Round 1

Bengals vs Raiders:

The Raiders came into the wild card game looking to win their first playoff game since the 2002-2003 season. After a season full of drama between head coaches and players amongst the team, they rallied around quarterback Derek Carr and interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to find themselves a playoff spot. The Bengals, led by second-year quarterback Joe Burrow, went from the worst team in football just two seasons ago, to winning the division for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. After a very evenly played game, it was the Raiders’ two turnovers that ultimately cost them the game, which ended as a 26-19 victory for the Bengals.

Patriots vs Bills:

After splitting their two games in the regular-season, these divisional rivals would face off in the first round for their third game against each other this season. With the Patriots’ last playoff win dating back to the Super Bowl in their classic 3-28 comeback victory, Bill Belichick led his Patriots back to the playoffs with rookie quarterback Mac Jones. However, they will have to wait another year for the chance at another playoff win after running into a firepower offense in the Bills, led by the elite dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills would keep their offense rolling in this game and steamroll the Patriots 47-17.

Steelers vs Chiefs:

As one of the most overlooked teams in the league this season, the Steelers continue to find a way to put themselves in a position to win and get to the playoffs. Being one of two teams to have six Super Bowl victories, the winning tradition was largely due to 18-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger, who would play his last game in the NFL this first round. The Chiefs would continue to play winning football with leader Patrick Mahomes under center and would prove why they averaged the most points per game last season in their 42-21 victory over the Steelers in the wild card round. 

Cardinals vs Rams:

Splitting their two regular-season games, the Cardinals and Rams would break their tie in the wild card round. After having the best record in the NFL for a majority of the season, the Cardinals had a rough ending to the season and let the Rams squeak past them by one game in the divisional standings. The Rams sacrificed several draft picks and players for their future to win right now, acquiring several superstars on both sides of the ball, such as Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford, to complete their team. The Rams’ well-rounded team would prove to be too much for the Cardinals to handle, ending with a final score of 34-11.

49ers vs Cowboys:

Playing in the best division in the NFL this season, there was a question as to whether or not the 49ers could make the playoffs while also getting 3rd in the division. With a defensive focused team, along with the unique running and receiving threat in Deebo Samuel, the 49ers found themselves in a first-round matchup vs the Cowboys. With Dak Prescott at quarterback and Ezekiel Elliot at running back, in addition to being the top-scoring team in the league, the Cowboys had high expectations for the playoffs. However, the Cowboys’ inability to win big games continued to hold true this season, as their comeback in the fourth quarter fell short in their defeat to the 49ers by a score of 23-17.

Eagles vs Buccaneers:

As the defending champs returned to the playoffs led by Tom Brady, there was question as to whether or not their injuries in the regular-season would catch up with them in the playoffs. Even not at full strength, their offense showed up early in this first round game to give them a very comfortable lead the rest of the game. For the Eagles, facing off against the defending Super Bowl champions in the first round was no easy task. When playing as huge underdogs, there is never much margin for error. The Eagles’ three turnovers would play a huge role in their defeat to the Buccaneers in the wild card round, which ended at a final score of 31-15.

Round 2

Bengals vs Titans:

With the Bengals heading to Tennessee to take on the number one seeded Titans, Burrow, Joe Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase would keep their momentum rolling to take down the Titans by a score of 19-16. Although Burrow was sacked a record-tying nine times against the Titans, it was ultimately the Titans’ inability to convert on third downs, going one for eight, and their three turnovers to the Bengals one that cost them the game. 

Bills vs Chiefs: 

With both teams facing off as a rematch from last year’s AFC Championship game, this year’s game definitely did not disappoint. As arguably one of the best football games in NFL history, the Chiefs defeated the Bills in overtime 42-36. There were countless times when it seemed like the Chiefs were out of contention and would be headed home, but none greater than when they were down by three with 13 seconds left on the game clock, with only one timeout, on their own 25-yard line. Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce made magic happen yet again and managed to get all the way down the field to give kicker Harrison Butker a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime. With one of the most controversial rules in the NFL, the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime, meaning if they scored a touchdown on their first drive of overtime, the game was over… and that is exactly what happened. With one of the most perfect games played by an opposing team, they still were sent home in the second round by the Chiefs and will have to wait another year for their revenge game to end in their favor.

Rams vs Buccaneers:

When the Rams got up 27-3 on the Buccaneers, everyone in America was probably packing it in and ready for the Rams vs 49ers NFC Championship… except for Tom Brady. This was no unfamiliar situation for the G.O.A.T., who achieved the largest comeback in NFL history against the Falcons during the Super Bowl just a few seasons ago when trailing 3-28. The Bucs marched all the way back to erase the 24-point lead to tie the game up 27-27 with just a few minutes remaining. While nerves had shown to be a factor for Matthew Stafford and the Rams in the second half, the final 42 seconds of the game were played to perfection. The Ram’s offense marched the whole length of the field and set up kicker Matt Gay for a game-winning field goal to send the Rams to the NFC Championship. Although it was not known at the time, this would be Brady’s last game in the NFL, to round out one of the best careers in the history of sports. Brady broke all sorts of records, but none is more meaningful than winning more Super Bowls (seven) than any other franchise in NFL history (six). 

49ers vs Packers:

The 49ers were the only team to have an upset in the first round, and they would not stop after the first-round either. Heading to Lambeau Field to play the top seed in the NFC, Super Bowl favorites, and horrible weather, all odds were against the 49ers. That did not stop them from pulling off the upset against Aaron Rogers and the Packers by a score of 13-10. Despite not scoring a touchdown on offense, the 49ers’ special teams are what won them the game, blocking a punt for a touchdown, as well as a field goal. A loss to the 49ers will potentially be the last game Rogers plays in Green Bay.

Round 3 

Chiefs vs Bengals:

With the Chiefs being back in the AFC Championship for the fourth year in a row, there was no doubt that the Chiefs were the heavy favorites in this matchup against an inexperienced, second-year quarterback in Burrow. This held true early in the game, with the Chiefs jumping out to a quick 18-point lead. All things seemed to be heading in the right direction for the Chiefs to be headed back to another Super Bowl, but Burrow and the Bengals mounted a comeback that nobody could have seen coming. The Bengals forced yet another overtime game for this year’s playoffs. Yet again, the Chiefs won the coin flip, giving a huge advantage to the Chiefs, just like the previous week vs the Bills. The Bengals defense was up for the challenge and forced an interception on the Chief’s opening drive in overtime, setting up the Bengal’s offense to get in field goal range for kicker Evan McPherson to make his game-winning field goal to shock the football world and send the Bengals to the Super Bowl. 

49ers vs Rams:

With no top-three seed, no Aaron Rogers and no Tom Brady, this NFC Championship matchup was one that hardly anybody had expected. When the unpredictable seemed to be over, it continued with the six seeded 49ers jumping out to a 17-7 lead through the first three quarters vs the Rams. Nerves yet again seemed to be a huge factor for the Rams to this point, being led by a quarterback who had never won a playoff game before this season in his 13-year career. But when the 49ers were just one quarter from the Super Bowl, their nerves kicked in, and the Rams seized the opportunity for a comeback, scoring 13 unanswered points in the final quarter to book themselves a ticket to the Super Bowl, which would be held in their home stadium in Los Angeles. 

Round 4

Bengals vs Rams:

With a very unexpected Super Bowl matchup between two #4 seeds, many fans saw this as a “win-win” Super Bowl. The combination of Matthew Stafford having not won a playoff game in his first 12 years in the NFL with the Lions, and Joe Burrow in only his second year turning around one of the worst franchises in the league and taking them to the Super Bowl all in the span of two years, everyone seemed to love both teams this year. While the stats by both teams were very similar, having a difference of only eight total yards for the game, it proved evident that the game would come down to the wire. For the Bengals, it was their defense’s two takeaways that kept them in the game. For the Rams, it was their seven sacks. It wasn’t until the last possession for the Rams that they were able to regain their lead from earlier in the game. Ultimately, it was the Rams’ defense lead by Aaron Donald that sealed the game with an incompletion on 4th and 1 to win the Super Bowl. After leading the league in receptions, touchdown catches, and reception yards, Cooper Kupp had another outstanding game in the Super Bowl with eight receptions, 92 yards, and two touchdowns, and was awarded the Super Bowl MVP award.