Ranking the greatest NFL conference championship games Where does Bengals-Chiefs 2021 thriller rank all time

Ranking the greatest NFL conference championship games Where does Bengals-Chiefs 2021 thriller rank all time

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Given what we witne sed during the first 20 weeks of the 2022 NFL season, fans could be in for an extremely memorable championship weekend.The four survivors from last weekend's divisional round -- the 49ers, , Bengals and Chiefs -- will play this weekend for the right to represent their respective conferences in Super Bowl LVII. Among the big storylines entering championship weekend include the Bengals' quest at a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, Patrick Mahomes' injury status following Saturday's win over the , and the continued -- and unexpected -- succe s Caleb Farley Jersey of 49ers rookie quarterback .There's a very good chance that one or both of this weekend's games will one day crack the following list of the greatest conference championship games in NFL history. Several all-time cla sics made the list, including the 2021 overtime thriller between Cincinnati and Kansas City. While obviously not a barn burner, the Rams-Buccaneers NFC title game showdown was a masterpiece for fans of defense. Led by future Hall of Famers Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Derrick Brooks, the Buccaneers shut down the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" offense for most of the game. With the Rams' defense also playing lights out, the Buccaneers' defense would need to shutout one of the greatest offenses of all-time in order to reach the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for them, the Buccaneers were victims of a perfectly-thrown pa s from Kurt Warner that fell into the waiting arms of Ricky Proehl, whose 44-yard touchdown catch propelled the Rams to the Super Bowl.The two most recent Super Bowl champions, Washington and San Francisco battled for the right to face the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. Down 21-0, the 49ers staged an epic rally behind Joe Montana's three fourth quarter touchdown pa ses. A controversial holding call against 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, however, allowed Washington to kick the game-winning field goal. It was one of three questionable penalties that went against the 49ers, who were then forced to watch as Washington was pummeled two weeks later by the Raiders.The 49ers used the experience to fuel their 1984 Super Bowl run. San Francisco lost just one game that season while winning the franchise's second of four Super Bowls during the decade. The 49ers' enjoyed an epic season by Joe Montana, who won Super Bowl MVP honors after scoring four touchdowns and ama sing 400 total yards. After losing the previous two NFC title games to the Cowboys, the 49ers stormed out to a 21-0 lead le s than five minutes into the game. San Francisco took a 31-14 halftime lead following Steve Young's 28-yard touchdown pa s to Jerry Rice. Rice's touchdown proved to be the winning score.Trying to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, the Cowboys battled but ultimately could not overcome their early deficit. The Cowboys received an epic performance in a losing effort by Michael Irvin, who caught 12 pa ses for 192 yards and two touchdowns. No. 90: 1994 NFC Championship - Cowboys vs. 49ers (Jan. 15, 1995) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) This wasn't nece sarily a great game, but how well the Bengals played -- specifically quarterback Ken Anderson -- in sub-freezing temperatures is what made this AFC title game memorable. In a game that was tabbed as "The Freezer Bowl," Anderson threw two touchdowns while leading the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. Anderson's pa ser rating was more than twice the amount of his counterpart, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, who a week earlier helped lead the Chargers to an epic double-overtime win over thein balmy Miami. "Kenny's advantage was that he threw tight spirals," said Fouts, who said that throwing that day was like "throwing a shoebox in the wind.""I didn't always throw spirals,". "In my mind, that was the biggest part of us losing the game." No. 67: 1981 AFC Championship Game - Chargers vs. Bengals "The Freezer Bowl" (Jan. 10, 1982) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) 16. 1975 AFC Championship: Steelers 16, Raiders 10Like the "Immaculate Reception" three years earlier, controversy also clouds this Steelers-Raiders playoff showdown. Then-Raiders owner Al Davis was convinced that the Steelers grounds crew intentionally left the sidelines exposed on the eve of the AFC title game. The sidelines, which were e sentially ice rinks by kickoff, prevented the Raiders' from unleashing their deep pa sing attack that featured future Hall of Fame wideouts Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch. The sidelines were bad, but the rest of the Three Rivers Stadium turf wasn't much better. The hard, slick surface led to the teams committing a combined 12 turnovers. The Steelers were able to get just enough points, however, with John Stallworth playing a key role in both of Pittsburgh's touchdown. His key block help spring Franco Harris free for a 25-yard score. His 20-yard touchdown catch in the second half proved to be the game-winning score. Stallworth throws a great block enabling Harris to score.1975 AFC Championship Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) Pittsburgh advanced to its second straight Super Bowl after Mel Blount tackled Branch short of the end zone on the game's final play.Peyton Manning came out firing, while Denver's formidable pa s rush houndedfor most of the game. Down 20-12 late in the game, Brady kept the Patriots' season alive with a 40-yard completion to Rob Gronkowski on fourth-and-10 with 54 seconds left. Four plays later, Brady and Gronkowski connected on fourth-and-goal to bring New England to within two points of the Broncos with 12 seconds left, as it appeared that Brady was about to add to his legend of epic comebacks. But on the Patriots two-point attempt, Brady's pa s intended for Gronkowski was tipped and intercepted by, sealing the Broncos' second Super Bowl berth in three years. Denver would defeat Carolina in Super Bowl 50 in Manning's final NFL game.The Steelers were coming off of a heartbreaking lo s to the Chargers in the '94 AFC title game. Against the Colts, they found themselves trailing 16-13 after Jim Harbaugh hit Floyd Turner for a 47-yard touchdown. Facing a fourth-and-three late in the game, the Steelers kept their season alive when Neil O'Donnell hit Andre Hastings for a nine-yard gain. On the next play, O'Donnell threw deep to Ernie Mills, who tiptoed the sideline for a 37-yard gain. The catch set up Bam Morris' go-ahead touchdown.With 1:34 left, Harbaugh drove the Colts from their own 16 to the Steelers' 29-yard-line. Only five seconds were left on the clock when Harbaugh heaved a Hail Mary into the Steelers' end zone. The ball was deflected several times before falling into the chest of Colts receiver. Bailey, who was falling on the ground as the ball hit his chest, was unable to close his arms around the ball before it hit the turf. The incomplete pa s gave the Steelers their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1979. A Hail Mary to go to the Super Bowl? It nearly happened.(1995 AFC Championship: Jan. 14, 1996) NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) This was a changing-of-the-guard game, as the Cowboys dethroned the 49ers as the league's premier team. The Cowboys held a precarious 24-20 lead after Young and Rice connected on a five-yard touchdown pa s in the fourth quarter. Instead of going conservative, the Cowboys went for the win as Harper took a slant pa s 70 yards to set up Aikman's game-clinching touchdown pa s to Kelvin Martin. The Cowboys offense was buoyed by Smith, who on a muddy track tallied 173 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas went on to rout the Bills, 52-17, to win the franchise's first championship since 1977. 30 Years Ago Today,The 1992 NFC ChampionshipThe and wage battle in the Candlestick swamp, renewing their storied postseason rivalry the first of three consecutive title game wars between the teams. wins its then-unprecedented sixth NFC title, 30-20. Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) This was a throwback to a bygone era. A hard-hitting, defensive-fueled grudge match, Seattle took its first lead on Ru sell Wilson's 35-yard touchdown pa s to Jermaine Kearse one minute into the fourth quarter. With 3:43 left, the 49ers drove 60 yards on the strength of five completions from quarterback that included a fourth-down completion to .The 49ers' reign as NFC champions ended when Kaepernick's end zone pa s for was tipped by and intercepted by . The pick overshadowed a gutsy performance by Kaepernick, who ran for 130 yards that included a 58-yard run that set up the 49ers' first score. Seattle's offense received big performances from Marshawn Lynch (109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries) and (106 yards on six receptions). Both defenses received championship-level individual efforts. For the 49ers, pa s rusher had two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, while linebacker had 14 tackles and a forced fumble. Wagner had 15 tackles to go with his game-winning pick. Safety had 11 tackles and an interception for Seattle's "Legion of Boom" secondary.Trailing 16-0 at halftime, the Seahawks cut their deficit to five points onshort touchdown run with 2:13 remaining in regulation. Seattle then succe sfully converted the onside kick, setting upgo-ahead touchdown run. While the Packers did mange to force overtime on48-yard field goal, the Seahawks punched their Super Bowl ticket when Wilson hitfor a 35-yard score on the sixth play of the extra period. The defending champion Seahawks would come up just short in their bid to repeat as champions. The Packers won just one playoff game from 2015-18 before making return trips to the title game in 2019-20.In a game played in sub-zero temperatures, theprevailed behind Plaxico Burre s' 11 receptions andovertime interception of Brett Favre. The pick set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal, as the Giants went on to upset the previously undefeatedin Super Bowl XLII. The bitter defeat was the final game for Favre in a uniform. New York's stingy defense, led by Michael Strahan, fellow defensive linemen and Osi Umenyiora, and linebacker Antonio Pierce, held the Packers' offense to just 13 first downs and 264 total yards. Conversely, the play of Manning, Burre s and running backs and allowed the Giants to control the clock for just over 40 minutes. No. 54: 2007 NFC Championship Game - Giants vs. Packers "The Chilling Championship" (Jan. 20, 2008) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) After a heartbreaking AFC title game lo s to the Broncos the previous year (more on that later), the Browns were trying to play the role of spoiler late in the rematch. Cleveland's comeback was spearheaded by quarterback Bernie Kosar and running back Earnest Byner. On their final drive, the Browns appeared to be on the verge of tying the game after driving inside the Broncos' 10-yard-line.With their season on the line, Cleveland ran a draw for Byner, who found space on the right side of the defense. While Byner initially appeared to score the game-winning touchdown, Browns fans were immediately sucker punched after realizing that Byner had fumbled the ball two yards short of the end zone. The Broncos recovered Jeremiah Castille's forced fumble, and were on their way to Super Bowl XXII. Tom Brady's ninth AFC championship game win came at the expense of, who this Sunday will look to lead the Chiefs to their third consecutive conference title. The Chiefs' AFC championship tally would already be at two if not for Brady, who led the Patriots' offense on a 13-play, 75-yard drive in overtime that was capped off bytwo-yard touchdown run.Moments earlier, Brady had been bailed out by, who was ruled offsides on the play that saw Brady throw an interception to. On the ensuing play, Brady found his longtime partner in crime,, open for a 25-yard gain. The completion set up the Patriots' go-ahead touchdown, which was countered bygame-tying field goal with 11 seconds left in regulation.Brady eschewed his running game for most of the Patriots' game-winning overtime drive. He threw eight consecutive pa ses, the final one a 15-yard completion to Gronkowski. The completion set up Burkhead's second touchdown of the night, as the Patriots left Arrowhead Stadium with their fourth AFC title over a five-year span. Brady's performance overshadowed Mahomes, who threw three touchdown pa ses in his AFC Championship game debut.In a cla sic championship game, neither team ever led by more than seven points, and the score was tied on four different occasions. The Vikings, followingthird touchdown that tied the game, were in position to win it after advancing to the Saints' 38-yard-line with 19 seconds left in regulation. But in what would be his final pa s of the game, Favre's third-down pa s intended forwas intercepted by, forcing overtime. In overtime, two penalties against the Vikings' defense, coupled by' two-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play, set upgame-winning field goal. New Orleans would go onto defeat thein Super Bowl XLIV, with Porter's pick-six ofsealing the Saints' 31-17 win. No. 25: There Will Be No Three-Peat - 1990 Giants vs. 49ers in the NFC Championship Game (Jan. 20, 1991) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) In one of the most surprising upsets in NFL postseason history, Atlanta's "Dirty Birds" overcame a 13-point deficit to stun the Vikings, who went 15-1 during the regular season. Ahead 27-20, Gary Anderson, who did not mi s a field goal during the regular season, mi sed a 38-yard attempt with 2:07 left. The Falcons fully capitalized on Anderson's mi s, as Chris Chandler hit Terance Mathis for the game-tying touchdown with 57 seconds left in regulation.After winning the coin to s, Minnesota was forced to punt after Randall Cunningham's third-down pa s to rookie sensation Randy Mo s fell incomplete. The teams would then exchange punts before two Chandler completions to tight end O.J. Santiago and two runs by Jamal Anderson set up Morton Anderson's game-winning, 38-yard kick. The Falcons' luck, however, ran out in the Super Bowl, as John Elway and thecoasted to a 34-19 win. The Vikings are still in search of their first trip to the Super Bowl since January of 1977.Down 21-10, the Bengals avoided falling further behind when tackled just short of the goal line on the final play of the first half. Apple's TD-saving tackle jump-started Cincinnati's comeback, as the Bengals forced overtime after outscoring the Chiefs 14-3 in the second half.Most Chiefs fans began celebrating after their team won the coin to s to start overtime. Those same fans, however, were burying their Anthony Firkser Jersey head in their hands after picked off Mahomes on the third play of overtime. The pick set up game-winning field goal, giving the Bengals the franchise's first Super Bowl berth since 1988.Cincinnati's offense was spearheaded by quarterback , and fellow wideout , who caught six pa ses for 103 yards. BIG PLAY On 1st & 10, Joe Burrow 44-yd pa s to Tee Higgins 10 21 Q3 Ss 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) "There will be no three-peat."Those words were famously proclaimed by former CBS/Fox play-by-play analyst Pat Summerall after Matt Bahr's 42-yard field goal gave the Giants an upset win over the defending two-time champion 49ers. In one of the most physical football games ever played, the 49ers suffered a crushing blow when Giants lineman Leonard Marshall knocked Joe Montana out of the game with about 10 minutes left and the 49ers ahead, 13-9. After the Giants cut the deficit to one point, Lawrence Taylor gave his offense the ball back when he recovered 49ers halfback Roger Craig's fumble in Giants territory.Jeff Hostetler's completions to Mark Bavaro and Stephen Baker, and a pivotal two-yard run by Ottis Anderson on a third-and-1 play, helped set up Bahr's game-winning field goal as time expired. Hostetler, Anderson, Bahr, and the Giants' physical defense each played a role in the Giants' upset win over thein Super Bowl XXV. The lo s was the final playoff start for Montana with the 49ers, who fell painfully short of becoming the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls. No. 25: There Will Be No Three-Peat - 1990 Giants vs. 49ers in the NFC Championship Game (Jan. 20, 1991) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) The 1980s Browns lost three AFC title games in a four-year span to the Browns. While each lo s was painful, the first one was undoubtedly the hardest to swallow.With the score tied at 13, Bernie Kosar's 48-yard pa s to Brian Brennan gave the home team a 20-13 lead. After watching its defense surrender the big play, Broncos fans watched in agony as their special teams botched the ensuing kickoff before jumping on the ball at their own 2-yard-line. John Elway, displaying the savvy that would eventually put him in the Hall of Fame, meticulously moved the ball against the Browns' stingy defense.After a short throw and two runs gave the Broncos a first down, an 11-yard run by Elway and a 22-yard completion to Steve Sewell got Denver near midfield. On third-and-18 on the Browns' 48-yard-line, Elway stood tall before firing a 20-yard dart to Mark Jackson. The Broncos avoided a disaster on the play, as Elway was about to catch the shotgun snap after it incidentally hit a receiver in motion.Two plays later, a screen pa s to Sewell got the Broncos to the Browns' 14-yard-line. Three plays later, facing a third-and-one on the Browns' 5-yard-line, Elway took the shotgun snap, waited for Jackson to break free from his defender, and threw a dart that Jackson was able to corral in the end zone. The score, which came with 32 seconds left in regulation, capped off what is known in NFL history as "The Drive."In overtime, Denver's defense quickly gave the ball back to Elway, who got the Broncos past midfield on a 22-yard completion to tight end Orson Mobley. After losing two yards on the next two plays, Elway started to run, which formed Denver's defenders to move Austin Fort Jersey up to honor him. But before cro sing the line of scrimmage, Elway stopped, then hit an open Steve Watson, who caught the 28-yard pa s before falling out of bounds. The play set up Rich Karlis' game-winning field goal, as Elway and the Broncos were on their way to Pasadena for Super Bowl XXI. It was the first of five Super Bowl appearances for Elway, who lost his first three Super Bowls before retiring with back-to-back titles. No. 11: The Drive - 1986 Broncos vs. Browns AFC Championship Game (Jan. 11, 1987) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) After recent playoff lo ses to the Patriots, the Colts found themselves staring at a 21-3 deficit midway through the second quarter of the 2006 AFC Championship Game. But following Asante Samuel's 39-yard pick-six of Peyton Manning, the Colts scored the game's next 18 points that included a touchdown pa s from Manning to lineman Dan Klecko. The Patriots went back ahead before another Colts lineman, center Jeff Saturday, tied the score after pouncing on a fumble in the end zone.Trailing 34-31 with 3:49 left, two completions from Manning to Reggie Wayne sandwiched Manning's 32-yard completion to Bryan Fletcher. Fletcher, a seldom-used tight end, had lobbied for Manning to look his way earlier in the game. After reaching the Patriots' 11-yard-line, Manning called three straight runs for rookie running back. Addai's third carry resulted in the go-ahead touchdown with 1:02 left.Brady, whose late-game prowe s was already legend by this point, pa sed his team beyond midfield before throwing a game-ending interception to cornerback (and fellow Michigan Man) . The Colts would go onto win their lone Super Bowl with Manning under center. In Denver, Manning would win two more AFC title games against the Patriots while retiring with a 3-1 record against the Brady/Belichick Patriots in conference championship games. No. 11: The Drive - 1986 Broncos vs. Browns AFC Championship Game (Jan. 11, 1987) : NFL 100 Greatest Games on NFL (@NFL) Despite a dominant Week 6 win over the Cowboys, the 49ers trailed "America's Team" by six points following Danny White's 21-yard touchdown pa s to Doug Cosbie. Needing to travel 89 yards in le s than five minutes, the 49ers relied on several sweeping runs by Lenvil Elliott, two clutch catches in traffic by Freddie Solomon and Solomon's 14-yard run on a reverse. Facing a third-down on the Cowboys' 6-yard line, Montana rolled right before he was met by three Cowboys defenders. Facing the pa s rush, Montana lofted the ball to a spot in the end zone where he hoped Dwight Clark would be. Clark, who caught a 20-yard touchdown pa s earlier in the game, was indeed at the spot Montana hoped he would be. The reliable receiver jumped in the air, snared Montana's pa s out of the sky and slammed the ball in the end zone.With Candlestick Park already in celebration mode, the 49ers' defense still had to stop the Cowboys' offense, who got the ball back at their 25-yard line with two timeouts and 51 seconds left. The crowd got tense after White hit Drew Pearson for 31 yards on the Cowboys' first play. But on the next play, White lost the ball after getting hit by Lawrence Pillers. The ball was scooped up by Jim Stuckey, who in his arms held the 49ers' first Super Bowl ticket."You just beat America's Team," Cowboys defensive end Ed "Too Tall' Jones told Montana, as recalled by Clark two decades later. "Well," Montana replied, "you can sit at home with the rest of America and watch the Super Bowl." "The 49ers and Cowboys are the two best teams in the league. Whoever wins this game, is winning the Super Bowl."The and went toe to toe in the 1981 NFC Title Game in the 2nd greatest game in NFL History. : NFL 100 GREATEST GAMES on NFL Network NFL Network (@nflnetwork)
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