The Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers have two more wins to be Super Bowl Champs. The question is which one will do it?
The Rams shocked Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday by 30-27. After the Bucs went down 27-3, Brady threw for over 100 yards in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 27-27.
But, as it turns out, the Bucs left Los Angeles 42 seconds, which was just enough time for QB Matthew Stafford to pull off a Brady-like finish. Stafford teamed up with NFL receiving leader Cooper Kupp for a pair of long completions to set up the game-winning 30-yard field goal from Matt Gay as time expired. This ended Tom Brady’s incredible season and sent him to retirement. The GOAT will be missed, but right now, there’s still unfinished business.
The Bengals took care of business by also winning their game on a last-second 52-yard field goal by rookie Evan McPherson. This FG beat the top AFC seed Tennessee Titans 19-16 and sent Cincinnati to its first AFC championship game in 33 years. QB Joe Burrow was sacked nine times but still threw for 348 yards to become the first quarterback taken No. 1 overall to win a divisional game within his first two seasons.
The Titans wrapped up their 25th season in Tennessee with their third straight playoff loss on their own field as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The 49ers completely shocked the nation by beating the top-seed Green Bay Packers 13-10. They won the same way the Rams and Bengals won. Robbie Gould made a 45-yard field goal as time expired, which was his 20th made playoff field goal out of 20 tries.
This marks the 17th conference championship appearance for the 49ers, and the first time both No. 1 seeds lost in the divisional round in the same season since 2010. The Packers scored a touchdown on the very first drive of the game, and it seemed as if they were going to blow the game wide open. But the 49ers defense shut down Rodgers and the Packers the rest of the way.
The Chiefs were the only team that didn’t need a field goal to win. Their game still ended in an exciting way by going to overtime. The lead changed three times in the final two minutes of regulation, and there were 25 points scored over that stretch. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen threw the go-ahead touchdown to Gabriel Davis with 13 seconds left in regulation to seemingly win the game. But Mahomes had other plans.
He found Tyreek Hill for 19 yards, then hit Travis Kelce for 25 more, giving Harrison Butker the chance to drill a 49-harder as time expired. In overtime, Allen made his only bad decision of the night by choosing the wrong side of the coin in the coin toss. Kansas City got the ball first, drove down the field, and Mahomes hit Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone from 8 yards. Game over. Chiefs win 42-36.
Now the next team to get two more wins is Super Bowl champs. The Bengals play the Chiefs and are trying to make it to the final game for the first time since they lost to the 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII on January 22, 1989. Kansas City has been to the last two Super Bowls, winning one and losing one. Everyone is expecting Mahomes and Kansas City to win, but don’t underestimate the Bengal’s young squad. This is Cincinnati Quarterback Joe Burrow’s first appearance in the AFC championship game and they are very hungry.
San Francisco has been to the last two out of nine Super Bowls, with both ending as losses. The haven’t won one since QB Steve Young led them to a 49-26 blowout of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX on January 29, 1995. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is wanting redemption after losing two years ago. The Rams last went to the Super Bowl three years ago and lost to the New England Patriots on February 3, 2019.
They last won one on January 30, 2000, when they beat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV. Both of these teams have really good defenses, which means one of these teams will need more to win. Jimmy G and Los Angeles QB Mathew Stafford both have average talent but possess solid Offensive Lines. What I believe gives the Rams the advantage is Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp. He saved the day for his team last week and should do it again against the 49ers.
Article by: Chris Steele, iHearts143Quotes Team member
