Lions & Chiefs Join Ravens & 49ers in Next Week’s Conference Championship Games
It’s crazy hours in the NFL Playoffs! Eight teams enter the Divisional Round. Four teams come out the other side. The Ravens, 49ers, Lions and Chiefs are still playing football after a weekend of wild scenes and storylines. The Ravens rolled the Texans in a blistery Baltimore while the 49ers needed some late-game magic to avoid a Packers’ upset. Detroit keeps exercising demons of playoffs past, and Dan Campbell’s postgame tears will make anyone a Lions fan. And the Chiefs are heading to the AFC title game for the sixth consecutive season with a new Superfan — shirtless Jason Kelce. Three games to go. Let’s rewind the Divisional Round.
AFC: Ravens def. Texans (34-10)
A second-half rout in Baltimore opened the Divisional Round playoff games Saturday afternoon. The Ravens and Texans were knotted 10-10 at the half, but Lamar Jackson’s prolific offense put up 24 unanswered in the second half to blitz Houston and halt C.J. Stroud’s magnificent run. Jackson (4 TDs) accounted for every Baltimore touchdown. The first game of the Divisional Round was the only game decided by more than one score, and it was a three-score drumming. Do a little dance, Jim Harbaugh.
NFC: 49ers def. Packers (24-21)
The 7-seed Packers had the 1-seed 49ers on the ropes all night on Saturday, but a go-ahead touchdown by Christian McCaffrey put the Niners on top with 1:07 left. A San Francisco interception on the final drive by Dre Greenlaw iced the win, and the 49ers escaped their first playoff game with a sigh of relief. Brock Purdy wasn’t his best, but the Packers can feel good about their future knowing first-year QB Jordan Love had Green Bay a play away from playing for the NFC title. Instead, it's 49ers-Lions. Hey Jared Goff. Welcome back to California.
NFC: Lions def. Bucs (31-23)
They’re still partying in Detroit! One week after exercising playoff demons, the Lions held off the Bucs to reach the NFC title game. QB Jared Goff was spectacular (30/43, 287 yards, 2 TDs), and the Lions defense made a few critical stops when it mattered most. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield was slinging it on the road (364 yards, 3 TDs), but two interceptions bit the Bucs. The Lions scored 14 unanswered in the 4th to turn a 17-17 tie into a 31-17 advantage, and Detroit is now one win away from the franchise’s first-ever trip to the Super Bowl. A trip to the Bay stands in the way.
AFC: Chiefs def. Bills (27-24)
Another thriller between the Chiefs and Bills came down to the wire on Sunday night, and once again, Kansas City prevails. The final game of the weekend was a back-and-forth battle between the AFC giants. Both Patrick Mahomes (17/23, 234 yards, 2 TDs) and Josh Allen (26/39, 258 yards, 3 TDs) played borderline perfect games. Two turnovers in the final 10 minutes brought chaos down the stretch. Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a field goal wide right (44 yards) with 1:47 left that would’ve tied it at 27-all. Instead, the Chiefs picked up a first down and notched their sixth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship. Fun Fact: Patrick Mahomes has reached the AFC title game in each of his first six seasons as a starter.
Conference Championship Schedule (Sunday)
AFC: Chiefs at Ravens (3:00 pm ET, CBS)
NFC: Lions at 49ers (6:30 pm ET, FOX)
Read More
Yahoo! Sports: Everything to Know About the AFC & NFC Championship Games
NBC Sports: Lions Kneel Too Soon, But Bucs Fail to Use Last Timeout in Bizarre Finish
USA Today: Once Again, Bills Devastated by Wide-Right Field Goal in the Playoffs
CBS Sports: Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce Pass Tom Brady & Rob Gronkowski for Most All-Time Playoff TD Connections (16)
