Hi everyone, we are now in 2024. So I thought that it would be best to do a best 12 conference championship game list instead of going all time. So yes Falcons-Vikings in 1998 or the Cowboys-49ers in 1981 will not make this list. Rather have it be a list that people under the age of 40 would remember. Hope you all enjoy the list and please submit your banter.
12. 49ers at Falcons (2012)
The Falcons would have another terrible Falcons moment in 2012. They had a 17-0 lead in the second Quarter but Colin Kapernick (yes that Colin Kapernick) would lead the Niners on a comeback completed by a Frank Gore Touchdown with a little over 5 minutes to play to take a 28-24 lead. Matt Ryan would drive the dirty birds down to the Niners 10 before turning it over on downs to end the game. Jim Harbaugh back in the day was a flat out mad man.
11. 49ers at Seahawks (2013)
How about the next season the same 49ers were on the road trying to get back to their second super bowl. This time however the Seahawks would have the 2nd half comeback taking a 4th Quarter lead on a Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse 35 yard touchdown (remember that combo for later). The 49ers down 23-17 now would have a shot in the last minute to steal the game and get back to a second straight Super Bowl. However, Richard Sherman happened tipping a pass intended for MIchael Crabtree to teammate Malcolm Smith for the game sealing pick. The postgame interview was still one of the best ever.
10. Bengals at Chiefs (2021)
The Chiefs would lead 21-3 in the 2nd Quarter and be up 21-10 right before halftime and the chefs were moving the ball at will on the Bengals defense. But Tyreek Hill would get stopped just shy of the goal line as time expired before the half. That huge play would carry the momentum into the 2nd half as the Bengals would come all the way back to take a 24-21 lead midway through the 4th Quarter. The Chiefs would drive down to tie the game at 24 as we would go into overtime. In ot though Patrick Mahomes who had just lead the Chiefs for a game winning OT TD drive the previous week would throw an unexpected interception to Bengals safety Von Bell. Bengals QB Joe Burrow would lead the Bengals into field goal range and Evan McPherson would kick the Cincy Cats to their first Superbowl since 1988.
9. Eagles at Cardinals (2008)
What a day it was for my precious redbirds. Larry Fitzgerald would catch three touchdown passes in the 1st half as the Cards would go into the intermission up 24-6. But Donovan McNabb and company would lead three consecutive 2nd half touchdown drives capped off with a 62 yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson to give the green birds a 25-24 4th Quarter lead with 10 minutes to play. Kurt Warner and company would not falter going 80 yards in 7 minutes capped off with a 10 yard touchdown pass to running back Tim Hightower to give the Cardinals a 32-25 lead with just over two minutes left to play. McNabb and company would turn the ball over on downs in Arizona territory as the red birds would clinch their first ever Super Bowl berth.
7. Giants at Packers (2007)
Just remember Brett Farve throwing a game losing interception in the NFC Championship game. In a back and forth affair in weather cold enough that eskimos would feel uncomfortable the Giants would line up for a 36 yard field goal tied at 20 at the end of regulation. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes would hook the kick left and we would go to overtime. In OT however three time retiree Brett Farve would throw an interception to Giants corner Corey Webster. To quote Harry Dunn, Lawrence Tynes would totally redeem himself in overtime (from 47 yards out) as the Giants would win 23-20. That interception would be the last pass Brett Farve would ever throw as a Green Bay Packer.
6. Patriots at Broncos (2015)
Peyton Manning’s last ride was a bumpy one. However, his defense would come up big in a 20-18 victory over the Patriots in a rare beautiful January day in Downtown Denver (mid 60’s and sunny I would know I was at this game!!). Peyton and his noodle arm would throw 2 first half touchdowns to Tight End Owen Daniels to give the Donkeys an early 14-6 lead. Tom Brady and the Pats would have three chances in the red zone late down 20-12 and even though the 1st two drives would fail the 3rd time would be a charm as the alleged deflator of football’s would throw a touchdown to Rob Gronkowski to get to within two with 12 seconds to play. Well I gave it away that the Pats would not get the two point conversion as the Broncos would hold on (interception on a tipped pass if you’d like to know what happened).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NGOi7QXPAc
5. Bengals at Chiefs (2022)
The rematch was even better than the original. In what was an extremely intense game (to make matters more intense I was watching it with a Bengals and a Chiefs fan) the game would again for the second straight year come down to the wire. Tied at 20 and the Chiefs having a 3rd and 4 at the Bengals 47 yard line with 19 seconds to play Patrick Mahomes needed to make a play. With a high ankle sprain Sideshow Pat did something he hadn’t done all game, use his legs. Patrick would run as fast as he can towards the sideline to get 5 yards and the first down and for good measure Bengals linebacker Joseph Assai would hit Mahomes late out of bounds to get the Chiefs in field goal range. Harrison Butker would hit the kick to give the Chiefs revenge in a 23-20 game that was one of the more hard hitting games I’ve seen in recent memory.
4. Vikings at Saints (2009)
Oh no not again Brett… Brett Farve would have a resurgent season in 2009 at the young age of 40 (don’t judge). In the NFC Championship game at New Orleans the Vikings and Saints were tied at 28 with 19 seconds left and the Vikings at the Saints 38 yard line. The field goal would have been a long attempt but do able indoors. Brett Farve rolls out to pass and makes the cardinal sin a Quarterback should never do. Throws late across his body. Saints Corner Tracy Porter would jump the route intercept the pass ending the Vikings chance of even attempting a game winning kick. Saints would win the toss in overtime. Drive the field, kick the game winning field goal and go on to their 1st super bowl in team history, oh Brett!!!!
3. Packers at Seahawks (2014)
Remember Wilson to Kearse earlier.. Yeah so the Packers would be up 19-7 with five minutes to play after Russell Wilson would throw his 4th interception in a game that we would think were watching 2024 Russell Wilson play quarterback. The Seahawks would eventually get the game to within 5 with 2:09 to play but have to attempt an onside kick. Packers tight end Brandon Bostick would botch the kick onside kick attempt, Seahawks recover. Beast mode (Marshawn Lynch!!) would give the Hawks a 22-19 lead (which included an Houdini Russell Wilson pass for the two point conversion). Aaron Rodgers on one leg would get the Packers down the field to kick a field a goal to force overtime. However, just like a year before the game winning touchdown would be thrown from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse from you guessed it, 35 yards out. I think this is the most devastating Championship game loss of the century for any team.
2. Patriots at Chiefs (2018)
It was 17-7 Patriots going into the 4th Quarter before all hell broke loose in a frigid night in K.C. The Chiefs would go up 28-24 and intercept a Tom Brady pass, Chiefs going to the Super bowl… nope Dee Ford was offsides by a nose. Pats would take the lead with 35 seconds left. But we would quickly learn of Patrick Mahomes greatness, he would lead his Jefes in field goal range to force overtime, locked at 31. The Pats would win the toss. Tom Brady would convert 3 3rd and 10’s before Rex Burkhead would run it in from 2 yards out get Tom and Bill to their 9th super bowl. How could this game be beat…
1.Patriots at Colts (2006)
Well this game happened. Peyton Manning was 0-2 against Tom Brady in the playoffs and both game were terrible performances in Foxboro. But this game was in Indy so it would be different right? Not early on, the Pats would go up 21-3 midway through the 2nd Quarter before the Colts would get a field goal to be up 21-6 at halftime. Peyton would be unbelievable in the 2nd half scoring 32 points including a sneaky 5 run touchdown run by Joseph Addai (not to be confused with Joseph Assai from earlier) on third and goal to put the Colts up 38-34 with 1:06 to play. Tom Brady would drive the Pats into Colts territory before Colts safety Marlon Jackson would jump a route to seal the game for the Colts. This was the beginning of Peyton Vs Tom being rivals. Believe it or not this would be the last time the two titans would meet in the playoffs until 2 AFC Championship game meetings later in Peyton’s career with Peyton Manning now with the Broncos. Peyton went 3-2 against Tom in championship games. Could Mahomes Vs Lamar maybe be the new rivalry? Well find out on Sunday in Baltimore!