Get ready for the ultimate showdown as the top teams of the AFC and NFC battle it out in the NFL Conference Championships for a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
Lamar Jackson, quarterback of Baltimore Ravens, Photo Courtesy of Ryan Sun/AP
And then there were four. The NFL playoffs flew by, and now, it is time for the Conference Championships. The two best teams of the AFC will face off, and the top teams of the NFC will face off. Then, the winner of those games will head to the Super Bowl.
It was a long, arduous journey for these four teams, and the Super Bowl is within reach for each of them. It is a matter of may the best team(s) win these Conference games. Let’s take a look at both games.
The first game is a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were in action for the first time this playoffs last week after earning a bye. They took on the Houston Texans, who beat the Cleveland Browns in a huge, impressive win. The Ravens beat the Texans 34-10. The game was tied at halftime, then the Ravens took the lead in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was big for Baltimore, as they scored 17 points. The Texans were scoreless in the second half. The Ravens were a little rusty (to start) but came away with the win. Now, they are going after their first AFC title with Lamar Jackson as their quarterback. The Ravens are arguably the favorites, but they have a tough opponent ahead of them.
The Kansas City Chiefs have played well in the playoffs. They picked up a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins. They followed up with a close win over the Buffalo Bills. They beat the Bills 27-24. That was a competitive game that had a little of everything (fumbles, a missed field goal attempt, and so on). The Chiefs came away with the win in what was technically Patrick Mahomes’ first road playoff game (with Super Bowl games being neutral sites). Mahomes came in, took care of business, and helped put the Chiefs one step closer to winning another Super Bowl. They have a challenge ahead of them (with the Ravens) but could come away with the win.
The second game is between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers. The Lions have had quite the playoff journey. They beat the Los Angeles Rams in a close game, then they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round. This is the Lions’ first time in the playoffs since 2016 (when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks), but now, the Lions have a good chance at reaching the Super Bowl.
Last but not least, the San Francisco 49ers are playing their second game of the playoffs. Like the Ravens, the 49ers had a bye in the first round but took on the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. The 49ers beat the Packers 24-21. The Packers put up a fight, and it took big plays like a 69-yard touchdown and an interception late in the game for the 49ers to secure the win.
The Super Bowl is getting closer, and regardless of who wins these games, fans are in for a treat.
