What to Look For - Conference Championships | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site

What to Look For - Conference Championships

01/21/2021

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With a quarterback many consider the greatest of all time at that position, it would be a stretch to label the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a Cinderella story in this year’s National Football League playoffs. Even considering their No. 5 seed in the NFC.

The Buccaneers, Packers, Chiefs and Bill have won at least 13 games each this season (including playoffs), the first time since 2005 the conference title games have included four teams with that level of success.

The four also are among the league’s top scoring offenses this season, pointing to the possibility of a pair of shootouts to determine the conference champions and representatives in Super Bowl LV.

For other key statistics and matchup to watch for, read on...

A FANTASTIC FINAL FOUR: On Championship Sunday, the Super Bowl LV participants will be determined. In the NFC (3:05 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(13-5) take on the GREEN BAY PACKERS (14-3) while the BUFFALO BILLS (15-3) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) in the AFC (6:40 PM ET, CBS/CBS All Access/ESPN Deportes).

Each of the remaining teams has won at least 13 regular-season and postseason games combined this season, marking the first time since 2015 that all four teams in the Conference Championship games each have at least 13 combined regular-season and postseason wins.

Additionally, each of the four teams in action this weekend averaged at least 29 points per game in the regular season, marking the first time in the Super Bowl era that all four teams in the Conference Championship games averaged at least 29 points per game. Green Bay (31.8 points per game), Buffalo (31.3) and Tampa Bay (30.8) were the three highest scoring teams in the league this season.

With victories by the Packers and Bills on Sunday, the Super Bowl would feature the two highest-scoring teams from the regular season for the fifth time since 1970 and the first time since 1997.

The Super Bowls featuring the two highest-scoring teams from the regular season since 1970:

SEASON	NO. 1 OFFENSE	NO. 2 OFFENSE	SUPER BOWL
1997	Denver Broncos	Green Bay Packers	XXXII
1996	Green Bay Packers	New England Patriots	XXXI
1991	Washington Redskins	Buffalo Bills	XXVI
1984	Miami Dolphins	San Francisco 49ers	XIX

TOP PASSERS REMAIN: Each of the four starting quarterbacks remaining in the 2020 postseason recorded at least 35 touchdown passes this season – Green Bay’s AARON RODGERS (48 touchdown passes), Tampa Bay’s TOM BRADY (40), Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (38) and Buffalo’s JOSH ALLEN (37).

This is the first time since 1970 that each of the four starting quarterbacks in the Conference Championship games recorded at least 35 touchdown passes in the regular season.

No matter the outcome of this Sunday’s games, Super Bowl LV will have the most or second-most combined regular season touchdown passes between the two starting quarterbacks ever.

The Super Bowls with the most combined regular season touchdown passes between the two starting quarterbacks:

SEASON	QUARTERBACKS (TOUCHDOWN PASSES)	TOTAL TOUCHDOWN PASSES	SUPER BOWL
2013	Peyton Manning (55) & Russell Wilson (26)	81	XLVIII
1984	Dan Marino^HOF(48) & Joe Montana^HOF(28)	76	XIX
2007	Tom Brady (50) & Eli Manning (23)	73	XLII

BRING IT HOME: Last week, the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS defeated New Orleans, 30-20, to advance to their fourth NFC Championship Game in franchise history.

With a win at Green Bay on Sunday (3:05 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), the Buccaneers will become the first team to play in a Super Bowl in the team’s home stadium and the fifth team to play in a Super Bowl that was hosted in their home state.

The Super Bowls with a team playing in its home state:

SUPER BOWL	SITE	DATE	WINNING TEAM	LOSING TEAM
XXXVII	San Diego, CA	January 26, 2003	Tampa Bay	Oakland Raiders
XIX	Stanford, CA	January 20, 1985	San Francisco	Miami
XIV	Pasadena, CA	January 20, 1980	Pittsburgh	Los Angeles Rams
XI	Pasadena, CA	January 9, 1977	Oakland Raiders	Minnesota

Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY enters Championship Sunday as the NFL’s all-time postseason leader in starts (43), wins (32), passing yards (11,968) and touchdown passes (77). He is expected to make his 14th career start in a Conference Championship game, and first with Tampa Bay.

If the Buccaneers advance to Super Bowl LV, Brady will become the fourth quarterback to start a Super Bowl for multiple teams, joining PEYTON MANNING (Denver and Indianapolis), CRAIG MORTON (Dallas and Denver) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (Arizona and St. Louis Rams).

The quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl for multiple teams in NFL history:

PLAYER	FIRST TEAM (SUPER BOWLS)	SECOND TEAM (SUPER BOWLS)
Peyton Manning	Indianapolis (XLI, XLIV)	Denver (XLVIII, 50)
Craig Morton	Dallas (V)	Denver (XII)
Kurt Warner^HOF	St. Louis Rams (XXXIV, XXXVI)	Arizona (XLIII)

Tampa Bay cornerback SEAN MURPHY-BUNTING has an interception in each of the Buccaneers’ two postseason games this season. With an interception on Sunday, Murphy-Bunting with become the fourth player to record an interception in each of his first three career postseason games in the Super Bowl era, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers AENEAS WILLIAMS (first four postseason games) and ED REED (three), as well as JASON SEHORN (three).

The players to record an interception in the most consecutive games to begin their postseason career in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	GAMES (DATES)
Aeneas Williams^HOF	Arizona, St. Louis Rams	4 (Jan. 2, 1998 – Jan. 27, 2002)
Ed Reed^HOF	Baltimore	3 (Jan. 3, 2004 – Jan. 4, 2009)
Jason Sehorn	New York Giants	3 (Dec. 27, 1997 – Jan. 14, 2001)

*Sean Murphy-Bunting*	*Tampa Bay*	**2 (Jan. 9, 2021 – Jan. 17, 2021)***
*active streak

HUNTING MORE TITLES IN TITLETOWN: The GREEN BAY PACKERS advanced to their second consecutive Conference Championship with a 32-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Playoffs. With the win, Green Bay tied the PITTSBURGH STEELERS (36 wins) for the second-most postseason victories in NFL history.

With a win against the Buccaneers on Sunday (3:05 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), the Packers would tie the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (37 wins) for the most postseason victories in NFL history.

The teams with the most postseason wins in NFL history:

TEAM	WINS	SUPER BOWL WINS
New England	37	6
*Green Bay*	36	4
Pittsburgh	36	6
Dallas	35	5
San Francisco	32	5

Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS led the NFL with a career-high 48 touchdown passes this season. If the Packers advance to Super Bowl LV, Rodgers will be the sixth quarterback since 2000 and first since PEYTON MANNING in 2013 to reach the Super Bowl in the same season that he led the league in touchdown passes.

The quarterbacks to lead the league in touchdown passes and reach the Super Bowl in the same season since 2000:

SEASON	PLAYER	TEAM	TOUCHDOWN PASSES	SUPER BOWL
2013	Peyton Manning	Denver	55	XLVIII
2009	Drew Brees	New Orleans	34	XLIV
2007	Tom Brady	New England	50	XLII
2006	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis	31	XLI
2001	Kurt Warner^HOF	St. Louis Rams	36	XXXVI

Last week, Rodgers passed for 296 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions and a 108.1 rating, his eighth consecutive postseason game with at least two touchdown passes, tied with JOE FLACCO (eight consecutive games) for the most consecutive postseason games with at least two touchdown passes in NFL history.

With at least two touchdown passes on Sunday, Rodgers will become the first player in league annals to record at least two touchdown passes in nine consecutive postseason games.

The players with the most consecutive postseason games with at least two touchdown passes in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	GAMES (DATES)
Joe Flacco	Baltimore	8 (Jan. 15, 2012 – Jan. 10, 2015)
*Aaron Rodgers*	*Green Bay*	**8 (Jan. 10, 2016 – Jan. 17, 2021)***
*active streak

RUN IT BACK: The reigning Super Bowl champion KANSAS CITY CHIEFS are hosting their third consecutive AFC Championship Game, joining the 2002-04 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – who were also led by head coach ANDY REID – as the only teams in NFL history to host three consecutive Championship games. The Chiefs also look to become the first team since the 2003-04 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Last year, quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES became the youngest quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP. If Kansas City defeats Buffalo on Sunday (6:40 PM ET, CBS/CBS All Access/ESPN Deportes), Mahomes is expected to become the youngest quarterback in NFL history (25 years and 143 days old on date of Super Bowl LV) to start two Super Bowls, surpassing RUSSELL WILSON, who was 26 years and 64 days old at the time of his second Super Bowl start (SB XLIX).

Last week, Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded eight receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown, his fourth career postseason game with at least 100 receiving yards, tied for the most by a tight end in NFL history.

In 10 career postseason games, Kelce has totaled 60 catches for 741 yards and seven touchdowns, all among the most by a tight end in postseason history. Tampa Bay tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI is the leader in all three categories.

The tight ends with the most career receptions in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	RECEPTIONS
*Rob Gronkowski*	*New England, Tampa Bay*	82*
Dallas Clark	Indianapolis	64
Jay Novacek	Dallas	62
Shannon Sharpe^HOF	Denver, Baltimore	62
Brent Jones	San Francisco	60
*Travis Kelce*	*Kansas City*	60*
*active

The tight ends with the most career receiving yards in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	RECEIVING YARDS
Rob Gronkowski*	*New England, Tampa Bay*	1,177*
Dallas Clark	Indianapolis	847
Keith Jackson	Philadelphia, Miami, Green Bay	834
Shannon Sharpe^HOF	Denver, Baltimore	814
Travis Kelce*	*Kansas City*	741*
*active

The tight ends with the most career receiving touchdowns in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
Rob Gronkowski*	*New England, Tampa Bay*	12*
Dave Casper^HOF	Houston Oilers, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders	7
Vernon Davis	San Francisco, Denver	7
Travis Kelce*	*Kansas City*	7*
*active

SUPER STEFON: Last week, the BUFFALO BILLS defeated Baltimore, 17-3, to advance to their first AFC Championship Game since the 1993 season.

Wide receiver STEFON DIGGS recorded a team-high 106 receiving yards with a touchdown catch in the victory, after leading the league with a career-high 1,535 receiving yards in the 2020 regular season.

If Buffalo defeats Kansas City on Sunday (6:40 PM ET, CBS/CBS All Access/ESPN Deportes), Diggs will become the third player to reach the Super Bowl in the same season that he led the league in receiving yards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (1989 and 1994) and DREW PEARSON (1977).

The players to lead the league in receiving yards and reach the Super Bowl in the same season in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON	RECEIVING YARDS	SUPER BOWL
Jerry Rice^HOF	San Francisco	1994	1,499	XXIX
Jerry Rice^HOF	San Francisco	1989	1,423	XXIV
Drew Pearson	Dallas	1977	870	XII

RUNNING THROUGH THE NFC: Last week, Green Bay running back AARON JONES rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown, his third consecutive postseason game with a rushing touchdown.

With a rushing touchdown in the NFC Championship Game, Jones will become the fourth player in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in each of his first four postseason games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRELL DAVIS (first seven postseason games) and CURTIS MARTIN (first five games), as well as ARIAN FOSTER (first four games).

The players to record a rushing touchdown in the most consecutive games to begin their postseason career in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	GAMES (DATES)
Terrell Davis^HOF	Denver	7 (Jan. 4, 1997 – Jan. 17, 1999)
Curtis Martin^HOF	New England, New York Jets	5 (Jan. 5, 1997 – Jan. 17, 1999)
Arian Foster	Houston	4 (Jan. 7, 2012 – Jan. 13, 2013)

*Aaron Jones*	*Green Bay*	**3 (Jan. 12, 2020 – Jan. 16, 2021)***
*Active streak

Tampa Bay running back LEONARD FOURNETTE recorded 107 scrimmage yards (63 rushing, 44 receiving) and a receiving touchdown in the Divisional Playoffs, his fourth consecutive postseason game with at least 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

In the NFC Championship game, Fournette can become the fifth running back with at least 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in five consecutive postseason games in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRELL DAVIS (seven games), MARCUS ALLEN (five), FRANCO HARRIS (five) and JOHN RIGGINS (five).

The running backs with the most consecutive postseason games with at least 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	GAMES (DATES)
Terrell Davis^HOF	Denver	7 (Jan. 4, 1997 – Jan. 17, 1999)
Marcus Allen^HOF	Los Angeles Raiders	5 (Jan. 1, 1984 – Jan. 5, 1986)
Franco Harris^HOF	Pittsburgh	5 (Dec. 22, 1974 – Jan. 4, 1976)
John Riggins^HOF	Washington	5 (Jan. 15, 1983 – Jan. 8, 1984)

*Leonard Fournette*	*Jacksonville, Tampa Bay*	**4 (Jan. 14, 2018 – Jan. 17, 2021)***
*Active streak

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