The NFL season is formally all the way down to its closing 4 groups and we’ll be seeing some very acquainted faces on Sunday.
For the second yr in a row, the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals all qualify for the convention title spherical. The one newcomer this yr is the Philadelphia Eagles, who’re enjoying within the NFC Championship for the primary time since 2017.
The Eagles will host the 49ers who knocked out the Cowboys on Sunday to proceed Dallas’ 27-year drought with out showing in a convention title recreation.
This Eagles-49ers recreation will give us a matchup between two of essentially the most profitable NFC groups of the twenty first century. Together with this yr, the Eagles have now made seven NFC title appearances, essentially the most of any NFC crew since 2000. The 49ers are tied for second with six. Though they’ve appeared a number of occasions within the NFC tile recreation over the previous 20 years, they’ve by no means performed one another.
Within the AFC, we are going to get a uncommon rematch. The Bengals-Chiefs match-up can be solely the third time over the previous 35 years that the AFC Championship Sport has been a rematch. The final time it occurred was in 2011-12 (Ravens-Patriots), and earlier than that, it hasn’t occurred since 1986-1987 (Browns-Broncos).
The AFC Championship can be a rematch of a recreation replayed in Week 13, which was gained by the Bengals, 27-24. Cincinnati has performed the Chiefs 3 times since January 1, 2022 and the Bengals have gained all three video games.
With that in thoughts, this is a have a look at all of it Postseason schedule and bracket.
Tremendous Wild Card Weekend
Saturday 14 January
- (2) 49ers 41-23 extra (7) Seahawks. The 49ers obtained a brief scare from the Seahawks on a day when Seattle jumped out to a 17-16 halftime lead. Within the second half, nevertheless, San Francisco broke up the sport with a dominant efficiency. Brock Purdy threw for 332 yards whereas additionally changing into the primary rookie in NFL historical past to complete 4 touchdowns in a playoff recreation. (Purdie completed with three passing touchdowns and one dashing level.)
- (4) Jaguar 31-30 up (5) chargers. The Jaguars gained this recreation by hitting one of many largest comebacks in NFL historical past. The Jags trailed, 27-0, early within the recreation attributable to 4 interceptions by Trevor Lawrence, however rebounded to say the beautiful win, thanks largely to Lawrence, who threw 4 landing passes.
Sunday 15 January
- (2) Payments 34-31 up (7) dolphins. The Dolphins got here into this recreation as the most important underdog in wild card spherical historical past (+14) and regardless of these odds, they have been nonetheless capable of strike an enormous scare within the Payments. Ultimately, the Payments managed to keep away from an upset due to Josh Allen (352 yards, three touchdowns) and a protection that got here up with a number of large performs, together with two turnovers, 4 sacks, and an iced fourth-down stand. Sport with solely 2:30 left to play.
- (6) giants 31-24 extra (3) Vikings. New York pulled off the Minnesota meltdown due to the historic efficiency of Daniel Jones, who turned the primary QB in NFL playoff historical past to throw for not less than 300 and two touchdowns whereas including not less than 70 yards on the bottom. Not solely did Jones throw for 301 yards, however he additionally threw for the game-leading rusher with 78 yards on 17 carries. The victory over Minnesota was the primary playoff victory for the Giants since their victory over the Patriots in Tremendous Bowl XLVI in February 2012.
- (3) Bengals 24 to 17 years outdated (6) crows. The Ravens had Cincinnati on the ropes for many of this recreation, however the Bengals managed to flee with a win due to their protection, which got here up with one of many largest performs in NFL postseason historical past. With the Ravens at Cincinnati’s one-yard line, Tyler Huntley fumbled and Sam Hubbard returned that fumble 98 yards for what ended up being the game-winning landing.
Monday, January sixteenth
- (5) Cowboys 31-14 extra (4) hacker. The Cowboys dominated this recreation from begin to end, and the primary purpose this occurred was due to Dak Prescott, who had a giant historic evening. The Cowboys QB set a franchise document with 5 complete touchdowns (4 passing, one dashing) whereas additionally throwing for 305 yards. The one Cowboys participant to battle on this recreation was kicker Brett Maher, who missed an NFL document 4 additional factors. The Cowboys will now should determine in the event that they need to preserve him for Sunday’s recreation in San Francisco.
Partition tour
Saturday twenty first January
- (1) Chiefs 27-20 over (4) Jaguars. After leaving the sport within the second quarter with a severe ankle harm, Patrick Mahomes returned within the second interval to guide the Chiefs to victory. Enjoying on one foot did not appear to gradual him down as he accomplished 10 of 15 passes for 107 yards after getting injured. The Chiefs protection additionally got here via with two key turnovers within the fourth quarter to assist propel Kansas Metropolis to its fifth straight AFC title recreation.
- (1) the Eagles 38-7 over (6) Giants. The Eagles jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead after which fell again to win from there. The Eagles managed a dominant win due to a protection that obtained 5 sacks and a dashing offense that totaled 268 yards on the bottom. Jalen Hurts additionally had a giant evening, and extra importantly, his shoulder seemed wholesome as he hit three touchdowns (two passing and one dashing).
Sunday twenty second January
- (3) Bengal 27-10 on (2) payments. The Bengals offense put up some large numbers, however it was the protection that stole the present on this recreation. The Bengals restricted the Payments to simply 10 factors, Buffalo’s lowest complete for the season. The Cincinnati offense additionally got here via with a giant recreation that included 242 yards and two touchdowns from Joe Burrow together with 105 dashing yards from Joe Mixon.
- (2) 49ers 19-12 over (5) cowboy. The 49ers earned their second straight journey to the NFC Championship by profitable a defensive battle with the Cowboys. The 49ers grabbed Dak Prescott twice and had six factors on these turnovers, and that proved to be the distinction within the recreation. Robbie Gould proved to be an enormous weapon for the 49ers, scoring 13 of 19 factors with 4 subject targets and an additional level.
Sunday championship
Jan twenty ninth
NFC Championship
- (2) 49ers at (1) Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (Fox, broadcast fuboTV). The highest two NFC seeds will meet in Philadelphia in what ought to be a showdown of epic proportions. The Eagles will emerge with the NFL’s third-highest offense from the 2022 season and the 49ers can be trying to gradual it down with a protection that has given up the fewest factors within the NFL.
Asian Championship
- (3) Bengals vs. (1) Chiefs 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Stream on.) Paramount +). The Chiefs would have one other crack at defeating the Bengals crew they could not beat. Since January 2022, the AFC Chiefs have gone 0-3 towards the Bengals, together with shedding within the AFC title recreation final yr. This recreation would be the first AFC Championship recreation in back-to-back seasons for the reason that Patriots’ Ravens in 2011 and 2012.
Tremendous Bowl LVII
February twelfth
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox stream on fuboTV)