomplete due to a blatant defensive pass interference penalty that was not called. Had the penalty been called, the Saints could have either gone for the touchdown from much closer or take the entire clock down and kick the winning field goal. The non-call meant the Saints kicked the field goal with 1:41 left on the clock. Although the Saints had the 23-20 lead, the Rams would have a chance. Jared Goff led the Rams into field goal position and forced overtime. The Saints got the ball first in overtime but was intercepted. Rams coach Sean McVay took a major gamble in overtime by trying a 57 yard field goal. A miss would give the Saints excellent field position. Greg “The Leg” delivered to send the Rams to the Super Bowl. The Rams lost a 13-3 slugfest to New England in the lowest scoring Super Bowl ever. Saint fans refer to the 2018 NFC Title Game as the “NOLA No-call.”

The 2019 Saints went 13-3 for the second consecutive year but became the first 13-3 team in NFL history to not have a first round bye. Green Bay and San Francisco were also 13-3, and they owned the tie-breakers over the Saints. For the second time in three years, the Saints were shocked in the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings. This time the game was in New Orleans rather than Minnesota but the result was the same. The Vikings won in overtime 26-20, marking the second straight year the Saints lost at home in overtime and the third straight year they lost a playoff game on the final play. 

The 2020 Saints went 12-4 and won the NFC South for the fourth straight season. In the regular season, they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice, including humiliating Tom Brady on his home field 38-3. Yet in the 2020 Divisional playoff game in New Orleans, the Saints blew a 20-13 lead under a hail of turnovers and lost 30-20. After four straight playoff losses including three in a row at home, the window closed. Drew Brees and Sean Payton arrived together in 2006 and reached the NFC Title Game that year. They won it all in 2009 but never returned to the Super Bowl. After the 2020 season loss to Tampa, Brees retired. One year later after the 2021 season, Payton retired from the Saints. The 2021 Rams returned to the NFC Title Game for the second time in four years and won it all.   

6.) 2014  — Seahawks 28, Packers 22, OT — The defending champion Seahawks were favored to return to the Super Bowl again but played like garbage for 55 minutes. Russell Wilson threw his fourth interception with five minutes left and the Packers still led 19-7 with three minutes left. The Packers then went conservative on offense and soft on defense. When the Seahawks cut the gap to 19-14, the game still seemed over. Then the Seahawks recovered the onside kick and everything changed. Wilson threw another touchdown pass to put the Seahawks up 22-19 with barely more than 30 seconds to play. That was enough time for Aaron Rodgers to work his own miracle and move the Packers into range for the tying field goal. The Seahawks won the overtime coin toss and never looked back. After 57 awful minutes, Wilson threw his third touchdown pass in the final three minutes and overtime for the stunning comeback.

An emotional Wilson cried after the game, knowing that he needed plenty of luck to avoid being the scapegoat for a home loss. In the 2014 Super Bowl, Wilson’s luck ran out. The Seahawks led the New England Patriots 24-14 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Tom Brady torched Richard Sherman and the vaunted Legion of Boom defense for two touchdown drives. Wilson led the Seahawks to the New England one yard line with less than 30 seconds to play. Rather than hand the ball to Beast Mode running back Marshawn Lynch, Wilson threw a risky pass over the middle into traffic that was intercepted. The Seahawks lost 28-24 in shocking fashion. 

As for their NFC Title Game foe, a solemn Rodgers said that his Packers teammates would take the loss to their graves. Rodgers would also lead the Packers to the NFC Title Game in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Packers lost all four of those games, including the last two on their home field. Wilson and Rodgers are still playing but still only have one Super Bowl win apiece.   

5.) 2013 — Seahawks 23, 49ers 17  — These teams developed a bitter rivalry fomented by 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Both teams had nasty defenses. The 49ers were in the NFC Title Game for the third straight year and were the defending NFC champions. The home team usually won this game, and the Seahawks tended to win easily in front of their 12th man home fans. Yet the 49ers jumped out to a 10-0 lead in this game. The Seahawks took a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter but missed a chance to put the game away when they fumbled the ball at the San Francisco one yard line. Trailing 23-17 late, the 49ers moved into the red zone with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. 

In the 2012 Super Bowl, Colin Kaepernick had four chances to win the game. Despite 1st and goal from inside the Baltimore 10 yard line, Kaepernick threw four incompletions and the 49ers lost 34-31. He tested vaunted Baltimore defenders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and they won. In the 2013 NFC Title Game, Kaepernick again had a chance to be the hero. From the Seattle 18 yard line, Kaepernick made the terrible decision to test Richard Sherman, at the time the best cornerback in the game. Kaepernick had avoided Sherman all game, but with everything on the line went at him. Kaepernick threw to receiver Michael Crabtree, but Sherman made an acrobatic deflection of the pass. Seattle defensive back Malcolm Smith intercepted the ball in the end zone. Again, Kaepernick came up short. After the emotional win, Sherman blasted Crabtree in an epic rant that left the reporter interviewing Sherman confused. Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the first Seahawks Super Bowl win. 

The Seahawks got to the Super Bowl the following year but lost in shocking fashion. The 2014 49ers missed the playoffs due to a hail of injuries to their defense. Their window had closed, and Harbaugh left the team after the 2014 season to coach at his college alma mater Michigan. Without Harbaugh, the 49ers fell apart. Kaepernick suffered multiple injuries in 2015 and 2016 and his play declined. After being benched, Kaepernick antagonized the team and the league by engaging in controversial political activism. Yet his real mistake was opting out of his guaranteed contract after the 2016 season in hopes of getting double the pay. He found no takers, as owners did not want to take on a controversial player with declining skills. He has not played since. Without him but with new coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers quickly rebuilt and reached the  reached the NFC Title Game in 2019, 2021 and 2023. They reached the Super bowl in 2019 and 2023, losing both. The Seahawks have not been back to the NFC Title Game since the 2014 season.      

4.) 1998 — Falcons 30, Vikings 27, OT — The Falcons did go 14-2, but the 15-1 Vikings were one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. Randall Cunningham was raining bombs to Chris Carter and Randy Moss with ease. In this game, the Vikings jumped to a 20-7 lead and led 27-20 with a chance to put the game away late. Gary Anderson had not missed a field goal in two years, but his 40-yard try with two minutes left was no good. While Anderson often gets the blame, this should not be the case. The Vikings still had the lead. The defense melted down with John Randall on the sideline injured. Atlanta tied it, and Dennis Green stunningly had the Vikings take a knee at their own 40 at the end of regulation rather than try a Hail Mary. Minnesota just missed connecting on a bomb in overtime. When Morton Anderson hit the winning field goal, Minnesota became one of the greatest teams to never win it all. Vikings fans still cannot believe they lost this game. 

The day before the 1998 Super Bowl, Falcons cornerback Eugene Robinson was caught with a prostitute. This came hours after he won an NFL man of the year award. The Falcons were easily defeated by the Denver Broncos in the 1998 Super Bowl. Losing coach Dan Reeves had also lost three Super Bowls when he coached the Broncos. John Elway defeated his former coach and retired on top. The Falcons were a one-year wonder, returning to also-ran status in 1999. The 2000 Vikings started 11-2 but lost their last three games to blow home field advantage. They reached the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years, this time on the road. They were still expected to beat the New York Giants but instead were destroyed 41-0. Neither the Falcons or Vikings have ever won the Super Bowl. The Falcons won the NFC Title Game in 2016 while the Vikings lost the NFC Title Game in 2017. 

3.) 2009 — Saints 31, Vikings 28, OT — After decades of losing football, the turnaround for the Saints began in 2006 with the arrivals of coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. In their inaugural season they reached the NFC Title Game but lost at Chicago. In 2007, Brett Favre’s final season with the Green Bay Packers ended in the NFC Title Game. At home, Favre threw the interception that out them the game against the underdog Giants. When the Packers refused to guarantee him the starting job in 2008, Favre demanded a trade. He played one forgettable season with the New York Jets and in 2009 ended up with Green Bay’s archrival, the Minnesota Vikings. The 2009 Saints started 13-0, lost their last three games, and still retained home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The 2009 Vikings started 10-1, stumbled down the stretch, but still finished 12-4. 

In the 2009 NFC Title Game, the Vikings dominated statistically but turned the ball over six times. One Vikings drive ended at the Saints one yard line when a simple handoff from Favre to star running back Adrian Peterson was fumbled away. Despite all the mistakes, Favre led a late touchdown drive to tie the game 28-28. The Vikings got the ball back and had a chance to win in regulation. With seconds on the clock, a field goal try would have been 56 yards. The Vikings ran one more play and it cost them. Favre rolled out and could have run for about five yards, definitely within long field goal range. Instead Favre decided to throw back across his body in the middle of the field where only bad things happen. For the second time in three years, Favre’s last pass in an NFC Title Game was intercepted. The Saints won the overtime coin toss and put the game away. Brees moved the Saints into field goal range, and they won 31-28. The Saints then shocked the favored Colts in the Super Bowl 31-17 for their first and only Super Bowl victory. 

Favre never touched the ball in overtime. Although the NFL overtime sudden death rule had existed since 1974, Favre’s popularity led to a rule change. Starting in 2010, the first team to get the ball could only end the game with a touchdown. A field goal on the opening drive would give the other team a chance with the ball. In 2021, an overtime playoff game won with a touchdown led to a discussion of further possible tweaks to overtime. 

Despite high expectations, the Vikings collapsed in 2010. After a 3-7 start, head coach Brad Childress was fired. Late in the season Favre had his streak of 321 consecutive games played snapped. After the 2010 season, Favre ended his 20 year career. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. The 2010 Saints went 12-4 but did not win their division. This forced them to play a road playoff game against a Seattle Seahawks team that only went 7-9. The Saints lost, leading fans to request the NFL change the rules for home field based on who has the better record. No change was made. A different Vikings team reached the 2017 NFC Title Game, but they lost. Payton and Brees led the Saints to the 2018 NFC Title Game. They also lost. Brees retired after the 2020 season and Payton retired after the 2021 season.       

2.) 1981 — 49ers 28, Cowboys 27 — The Cowboys had significant success in the 1970s, defeating the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 NFC Title Games. The Cowboys won in all in 1971 and 1977, and reached the Super Bowl in 1975 and 1978 before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 1980 Cowboys reached the NFC Title Game but lost to their hated division rival Philadelphia Eagles. For over a decade, the Cowboys had stepped on and over the lowly 49ers. In 1979, the 49ers began a new era with coach Bill Walsh, quarterback Joe Montana, and Walsh’s newly installed West Coast Offense. In the 1980 regular season in Dallas, the Cowboys obliterated the 49ers 59-14. Yet in the 1981 regular season, the 49ers at home blasted the Cowboys 45-14 to signal a possible changing of the guard.

The 1981 NFC Title Game is remembered for its glamorous ending, but it was actually a badly played game. The teams combined for 10 turnovers, six of them by the 49ers. Yet with five minutes left in the game and the Cowboys leading 27-21, Montana led the drive that would eventually make him a legend. With about one minute to play, the 49ers faced 3rd and 3 from the Dallas six yard line. Wlah, nicknamed “The Genius,” was well prepared for this very situation. The play was called “sprint option right.” Walsh even diagrammed how Montana would “hold it, hold it, hold it” until the very last possible moment and then find Dwight Clark in the end zone. With three defenders including Ed “Too Tall” Jones bearing down on him near the sideline, Montana fired high to the back of the end zone. 

Fans thought Montana was throwing the ball away. Out of nowhere, Clark made a leaping catch, came down with both feet down inbounds, and then spiked the ball high in the air. Jones told Montana that he just “beat America’s team.” Montana, now forever the new Joe Cool, replied that Jones and everyone else could “watch the Super Bowl at home with the rest of America.” Yet “the catch” would not even be remembered had the 49ers lost. The Cowboys trailed 28-27 but still had quarterback Danny White, who had led many comebacks after his legendary predecessor Roger Staubach retired two years earlier. One minute was plenty of time. White quickly led the Cowboys to midfield and was one more completion from long field goal range. Yet with 30 seconds left, White was strip-sacked and the 49ers recovered the fumble to lock up the win.

The 1981 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals for their first Super Bowl victory. The 1982 Cowboys reached the NFC Title Game for the third straight year, but lost all three on the road. Their 1982 loss was at the Washington Redskins. The 1983 49ers reached the NFC Title Game but also lost at Washington on a late field goal set up by a controversial defensive pass interference call. The Cowboys dynasty finally began to decline. Tom Landry was the only coach the Cowboys had ever known from 1960 through 1988, but after a 3-13 season he was fired when new owner Jerry Jones brought in Jimmy Johnson. 

The 49ers started a dynasty of their own, winning it all again in 1984 and 1988 with Walsh and Montana leading the way. Walsh retired after the 1988 season, but Montana under new coach George Seifert would win it all again in 1989. In Montana’s final season in San Francisco, he would lead the 49ers to the NFC Title Game but fall short. These teams would meet again in three straight NFC Title Games from 1992 through 1994, with the Cowboy winning it all in 1992 and 1993 and the 49ers winning their fifth Super Bowl in 1994. The 1995 Cowboys won it all for their fifth Super Bowl when the 49ers lost a home stunner in the Divisional round to Green Bay and some raw wild man quarterback named Brett Favre. Despite five Super Bowls apiece, neither team has won the big game in the last 26 years.  The Cowboys and 49ers played plenty of big games over several decades, but the 1981 NFC Title Game with the pass from Montana to Clark is what will last forever on NFL Films. 

1.) 1990 — Giants 15, 49ers 13 — Both teams started 10-0, lost their 11th game, and played one of the greatest games in Monday Night Football history, a tough 7-3 win by the 49ers in San Francisco. The rematch was even more brutal. The Giants were 13-3, but had backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler playing for the injured Phil Simms. The 14-2 49ers had won the last two Super Bowls and were expected to easily three-peat. Instead the Giants knocked Joe Montana out of the game and harassed backup Steve Young. Leonard Marshall blew up Montana with a blindside hit so brutal that Lawrence Taylor remarked, “I thought he killed him.” Giants coach Bill Parcells gambled successfully on a fake punt in the third quarter to keep the Giants within striking distance. This game changed NFL history since the injury to Montana effectively ended his career in San Francisco and led to his being traded to Kansas City. With time running out, the Giants’ defense blasted Roger Craig, forcing a key fumble. Matt Bahr kicked his fifth field goal on the final play to send the 1990 Giants to the Super Bowl, where again as heavy underdogs to Buffalo they won on the final play. These two victories cemented the legacy of Bill Parcells, who retired from the Giants after the Super Bowl only to coach several other teams over the next 20 years. 

The 49ers would win their fifth Super Bowl in 1994 but nothing since. Steve Young finally got the monkey off his back after losing NFC Title Games in 1990, 1992 and 1993. The 49ers lost in the big game in 2012, 2019 and 2023. The Giants fell apart after Parcells left. The Giants reached the Super Bowl again in 2000 but lost. They won it all in 2007 and 2011. Parcells took two teams to the Super Bowl, three teams to the Conference Title Game, and four different teams to the playoffs. He also led a fifth team to the playoffs as team president rather than coach. While the 1986 Giants dominated the league, the 1990 Giants won more than the most brutal Conference Title Game ever played. They also won the best one. 

Top 10 AFC Title Games in NFL History

Top 10 Best AFC Title Games in NFL History

The AFC Title Game is for the Lamar Hunt Trophy. 

Hunt was the Founder of the American Football League (AFL) and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, originally named the Dallas Texans. He coined the term that forever changed the AFL-NFL Championship Game to the Super Bowl. The team has stayed in the family. Hunt’s 56-year-old son Clark Hunt has owned the team since his father’s death in 2006. 

The Buffalo Bills face the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021 AFC Title Game. 

While the Super Bowl is for the ultimate championship, it is often anti-climactic. The focus is frequently on on the entertainment spectacle aspect of it rather than the football game itself. People who do not watch football the entire season attend Super Bowl parties. They obsess over the halftime show and even the commercials. They talk during the game and demand silence during things that have nothing to do with football. The Super Bowl is usually played in a warm weather city or indoor stadium so the celebrities and other wealthy plutocrats who can afford the tickets can be comfortable.

The Conference Title Games are real football. The winner goes to the Super Bowl and the loser suffers the pain of being agonizingly close but yet so far. The game is often played in brutally cold weather that tests the mettle of the coaches, players and fans. The Super Bowl is for casual fans. The Conference Title Games are for Leatherheads. 

For those who love football, here are the Top 10 greatest AFC Title Games.

10.) 1991 — Bills 10, Broncos 7 — This brutal game was scoreless at the half. The only Bills touchdown came off of a leaping third quarter deflection and interception for a touchdown. With two minutes left the Bills kicked a field goal to go up 10-0 and seemingly lock up the win. Yet the Broncos led by Gary Kubiak quickly scored a touchdown and then recovered an onside kick. They were approaching field goal range and even had a chance to win, but a late fumble sealed their fate. This game would rank higher on the list but Broncos quarterback John Elway missed the game due to the flu. The Bills barely survived his backup quarterback. Viewers never saw a playoff game between Elway and Jim Kelly.

9.) 1995 — Steelers 20, Colts 16 — The Steelers lost a 17-13 home shocker to the San Diego Chargers in the 1994 AFC Title Game. In the waning moments, the Chargers stopped the Steelers on fourth and goal from the three yard line. The 1995 Steelers were the preseason favorite. The Colts started 4-7 before rattling off five straight wins to sneak into the playoffs. They went on the road and dispatched the Chargers before stunning the 13-3 Chiefs 10-7. 

Despite being heavy favorites, the Steelers were trailing 16-13 in the fourth quarter when they luckily dodged a would-be interception. After taking a four point lead, the Steelers defense had to avoid a second straight AFC Title Game collapse at home. Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh’s Hail Mary initially appeared to be caught for a miracle touchdown, but officials quickly and properly ruled that the ball hit the ground incomplete. Steelers coach Bill Cowher cried after the game from joy. 

8.) 1987 — Broncos 38, Browns 33 — This was the AFC Title Game rematch from one year earlier. This time, the game was in Denver. John Elway led the Broncos to a big lead, but Bernie Kosar led a furious comeback. Trailing 38-31 with time running out, Kosar led the Browns inside the Denver five yard line. Kosar handed the ball to Ernest Byner, who charged toward the end zone for what appeared to be the tying touchdown. Yet Byner had the ball poked out of his hands by cornerback Jeremiah Castille at the three yard line. Byner was not even hit. The tiny poke was recovered by the Broncos, who took an intentional safety to avoid a blocked punt. The game would forever be known as “The Fumble.” 

Two years later these teams would meet again in the 1989 AFC Title Game. After two dramatic finishes, the third match was an easy Broncos victory. While the Browns still have never reached the Super Bowl, Byner did get some redemption by winning it all with the 1991 Washington Redskins.  

7.) 2015 — Broncos 20, Patriots 18 — Although Peyton Manning and Tom Brady played epic games against each other for well over a decade, this one was their final face-off. The Broncos started the season 6-0 but stumbled mid-season. Manning missed six games due to an injured foot. The defending champion Patriots started 10-0 but lost four of their last six games due to a depleted offensive line. Both teams finished 12-4. The Broncos had home field due to defeating the Patriots in a regular season game with Brock Osweiler replacing the injured Manning. 

The key play in this game was actually a missed extra point by legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri. With the Broncos leading 20-12, Brady led a late rally. With seconds left on fourth and goal, Brady threw a touchdown pass. Yet because of the earlier missed extra point, the Patriots now needed a two point conversion try to tie the game. Brady’s pass was batted up in the air and intercepted. After the game, Manning told Patriots coach Bill Belichick that this was his “last rodeo.” After winning the Super Bowl two weeks later, Manning retired. Brady won several more Super Bowls and finally retired after the 2021 season.

6.) 2011 — Patriots 23, Ravens 20 — These teams played in several big games from 2007 through 2010. The stars of this 2011 game were Brady and Rob Gronkowski on the New England offense and Ray Lewis and Ed Reed on the Baltimore defense. John Harbaugh was one of the few coaches who schemed very well against Bill Belichick. The Ravens were driving late and appeared destined to pull off the road upset win. With seconds left, Joe Flacco went to the end zone and had Lee Evans for the winning touchdown. Yet at the last possible moment, unheralded cornerback Sterling Moore chopped the ball out of Evans’s hands incomplete. Despite the drop, the Ravens needed only a 32 yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. Billy Cundiff missed it. He just choked. 

The following year the Ravens had a new kicker named Justin Tucker, who became one of the all time greats. His kick gave the Ravens a 31-30 win over the Patriots in the 2012 regular season. These teams met again in the 2012 AFC Title Game. The Patriots led 13-7 at the half, but the second half was dominated by Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense for a 28-13 Ravens win. After winning the Super Bowl two weeks later, Lewis retired on top. Tucker in 2021 made an NFL record 66 yard field goal. Brady finally retired while Flacco is now a backup with the Indianapolis Colts.   

5.) 2018 — Patriots 37, Chiefs 31, OT  — This was a battle between the aging star Brady and the newest NFL phenom Patrick Mahomes. Despite the game being in Kansas City, the Patriots jumped to a 24-9 halftime lead. Mahomes brought the Chiefs back into a 28-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Rex Burkhead then ran for a touchdown to give the Patriots the 31-28 lead with only 39 seconds left. That was enough time for Mahomes to move the Chiefs in position for Harrison Butker to tie the game with a 39 yard field goal. The Patriots won the overtime coin toss and never looked back. Burkhead scored again from two yards out to end the game. Mahomes never saw the ball in overtime. 

This was the Patriots eight straight trip to the AFC Title Game, an NFL record. They have not reached the AFC Title Game since. Meanwhile it was the first of seven straight AFC Title Games for the Chiefs. The Chiefs would play all five straight and six out of 7 games at home, also a new NFL record. Two weeks after this 2018 masterpiece, Brady would win his sixth Super Bowl. One year later, the 2019 Chiefs won the AFC Title Game and then their first Super Bowl in 50 years. In 2020, Brady and Mahomes met again but the stakes were even higher. After 20 years, Brady left New England for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes’s Chiefs won the 2020 AFC Title Game and Brady’s Bucs won the NFC Title Game. The Super Bowl was a mismatch. Mahomes played injured while his top two offensive tackles were out from injuries suffered in the AFC Title Game. The Buccaneers won easily for Brady’s seventh Super Bowl. The following year Brady’s Buccaneers were knocked out in the Divisional round while Mahomes is one win away from his third straight Super Bowl appearance. His Chiefs are looking to be the first team ever to win 3 straight Super Bowls.  

4.) 1980 — Raiders 34, Chargers 27 — These old AFL rivals split the 1980 regular season series, with the road team winning both games. The Oakland Raiders went to five straight AFC Title Games from 1973-1977, winning their first Super Bowl in 1976. Yet John Madden retired after the 1978 season and was replaced with Tom Flores. The Raiders missed the playoffs in 1978 and 1979. After the 1979 season, a blockbuster trade between the Raiders and Houston Oilers saw the Raiders send away legend Ken Stabler in exchange for Dan Pastorini, who went to the AFC Title Game in 1978 and 1979 only to fall short. The Chargers were led by Dan Fouts, who ran the high-powered Don “Air” Coryell offense. In the fifth game of the 1980 season, Pastorini suffered a broken leg. Backup quarterback Jim Plunkett, thought by many to be a washed-up castoff, led the Raiders to six straight wins and a playoff birth. Both teams finished 11-5. The Chargers held the tie-breaker. 

In the 1980 AFC Title Game, sunny San Diego saw rain. The Raiders jumped out to a 28-7 second quarter lead. By the third quarter, the Chargers were right back in it down 28-24. Leading 34-27 with 6 1/2 minutes left, Plunkett led a time consuming drive. Fouts never got the ball back. Flores and Plunkett became the first Mexican-American head coach and quarterback to win a Super Bowl. One year later the Chargers reached the AFC Title Game again, but that 1981 game in Cincinnati was played in bitter cold. The Bengals defeated the Chargers easily. The Chargers have never won a Super Bowl. Before the 1982 season, Al Davis moved the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles. The 1983 Raiders led by Flores and Plunkett won it all again for the Raiders third Super Bowl victory in eight years. 

3.) 1986 — Broncos 23, Browns 20, OT — This was the AFC Title Game that haunts the Browns the most. A dominating defense had the Browns leading 20-13 late. A great punt had the Broncos pinned inside their own two yard line. With the Dawg Pound screaming at John Elway, he engineered what would forever be known as “The Drive.” Little by little, he dissected the Cleveland defense. With less than one minute remaining, Elway threw the tying touchdown with less than one minute to play. The Broncos won in overtime on a field goal. Three times the Browns lost to the Broncos in the AFC Title Game, but this one was at home. 

There is no sympathy in football. One week earlier, the Browns hosted a Divisional game against the New York Jets, who started 10-1 and then lost their last five games. The Jets led 20-10 with four minutes left but the Browns found a way to tie the game and win in overtime by the exact same 23-20 score they would lose to Denver. Despite beating the Browns all three times, the Broncos lost all three Super Bowls by wide margins. The Browns have never been to the Super Bowl.

2.) 1975 — Steelers 16, Raiders 10 — This was the fourth year of a bitter five year feud. In the 1972 Wildcard game in Pittsburgh, the Raiders took a 7-6 lead with 1:13 left in regulation only to lose 13-7 due to  the Immaculate Reception. In the 1973 Wildcard rematch in Oakland, the Raiders pounded the Steelers easily 33-14. Yet in 1974 the stakes were raised when the teams met in Oakland for the AFC Title Game. The Raiders led 10-3 after three quarters but the Steelers exploded in the fourth quarter for a 24-13 win. The Steelers went on to win their first Super Bowl. 

The 1975 AFC Title Game was in Pittsburgh, and it was played on a block of ice. Raiders owner Al Davis angrily accused the Steelers of purposely letting the field get brittle. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, a fierce rival of Davis, insisted that both teams had to play on the field. Davis retorted that the Steelers ran the ball up the middle while the Raiders relied on the deep passing game. The field therefore clearly favored the Steelers. After three quarters of brutal football, the Steelers only led 3-0. With seconds left, the Steelers led 16-10. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler launched a bomb to Cliff Branch. Branch caught the ball at the five yard line but got no further as the cock ran out. The Steelers went on to win their second Super Bowl. 

These teams met a third straight year in the 1976 AFC Title Game, this time in Oakland and the Raiders got revenge 24-7 en route to their first Super Bowl victory. The Steelers won two more Super Bowls in 1978 and 1979 while the Raiders won two more Super Bowls in 1980 and 1983. The Steelers also won it all in 2005 and 2008. The Steelers and Raiders feud lasted over a decade, but the 1975 AFC Title Game may have been the height of the hatred.  

1.) 2006 — Colts 38, Patriots 34 — Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were by far the two greatest quarterbacks of their era. They were among two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Most of the time, Brady got the better of Manning. Brady’s New England Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The Patriots knocked out the Colts in the 2003 AFC Title Game and the 2004 Divisional round on the way to winning it all.  Manning led the 2005 Indianapolis Colts to a 14-2 record only to see them shocked at home in the Divisional round by Pittsburgh. 

In 2006, the Colts and Patriots met in a game for the ages. This time the Colts had the home field advantage. Yet when Manning had an interception returned for a touchdown, the Patriots led 21-3 in the second quarter. Manning was used to the quick strike offense, but he began leading a pair of very long drives that kept Brady off the field. The first drive only resulted in a field goal before the half, but the Colts got the ball to start the third quarter. Their second straight long drive got them within 21-13. The Patriots defense was already exhausted. The game was 21-21, 28-28, and 31-31. When Brad gave the Patriots a 34-31 lead, the Colts appeared ready to tie the game again and send it to overtime. Yet the Colts noticed in the second half that the New England defense could not stop the run. Despite Manning being a passer for the ages, the Colts ran the ball down the Patriots throats. Joseph Addai ran it in with one minute left to give the Colts the lead. That was plenty of time for Brady to lead another comeback, but this time Brady was intercepted. The Colts finally vanquished their foe. Manning went on to win his first Super Bowl. 

The Patriots with Brady reached the 2007 Super Bowl after a perfect regular season but lost. The 2009 Colts with Manning reached the Super Bowl and lost. The Patriots reached the 2011 Super Bowl with Brady and lost. Manning joined the Denver Broncos. In 2013 Both Manning and Brady led their teams to the AFC Title Game in Denver. The Broncos won but lost the 2013 Super Bowl. Brady led the Patriots to the 2014 Super Bowl, and this time they won. Brady and Manning again led their teams to the 2015 AFC Title Game, again in Denver. Again the Broncos won. This time they won the 2015 Super Bowl and Manning retired on top. He is now in the Hall of Fame. Brady won two more Super Bowls in New England in 2016 and 2018 and a seventh Super Bowl in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady retired after the 2021 season. Yet this rivalry becomes a one-sided affair without the 2006 shootout, the greatest AFC Title Game in NFL history.

Top 10 NFL Conference Championship Game Upsets Ever 

The triumphant hoisting of the Lombardi Trophy after the Super Bowl will have to wait. First comes the Conference Championship Games.

The AFC Title Game is for the Lamar Hunt Trophy. Hunt was the Founder of the American Football League (AFL) and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs. He coined the term that forever changed the AFL-NFL Championship Game to the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots played in the AFC Title Game eight straight years from 2011-2018. 

The Kansas City Chiefs for the seventh straight year are playing for the right to win the trophy named after their beloved late owner.  For the 6th time in those 7 years they are hosting the game. Hunt’s son Clark now owns the team. In 2018, the Chiefs lost an overtime thriller to New England 37-31. In the last two years the Chiefs defeated the Tennessee Titans 35-24 and the Buffalo Bills 38-24. From 1966-1969, the AFL Championship was what would in 1970 become the AFC Title Game. The Chiefs won the AFL Championship in 1966 over the Bills and in 1969 at the Oakland Raiders. The 1962 team, known as the Dallas Texans, won the AFL Championship. No Super Bowl existed until 1966 and the Texans in 1963 moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs. The Chiefs also reached the AFC Title Game in 1993, losing at the Bills during their run of four straight AFC Title Game victories.  

This season the Chiefs will be hosting the Buffalo Bills, who are playing in the AFC Title Game for the sixth time in franchise history. They won the game for 4 straight yard from 1990-1993 before getting back and falling short to Kansas City in 2020.

 The NFC Title Game Trophy is named after Papa Bear George Halas. The Philadelphia Eagles are in the game for the second time in 3 years. The Eagles reached the NFC Title Game for 4 straight years from 2001-2004, finally winning on their 4th try in 2004. The Eagles reached the NFC Title Game again in 2008. The Washington Commanders last made the NFC Title Game in 1991 when they were known as the Redskins. The Redskins won the NFC Title Game in 1972, 1982, 83, 1987 and 1991. 

Teams fight all year for home field advantage. For the longest time, that did not matter. From 1994 through 2012, a top seed went down in flames short of the Super Bowl every year except 2009. Then for five straight years from 2013 through 2017, both top seeds advanced to the Super Bowl except for 2016. In 2018, all four top seeds made the Conference Title Games. However, both games saw the two seed go on the road and defeat the top seed in overtime. 

The right to go to the Super Bowl has seen shocking upsets over the years. 

Here are the Top 10 Conference Title Game upsets in NFL history. 

10.) 2005 AFC — Steelers 34, Broncos 17 — Pittsburgh was only 11-5, and 13-3 Denver had Jake Plummer leading them and looked ready to win it all. Pittsburgh led 21-3 at halftime and stunned the Mile High crowd. This would rank higher except Pittsburgh shocked 14-2 Indianapolis one week earlier en route to winning the Super Bowl.

9.) 2011 NFC — Giants 20, 49ers 17, OT — The Giants were only 9-7, and the 11-4-1 49ers seemed far superior. The 49ers actually outplayed the Giants the entire game, but two fumbled punts killed San Francisco. This would rank higher except the Giants were a very confident bunch from having won it all in 2007. They would go on to win it all again in 2011.

8.) 1988 NFC — 49ers 28, Bears 3 — The 1984 49ers became the first team to go 15-1 before crushing the Bears 23-0 in the NFC Title Game and then winning the Super Bowl. The 1985 Bears went 15-1 and crushed everyone to win it all. In 1988, the 49ers were a 6-5 struggling team before finishing 10-6. The 1988 Bears finished 12-4. After suffering a stunning home playoff loss to Washington in 1987, the Bears were expected to crush everyone again in 1988. Walter Payton retired after the 1987 season, but this was supposed to be a battle of Chicago force against San Francisco West Coast finesse. The Bears had Iron Mike Ditka and the brutally cold Chicago weather. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana not only shocked the Bears, but humiliated them. The 49ers became a dynasty and won the Super Bowl in 1988 and 1989. The Bears became the dynasty that never was. The Bears have not won the big game since 1985. The cliche of defense winning championships did not exist in 1988 as the offensive team won. 

7.) 2007 NFC — Giants 23, Packers 20, OT — The Giants were only 10-6. While they did go on the road and beat Tampa Bay and then top-seeded Dallas, Green Bay won their playoff game by 22 points. At home, on the frozen tundra of Lambeau field, Brett Favre was expected to get the Packers back to the big game. The Giants out-played the Packers, and a key interception by Favre in overtime turned out to be his final pass in green and gold. That led to the winning field goal as the Giants would then shock the world by defeating 18-0 New England in the Super Bowl.

6.) 2003 NFC — Panthers 14, Eagles 3 — Carolina was a good team, but the Eagles were in their third straight NFC Title Game, their second straight one at home. They had lost the previous two and were expected to finally get over the hump. Instead the Carolina defense belted Donovan McNabb, who played most of the game injured. He was rendered immobile. One year later on their fourth try, the Eagles would finally get to the Super Bowl, a game they would lose.

5.) 1990 NFC — Giants 15, 49ers 13 — Both teams started 10-0, lost their 11th game, and played one of the greatest games in Monday Night Football history, a 7-3 win by the 49ers in San Francisco. The Giants were 13-3, but had backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler playing for the injured Phil Simms. The 49ers had won the last two Super Bowls and were expected to easily three-peat. Instead the Giants knocked Joe Montana out of the game and harassed backup Steve Young. With time running out, the Giants’ defense blasted Roger Craig, forcing a key fumble. Matt Bahr kicked his fifth field goal on the final play to send the Giants to the Super Bowl, where again as heavy underdogs to Buffalo they won on the final play. This game cemented the legacy of Bill Parcells.

4.) 1985 AFC — Patriots 31, Dolphins 14 — The 11-5 Patriots went on the road and thrashed the Jets before shocking the top-seeded 12-4 Raiders. They had no chance against Miami. Dan Marino was expected to get the Dolphins to his second straight Super Bowl. He was in the midst of a four-year passing spree that shattered NFL record books. The Dolphins offense had an off day and the Patriots shocked the football world before getting blasted by Chicago in the Super Bowl.

3.) 1998 NFC — Falcons 30, Vikings 27, OT — The Falcons did go 14-2, but the 15-1 Vikings were one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. Randall Cunningham was raining bombs to Chris Carter and Randy Moss with ease. In this game, the Vikings jumped to a 20-7 lead and led 27-20 with a chance to put the game away late. Gary Anderson had not missed a field goal in two years, but his 40-yarder with two minutes left was no good. The defense melted down with John Randall on the sideline injured. Atlanta tied it, and Dennis Green stunningly had the Vikings take a knee at their own 40 rather than try a Hail Mary. Minnesota just missed connecting on a bomb in overtime. When Morton Anderson hit the winning field goal, Minnesota became perhaps one of the greatest teams to never win it all. Vikings fans still cannot believe they lost this game.

2.) 2002 NFC — Buccaneers 27, Eagles 10 — The Eagles had humiliated the Buccaneers six straight times at home. They had knocked Tampa Bay out of the playoffs in 2000 and 2001, costing Tony Dungy his job. In 2002, Jon Gruden saw his team go into Philadelphia during the regular season and lose 20-10. Andy Reid had to feel good when the Eagles led 7-0 only one minute into the NFC Title Game. The Buccaneers responded and just hit the Eagles in the mouth. Late in the game, Donovan McNabb had the Eagles within striking distance. McNabb was then intercepted by Ronde Barber, who returned it 92 yards for the clinching touchdown. A shell-shocked home crowd saw the final game at Veterans Stadium end in defeat. Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch went to the Hall of Fame, and Ronde Barber may join them in Canton.

1.) 1994 AFC — Chargers 17, Steelers 13 — If ever a team had no business going to a Super Bowl, it was the 1994 Chargers. They started 6-0, went 5-5 down the stretch, and fell behind Miami 21-6 in the Divisional round. San Diego came back and won 22-21 when Miami missed a field goal to win it on the final play. Pittsburgh had a phenomenal defense led by Rod Woodson. San Diego had Stan Humphries, a quarterback with guts who took a beating. The Steelers led 13-3 after three quarters but never put the game away at home. After the Chargers took a four point lead, the Steelers drove to a fourth and goal at the three with little time left. Neil O’Donnell had his pass batted down. Junior Seau and the San Diego defense celebrated their win before getting blasted in the Super Bowl the following week. In a bizarre, tragic and unexplainable phenomenon, the 1994 Chargers have had eight different players from that team die prematurely all under different circumstances.

Top 10 NFL Divisional Playoff Upsets Ever

LOS ANGELES, January 24, 2025 — Unlike professional basketball, hockey, and baseball, the NFL playoffs are one and done. Every year, stunning upsets take place. The conference title games usually feature great teams, and the wildcard round exempts the top teams. For this reason, the Divisionals is where to expect crazy results. The Divisional round is when many of these upsets occur. 

The 2019 Tennessee Titans barely made the playoffs at 9-7. One week after going on the road and shocking the 12-4 New England Patriots in the Wildcard, the Titans went on the road again and stunned the 14-2 Ravens in the Divisional round 28-12. In future years, this could make the list of the Top 10 NFL Divisionals upsets. 

Other worthy contenders just missed the cut for different reasons. 

The 2010 Seahawks at 7-9 were the only losing team at the time to ever win their division. Although they shocked the 12-4 defending champion Saints, this missed the list since the Seahawks were at home.

The 2011 Giants were only 9-7 when they shocked the 15-1 defending champion Packers. This missed the list because the Giants were a very confident bunch who defeated the Packers during their 2007 title run.

The 1983 Seahawks were only 9-7 when they stunned the 12-4 Miami Dolphins. This missed the list because it was Dan Marino’s rookie season. Experience won out.

The 1984 Steelers were also only 9-7 when they shocked the 13-3 Denver Broncos. This was also an experience issue as John Elway was playing his first home playoff game ever. 

The 2014 Colts at 11-5 did shock the 12-4 Broncos and fans everywhere who were cheated out of an AFC Title Game between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The only reason this game missed the list is because Manning played injured.

The 2024 12-5 Commanders went on the road and took down the 15-2 Detroit Lions. Yet this missed the list because the Lions were devastated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball.

With that, here are the top ten Divisional upsets in NFL history.

10.) 1985—Patriots 27, Raiders 20—The 12-4 Raiders were every bit as good as their Super Bowl team from two years earlier. The 11-5 Patriots benefitted from Los Angeles kick returner Sammy Seale booting a kick return into the winning New England touchdown. This would rank higher except Jim Plunkett was out injured and backup Marc Wilson was playing injured. Also, New England went on the road a week earlier and beat the Jets and went on the road again a week later and shocked the Dolphins in the AFC Title Game.

9.) 1993—Chiefs 28, Oilers 20—The 12-4 Oilers were the most dysfunctional team in NFL history, with Buddy Ryan throwing a punch at Kevin Gilbride. However, they had won 11 straight games. The 11-5 Chiefs were good, but the Oilers led after three quarters and collapsed. This would rank higher except Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana was a king of fourth quarter comebacks in the biggest games. 

8.) 2007—Giants 21, Cowboys 17—The 13-3 Cowboys had beaten the 9-7 Giants twice in the regular season, but in Dallas the Giants won when Tony Romo was intercepted in the end zone on the final play. This would rank higher except the Giants went on to shock the world by beating Brett Favre and the Packers and then Tom Brady and the Patriots. Also, it would be eight more years until Romo finally won a playoff game.

7.) 2010—Jets 28, Patriots 21—Several weeks earlier the 14-2 Patriots carpet-bombed the 11-5 Jets by a score of 45-3 in front of a nighttime national audience. The Jets dominated this playoff game that was not as close as the score. Rex Ryan got revenge over the hated Bill Bellichick-Tom Brady tandem. As one Patriots player said on the sideline, “They talked it. They walked it.”

6.) 1982—Jets 17, Raiders 14—The strike shortened season saw the 6-3 Jets go on the road and blast the Bengals. Yet the 8-1 Raiders, who would win it all one year later, were heavy favorites. The New York Sack Exchange dominated the line of scrimmage and forced several turnovers. The Raiders had two chances in the final minutes, when Jim Plunkett was intercepted twice by Lance Mel.

5.) 2007—Chargers 28, Colts 24—The 11-5 Chargers had no business beating the 14-2 Colts, but for some reason Peyton Manning and the Colts always had bad games against the Chargers, who could not beat anybody else. Philip Rivers was out, and backup Billy Volek led the win. The 2006 season saw the Colts beat the Patriots in the greatest AFC Title Game ever played. Had the Colts won this game against the Chargers, they would have had a rematch with the 16-0 Patriots in the greatest AFC Title Game to never be played. Manning and Brady would play in a couple more AFC Title Games, but none as historic as this one would have been. 

4.) 2008—Cardinals 33, Panthers 13—The 9-7 Cardinals did have Kurt Warner, but they went 2-4 to close the regular season. Despite stunning the 11-5 Falcons in the Wildcard, they were expected to lose big to 12-4 Carolina. That Panthers team with Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith looked like a Super Bowl team. Despite leading at halftime, the Panthers collapsed in the second half as Warner and Larry Fitzgerald were the ones putting the yards and points on the board. Delhomme was never the same after this game.

3.) 1987—Vikings 36, 49ers 24—This was Joe Montana’s one awful playoff meltdown. One year after San Francisco was belted 49-3 by the Giants, this time the 13-2 49ers were heavy favorites to beat the 8-7 Vikings. Although Minnesota upset the 12-3 Saints one week earlier, that was dismissed because neither New Orleans nor Jim Mora at that time had ever won a playoff game. In this game Montana threw four interceptions and was benched by Bill Walsh for Steve Young. The 49ers would rebound to win the Super Bowl the next two years.

2.) 1996—Jaguars 30, Broncos 27—The Jaguars were 4-7 before winning five straight. They needed a 30-yard missed field goal on the final play of the final regular season game by ace Morton Anderson to make the playoffs at 9-7. Even when they went and beat Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills 30-27, nobody gave them a chance against a 13-3 Broncos team that was expected to finally get John Elway his ring. Denver jumped to a 12-0 lead and then fell asleep as the Jaguars scored 23 unanswered points to lead 23-12 and then 30-20. Elway said it was the one time he cried after a game. The next year Elway would finally hoist the trophy, blasting Jacksonville along the way. The year after that, Denver won it all again and Elway retired on top.

1.) 1995—Colts 10, Chiefs 7—The 9-7 Colts were 4-7 before running the table and dispatching San Diego in the Wildcard. They had a tough quarterback in Jim Harbaugh, but were expected to be throttled by a 13-3 Chiefs team. Yes, Marty Schottenheimer suffered playoff losses, but this was one the Chiefs simply gave away. Steve Bono threw three interceptions in the second half and was replaced by Rich Gannon. Lin Elliot would miss three field goals, including the game-tying attempt late. A great quote for the ages came when announcer Paul Maguire said, “I hate kickers. They should be paid $50 a game.” He also said, “Well it doesn’t matter because Lin Elliot’s not going to be a Chief next year.” Elliot never kicked in the NFL again and Bono was gone from the team two years later.

The Divisional Playoffs are in the history books.

The Conference Championship Games are set. Both games are on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

NFC Title Game: (6) Washington Commanders at (2) Philadelphia Eagles (-5 1/2) at 3pm on FOX. The Eagles survived against the Rams in a blizzard to host the NFC Title Game for the second time in 3 years. The Commanders have thrived under first year head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. After going into Tampa Bay and winning the Wildcard game on the final play, the Commanders went into Detroit and shocked the top seed. Yet Tampa is warm weather and Detroit plays indoors. I the brutal Philadelphia cold, the advantage goes to the home team. These teams split the regular season series, both winning at home. The Commanders are in the NFC Title Game for the first time in 33 years when the 1991 team was known as the Redskins. Jalen Hurts is playing hurt, but Saquon Barkley is running wild. Barkley gashed the Rams for over 200 yards last week in the snow. Washington has shrugged off a lack of playoff experience, beating two more experienced teams. Yet the Eagles are a tougher test, especially in Philadelphia. This is the week that the fairy tale comes to an end. Cold weather means running the football, and the home crowd does matter in this game. The Eagles win close games rather than blowing teams out. Yet that will be enough to hold up the George Halas Trophy. Eagles win but fail to cover

AFC Title Game: (2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs (-2) at 6:30pm on CBS. The Chiefs are in the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year, and are hosting the AFC Title Game for the 6th time in those 7 years. The Chiefs are seeking football immortality. No team has ever won 3 straight Super Bowls. Walrus Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have been to 4 Super Bowls together, winning 3 including the last 2.  The Bills have never won the Super Bowl. The Bills have beaten the Chiefs in the regular season the past couple of years, but have had less success in the playoffs. The Bills are the only team to beat the Chiefs this year not counting a regular season finale where the Chiefs rested their starters. Josh Allen plays well in the regular season but the Bills have lost home playoff games the last two years to Cincinnati and Kansas City, respectively. The Chiefs have the top defense in the NFL. The Chiefs win ugly, but they win. The Bills barely survived a home thriller last week against a very good Baltimore team. Both teams are relatively healthy. While cold weather will not intimidate Buffalo, Arrowhead is a tough place to play. The Chiefs are very beatable, but they just find ways to win. They will again hold the Lamar Hunt Trophy named after their late owner and founder. Chiefs cover

NFL 2024-2025 Divisionals Recap

The NFL 2024-2025 Wildcards are in the books. This weekend brings the Divisionals round. 

AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs is the Saturday afternoon game. The 10-7 Texans did win a playoff game, but the 15-2 Chiefs lost their regular season finale because they played backups. The Chiefs offense isn’t as high octane as in years past but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has the top defense in the NFL. A few years ago the Texans took a 24-0 first quarter lead at Kansas City. By halftime the Chiefs led 28-24 en route to a 51-31 win. With Walrus Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they are always a threat. The Chiefs are seeking to reach the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year, with 6 of those 7 games being at home in Arrowhead. Another playoff game between these teams saw the Chiefs go into Houston, return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and throttle the Texans 30-0. In this game the Chiefs nearly did it again, returning the opening kickoff 63 yards, fumbling the ball, and retaining possession to start the game at the Houston 13. The Texans defense stiffened. Harrison Butker hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Chiefs. Kaimi Fairbairn answered from 30 and Butker hit again from 36 to make it 6-3 Chiefs. 

In  the second quarter Fairbairn missed a 55 yard field goal try to give the Chiefs good field position at their own 45. Mahomes went to Kelce for a 49 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Karim Hunt got in for the touchdown to make it 13-3 Chiefs. The Texans managed a 48 yard field Fairbairn goal with 16 seconds left in the half to get within 13-6. The Texans began the third quarter at their own 18 and went on a mind-numbing drive. 14 plays and 82 yards took a whopping 10 1/2 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 3 from their 25, Joe Mixon gained 8. On 3rd and 5 from midfield, CJ Stroud hit Dalton Schultz for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Kansas City 36, Stroud went to Collins for 12. On 3rd and 5 from the Kansas City 19, Stroud ran for 6. Mixon ran for a 13 yard touchdown. The Texans had all the momentum. Then Fairbairn doinked the extra point off the right upright no good. Instead of being tied, the Texans trailed 13-12. 

The Chiefs after a pair of offensive penalties faced 1st and 19 at their own 10. On 3rd and 6, Mahomes went to Kelce for 12. Defensive unnecessary roughness added 15. The fourth quarter began with the Chiefs facing 4th and 1 at the Houston 37. Everyone knew Walrus Andy Reid was not going to punt or try a 55 yard field goal in that situation. He went for it and Hunt gained 3 yards. Hunt then gained 8 more. Mahomes went to Kelce for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 11, the Texans had Mahoems dead to right. As he was being sacked and falling to the ground, he threw the ball just before his knees hit the ground. Kelce caught the 11 yard touchdown to have the Chiefs up 20-12 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The Texans moved from their own 34 to a 1st and 10 at the Houston 40. Stroud threw incomplete three times. On 4th and 10 with 10 minutes left in the game, DeMeco Ryans did not want to punt or try a 58 yard field goal. He went for it and Stroud was sacked for a 16 yard loss. 

Midway through the fourth quarter the Chiefs took over at their own 45 and moved to a  4th and 1 at the Houston 9. At this time Walrus Andy Reid understood that a field goal would make it a two score game. Butker hit from 27 to have the Chiefs up 23-12 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Needing 2 scores after a touchback, the Texans rushed to a 2nd and 2 at the Kansas City 5 yard line just before the 2 minute warning. Stroud was sacked on consecutive plays. On 4th and 14 and needing 2 scores, Fairbairn came in for the 35 yard chip shot field goal with 1:52 left. Fairbairn’s night of misery continued as his kick was blocked. The Chiefs punter took an intentional safety with 11 seconds left to prevent a blocked punt. Again, the Texans were good enough to make the playoffs and even win a playoff game but not good enough to compete with the elite. The Chiefs do not look that special on paper but games are not played on paper. On the field, the Chiefs keep winnings. They are in the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year and hosting the AFC Title Game for the 6th time in 7 years. This makes Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 23-14 Chiefs

NFC: (6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions is the Saturday night game. The Commanders are a very good football team. Jayden Daniels has been leading them to victories in Cardiac fashion. Yet the Detroit Lions are a wrecking ball. Yes, their defense is injury-riddled. At home in their dome, their pinball wizard offense can outscore anyone. Dan Campbell and Dan Quinn both take 4th down risks. Jared Goff and his many offensive weapons on the Lions are well rested from their bye week. The last time the Lions were in the NFC Title Game was in 1991. They got blasted by the Redskins, but that game was in Washington. 24 years later, the Divisional game is in Detroit. The Lions are the top seed for the first time ever. The Lions are one game from hosting the NFC Title Game for the first time ever. The Lions got a major break when Zane Gonzalez hit the opening kickoff out of bounds. The Lions took over at their own 40 and quickly went 3 and out. Their running bak got belted in the backfield and a 3rd and 15 pass from Jared Goff was dropped. The Commanders moved easily from their own 20 to a 4th and 1 at the Detroit 28. Dan Quinn decided to go for it. He brought in Marcus Mriota for one play to replace Jayden Daniels. Mariota got rocked for a one yard loss.

From their own 29, this time the Lions made it look easy. Goff hit Williams for 19. Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off big gains of 15, 23 and 9. Gibbs ran for the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Lions. After a touchback the Commanders moved to a 1st and 10 at the Detroit 29. Daniels threw incomplete three times. Gonzalez hit a 47 yard field goal to get the Commanders within 7-3. The Lions again quickly and easily moved from their own 27 to a 3rd and 1 at the Washington 17. The Lions had all the momentum but then Goff was sacked and fumbled. The Commanders took over at their own 22. Robinson gained 15 and 5. Daniels went deep to Brown for a 42 yard gain. On 4th and 3 from the Detroit 9, Dan Quinn passed up a chip shot 27 yard field goal try and went for it all. Daniels went to Zac Ertz for 7. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Daniels threw incomplete but defensive pass interference in the end zone meant 1st and goal at the one. Robinson ran for a 2 yard touchdown to hav the Commanders up 10-7 in the second quarter.

The Lions after a touchback soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 37. Goff went deep to Amra St Brown for 34. Gibbs gained 12. Goff went to Raymond for 15. Then on 1st and goal at the 2 came spectacular acrobatics. Goff was about to be sacked. As he was going to the ground he fired a pass just before his knees went down. The pass was slightly off the mark but Sam Laporta made a leaping one handed catch and pulled the ball into his body for the touchdown. The Lions led 14-10 midway through the second quarter. Yet one minute after a touchback the Commanders had the lead again. From his own 42, Daniels went to McLaurin at the sideline. He broke a tackle and gave a stiff-armed to an overmatched defender for a 58 yard touchdown and a 17-14 Commanders advantage. The Lions soon faced 2nd and 14 at their own 18. Goff went deep and was intercepted. Martin returned the interception 40 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Commanders were on the road beating up the heavily favored home team 24-14.

Making matters worse, Goff got poked in the eye on the play and had to come out. Teddy Bridgwater came out of retirement to be his backup. Dan Campbell does not take his foot off the gas. The Lions took over at their own 27. From his own 39 with a backup quarterback, Quinn called a trick play. A double lateral was taken by Gibbs all the way to the sideline and then back to the middle of the field. With a convoy of blockers, Gibbs coasted for a 61 yard touchdown. The Lions were right back in it down 24-21 with 4 minutes left tin the half. After a touchback Austin Ekeler ran for 8 and Daniels added 15 more. Daniels went deep to Brown for a 38 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 7 at the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Daniels hit Ertz for the touchdown to make it 31-21 Commanders. After a touchback the Lions had 1:46 to work with. The Lions quickly moved to a 1st and 10 at the Washington 29 with 35 seconds left. Goff went for it all but the ball was under thrown and intercepted in the end zone. Three first half turnovers by Goff had the Lions down by 10 at the half. The Commanders put up 28 points on 4 touchdowns in the second quarter. The teams combined for over 600 yards of offense in the first half alone. The Lions had 161 yards rushing in the first half while Daniels had 242 passing yards in the ridiculous pinball first half. 

The Lions took over at their own 9 in the third quarter. David Montgomery ran for 11 and 8 with a defensive facemark adding 15. On 3rd and 10 from their own 43, Goff hit St Brown for 19. Montgomery threw a halfback option pass to St Brown for 20. Gibbs ran for an 8 yard touchdown to get the Lions right back in it down 31-28. After a touchback, the Commanders kept coming. Daniels ran for 14. Robinson ran for 6, 3, and on 3rd and 1 from the 25, one yard. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 16, Dan Quinn gambled. Daniels gained 3. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 5 at the start of the fourth quarter, Quinn gambled again. The Detroit defense suffered a killer penalty for having 12 men on the field. Robinson ran for a one yard touchdown to have the Commanders up 38-28. The Lions moved from their own 18 to their 46. Ben Johnson had called several successful trick plays, but the next one backfired. A halfback option pass by Williams was intercepted. The Commanders took over at their own 34. Ekeler immediately ripped off a 35 yard gain. On 4th and 2 from the Detroit 13, Quinn gambled yet again. Daniels hit McLaurin for 12 down to the one. McNichols got the yard to have the Commanders up big 45-28 midway through the fourth quarter. 

Needing 3 scores after a touchback, the Lions moved to a 4th and 8 at the Washington 19 with 5 minutes left. As much as Dan Campbell wanted to go for it, the Lions needed any points fast. Bates hit the 28 yard field goal to get the Lions within 14. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds to set up the Commanders at their own 40. They moved to a 4th nnd 1 at the Detroit 26. This time Dan quinn played it safe, knowing a field goal would ice the game. Yet Gonzelez from 44 was no good. The Lions had life. The Lions moved from their own 34 to a 3rd and 10 at the Washington 17 with 32 seconds left. They needed a touchdown, an onside kick, and a Hail Mary touchdown. They got none of it as Goff went to the end zone and was intercepted again. The franchise best 15-2 Lions went down in flames at home. The Curse of Bobby Layne will not be broken this year. They may lose offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs. Speaking of defense, the Lions for several weeks tried to hold together their injury riddled defense. Sadly, the roof finally caved in. The offense turned the ball over 5 times, including 4 turnovers by Goff, 3 interceptions and a fumble. Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC Title Game as a rookie. For the Commanders, they are in the NFC Title Game for the first time in 33 years. For the Lions, there is only more heartache. 45-31 Commanders

NFC: (4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles was the Sunday afternoon game.  The 10-7 Rams won the NFC West and then knocked off 14-3 Minnesota in the Wildcard. Now they were at the 14-3 Eagles, who won the NFC East. In the regular season the Eagles went into Los Angeles and throttled the Rams 37-20. Saquon Barkley is running wild and gives the Eagles the advantage. As much of an offensive wizard as Sean McVay is, the Eagles have Barkley and the home field should. The Eagles with a win get back to the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years. The Eagles took over at their own 26 and went right to work. Jalen Hurts hit Dallas Goedert for 14. On 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Saquon Barkley got the tough yard up the gut. Hurts then split the defense and raced for a 44 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 6-0 only 3 minutes into the game. The extra point was no good. 

The Rams soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 36. Matthew Stafford went to Tyler Higbee for 9. Karen Williams ran for 20. Stafford hit Puka Nacua for 16. On 4th and 1 from the Philadelphia 10, Sean McVay went for it. Williams gained 4. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Stafford went to Higbee for the touchdown to make it 7-6 Rams. Yet light snow that started before the opening kickoff was now turning into heavy snow. The eagles took over at their own 17 and gained 15 yards due to defensive unnecessary roughness. On 3rd and 4 from their own 38, Barkley broke free and raced for a 62 yard touchdown to make it 13-7 Eagles after the first quarter. After a touchback the Rams in the second quarter moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Philadelphia 11. Williams got the carry and lost a yard. Sean McVay decided this time no to gamble. Joshua Karty hit the 30 yard field goal to get the Rams within 13-10. A strong kickoff return had the Eagles at their own 43. They moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Rams 30. Jalen Hurts was sacked to push the Eagles out of field goal range. The Eagles got it back at their own 9 and moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Rams 32 with 30 seconds left in the half. Again, Hurts was sacked to kill the drive. 

The Rams in the third quarter moved from their own 26 to a 1st and goal at the 8. A fumbled handoff exchange led to a 6 yard loss. On 3rd and goal from the 13, Stafford was sacked. Karty hit from 34 for a 13-13 game midway through the third quarter. The Eagles after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 22. a 19 yard completion from Hurts to Goedert was wiped out by a penalty for an ineligible man downfield. Hurts was then sacked. Elliott hit a 44 yard field goal to have the Eagles leading 16-13 late in the third quarter. Just before the third quarter ended, a great Rams punt pinned the Eagles at their own 4 yard line. From his own 8, Hurts went back to pass and was sacked in his own end zone for a safety. The Rams were within 16-15 after three quarters. The Rams took the free kick at their own 35. From their own 43, disaster struck when Williams fumbled and Rodgers returned it 40 yards to the Rams 10. On 4th and goal at the one, Nick Sirianni went for it. Everyone knew the tush push was coming. Hurts crossed the goal line but a false start killed the drive. Elliott hit the 23 yard field goal to have the Eagles up 19-15 only 90 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Rams got it back at their own 29. On 3rd and 10 from their own 45, Stafford was sacked and fumbled. The Eagles recovered at the Rams 38. On 4th and 4, Nick Sirianni did not want to try a 50 yard field goal in a blizzard. He went for it and Hurts hit AJ Brown for 9. On 3rd and 4 from the Rams 17, Barkley got the carry up the gut and got stopped in the backfield for a 2 yard loss. Elliott’s 36 yard field goal was good as the Eagles led 22-15 with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Rams failed to move and punted the ball away. The Eagles took over at their own 22. The Rams defense desperately needed a stop. Instead, Barkley broke free and turned out the lights with a 78 yard touchdown run. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the Eagles had a 28-15 lead. Again, the extra point was no good. The game at this point appeared over. 

After a touchback, the Rams were in desperation mode. Stafford went to Nacua for 21, to Whitting for 12, to Tutu Atwell for 18, to Higbee for 6, and to Cooper Kupp for 11. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Stafford went to Parkinson for the touchdown. With 2:48 to play the Rams were within 28-22.  After a touchback, the Eagles needed to play smash mouth and close out the game. The Rams needed to stop them. This was power football in the trenches in the snow. On 2nd and 7, Hurts tried a play action pass but instead was taken down for a 12 yard loss. The Rams had life. They got the ball back with 2 1/2 minutes left at their own 18 needing only one touchdown to win. The Rams were out of timeouts except for the 2 minute warning.

Stafford hit Higbee for 5 and Kupp for 8 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and 10 from his own 31, Stafford fired over the middle to Robinson. Stafford then went bombs away to Nacua, who made a leaping catch near the sideline and somehow got both feet down for a miracle catch. On 3rd and 2 from the Philadelphia 13, a bull rush up the middle buried Stafford for a sack and a 9 yard loss. Everything came down to 4th and 11 with 35 seconds left and the clock ticking. Stafford went to the sideline incomplete. The Eagles had survived. Barkley finished with 205 yards on the ground on 26 carries, nearly 8 yards per carry. The Rams were game, but the Eagles will be back in the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years. Again, they will be playing the game at home. 28-22 Eagles

AFC: (3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills is the Sunday night game. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen were both in contention for the league MVP. The winner of this game goes to the AFC Title Game. The 13-4 Bills and 12-5 Ravens met early in the regular season, with the Ravens winning a 35-10 blowout. Yet that game was in Baltimore. The rematch is in Buffalo. Derrick Henry is running with authority but the Buffalo defense is stout. Both of these teams are phenomenal, but this is one game where the home field truly matters. The weather at kickoff was cold and bad, 11 degree Buffalo weather. There was snow on the ground and snow coming down. The Ravens began facing 3rd and 8 at their own 29. Lamar Jackson ran for 9. Jackson went deep to  Isaiah likely for 39. On 3rd and 3 from the Buffalo 16, Jackson went to Rashad Bateman for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. After a touchback the Bills soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 32. Josh Allen went deep to Shakir for 34. Sean McDermott gambled on 4th and 2 from the Baltimore 26. Allen gained 7. James Cook ran for 8, 6 and 4. Davis got the last yard to tie the game 7-7. 

In the second quarter the Ravens moved from their own 9 yard line to a 2nd and 10 at the Buffalo 28. Jackson got sacked and fumbled. Von Miller picked up the fumble and rumbled 39 yards to the Buffalo 24. Allen went to Shakir for 13. Allen got the one yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Bills. The Ravens moved from their own 35 to a 1st and goal at the 2. Henry lost a yard. Then Jackson was sacked. Justin Tucker hit the 26 yard field goal to get the Ravens within 14-10. After a touchback Allen hit Cook for 7. Davis ran for 16 and 9. On 3rd and 5 from the Baltimore 30, Allen threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant an 18 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Baltimore 4, Allen bulled his way in with help from his offensive line. With 16 seconds left in the half, the Bills had a 21-10 lead. 

In the third quarter the Ravens moved from their own 36 to a 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 27. A run lost a couple yards and a delay of game killed the drive. Tucker hit from 47 to get the Ravens within 21-13. The Ravens got it back and soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 29. Henry gained 17. Jackson went to Mark Andrews for 12. Justice Hill ran for 22. Henry ran for 15 and then for the 5 yard touchdown to get the Ravens within 21-19. The 2 point try to tie the gam failed. After a touchback the Bills moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Baltimore 33. Allen threw incomplete twice. Trying a 51 yard field goal in brutal cold is like asking a kicker to kick a brick. Sean McDermott did, and Bass delivered for a 24-19 Bills lead with 12 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback the Ravens soon faced 2nd and 11 at their own 40. Jackson went to Andrews for 16, but Andrews had the ball poked out. The Bills recovered the fumble at their own 46 with 8 1/2 minutes left.

The Bills moved to a 3rd and goal at the 2, taking 5 minutes off the clock. A touchdown would all but turn out the lights. Allen out of the shotgun faked the handoff and kept the ball. He went up the middle and into a Baltimore brick wall for no gain. On 4th and goal at the 2, the decision was a very easy one. Sean McDermott went with the field goal. Bass hit from 20 to make it 27-19 Bills with 3 1/2 minutes left. The Ravens could tie the game with a touchdown drive but not win it. A kickoff penalty on the receiving team had the Ravens taking over at their own 12 yard line. On 3rd and 2, Jackson hit Hill for 3. Jackson went to Wallace for 27. Jackson found Andrews for 19. Jackson then with all the time in the world fired over the middle to Likely for a 24 yard touchdown. With 90 seconds left, everything came down to the 2 point conversion. Jackson found a wide open Andrews in the flat. There was nobody near him. The ball was perfectly thrown. Andrews had it in his belly. 

He dropped it. Andrews is the all time Baltimore receiving leader. Yet this one just got away. Blame the snow. If you’re Milli Vanilli, blame it on the rain. Blame the sleet. The onside kick failed and the Bills ran out the clock. In a thrilling game between two great teams, the Ravens are done for the year. As for the Bills, last year they lost to Kansas City in the Divisional round. That game was at home in Buffalo. This year the Bills gave the Chiefs their only loss of the year not counting the finale when Kansas City played their backups. That regular season game the Bills won was also in Buffalo. Yet this AFC Title Game will be in Kansas City. This game and next week’s game is why we watch football. 27-25 Bills

The Conference Championship Games are set.

AFC Title Game: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

NFC Title Game: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles

NFL 2024-2025 Divisionals Prequel

The NFL 2024-2025 Wildcards are in the books. This weekend brings the Divisionals round. 

Saturday January 18, 2024, 4:30pm on ESPN

AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs (-7 1/2) — The 10-7 Texans did win a playoff game, but the 15-2 Chiefs lost their regular season finale because they played backups. The Chiefs offense isn’t as high octane as in years past but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has the top defense in the NFL. A few years ago the Texans took a 24-0 first quarter lead at Kansas City. By halftime the Chiefs led 28-24 en route to a 51-31 win. With Walrus Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they are always a threat. The Chiefs are seeking to reach the AFC Title Game for the 7th straight year, with 6 of those 7 games being at home in Arrowhead. The Chiefs are too deep and too experienced. Chiefs cover

8pm on FOX

NFC: (6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions (-9 1/2) — The Commanders are a very good football team. Jayden Daniels has been leading them to victories in Cardiac fashion. Yet the Detroit Lions are a wrecking ball. Yes, their defense is injury-riddled. At home in their dome, their pinball wizard offense can outscore anyone. Dan Campbell and Dan Quinn both take 4th down risks. The Lions are well rested from their bye week. Go with Jared Goff and his many offensive weapons to win the game, but the spread is high. Given Detroit’s defensive injuries and Washington’s resilience, beating the spread is certainly possible. Lions win but fail to cover

Sunday, January 19, 3pm on NBC

NFC: (4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles (-6) — The 10-7 Rams won the NFC West and then knocked off 14-3 Minnesota in the Wildcard. Now they were at the 14-3 Eagles, who won the NFC East. In the regular season the Eagles went into Los Angeles and throttled the Rams 37-20. Saquon Barkley is running wild and gives the Eagles the advantage. As much of an offensive wizard as Sean McVay is, the Eagles between Barkley and the home field should be able to win this game to get back to the NFC Title Game for the second time in three years. Yet the Rams are a confident bunch and the Eagles do not blow teams out. Their offense did very little against Green Bay last week. Eagles win but fail to cover

6:30pm

AFC: (3) Baltimore Ravens (-1 1/2) at (2) Buffalo Bills — Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen were both in contention for the league MVP. The winner of this game goes to the AFC Title Game. The 13-4 Bills and 12-5 Ravens met early in the regular season, with the Ravens winning a 35-10 blowout. Yet that game was in Baltimore. The rematch is in Buffalo. Derrick Henry is running with authority but the Buffalo defense is stout. Both of these teams are phenomenal, but this is one game where the home field truly matters. The weather is expected to be cold and bad, which is Buffalo weather. Upset special, Bills win outright

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