The NFL Conference Championships have concluded and its the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have advanced to the Super Bowl LV on 7th February, having won the NFC and AFC championships respectively.
Buccaneers defeat Packers 31-26, win 2nd NFC Championship
Having entered the playoffs after thirteen years, hopes were high on Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Led by the veteran quarterback Tom Brady, the Bucs thrashed Green Bay Packers 31-26.
Brady completed 20 out of 36 passes, covering 280 passing yards. The 43-year-old also threw three touchdown passes and clocked three interceptions. Running back Leonard Fournette rushed for 55 yards and landed one rushing TD.
Bucs clinched their second ever NFC Championship after 18 years, since their first win back in 2002, the same year when they won the Super Bowl XXXVII against Las Vegas (then Oakland) Raiders. They will now enjoy the home field advantage at the Raymond James Stadium, where the Super Bowl takes place.
“It was obviously the goal of ours to start the season, but getting to the Super Bowl wasn’t what our goal is,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said after the match, “Our goal was to win it.”
Going home from an upset, the Packers missed the chance to secure their place in the final, as well as clinch a stupendous feat that only the New England Patriots are currently in possession of.
Chiefs dominate Bills 38-24 to clinch their second straight AFC Championship
Last year, Kansas City Chiefs broke their drought of 50 years after winning their second ever Super Bowl. Now, they are eyeing their third.
The defending champions are on a stellar run this year, and they are now heading for their second straight Super Bowl appearance with a 31-15 domination over Buffalo Bills, having clinched back to back AFC Championships.
Patrick Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes with covering 325 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Darrel Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire both rushed for a TD each, with Travis Kelce receiving two TD passes from Mahomes.
“We did a good job as far as rehabbing, getting myself ready to go,” Mahomes, who recently recovered from concussion and foot issue, said after the victory, “I felt like I was myself out there and we were able to go out there and score points against a really good football team.”
