FANTASTIC FINAL FOUR: For the first time in NFL history, each of the four teams playing in the Conference Championships, presented by Intuit TurboTax, enter the weekend with 14-or-more wins, including postseason – the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (15-4) and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (15-3) in the NFC and the CINCINNATI BENGALS (14-4) and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-3) in the AFC.
San Francisco led the league in both total defense (300.6 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (16.3 points allowed per game) this season. The 49ers are looking to become the fourth team in the past 10 seasons to lead the NFL in total defense and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Denver in 2015 and Seattle in both 2013 and 2014.
Philadelphia ranked second in the NFL in defense this season, allowing 301.5 yards per game. The Eagles also led the league with 70 sacks, tied for the third-most ever by a team in a single season. They can become the fifth team since 2000 to lead the league in sacks and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Denver in 2015, Pittsburgh in 2010, the New York Giants in 2007 and Seattle in 2005.
Kansas City led the league in both total offense (413.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (29.2 points per game) in 2022. The Chiefs can become the fourth team in the past 10 seasons to lead the NFL in total offense and make the Super Bowl in the same year, joining the Chiefs in 2020, the Patriots in 2017 and the Broncos in 2013.
Both Philadelphia and Kansas City earned the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences and with victories by each team on Sunday, it would mark the 14th time since the NFL began seeding teams in 1975 that both top seeds faced off in the Super Bowl, and the first time in five years.
Cincinnati is looking to return to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons after its victory at Buffalo last week in the Divisional Round. Last year, the Bengals captured road victories at No. 1 seed Tennessee and No. 2 seed Kansas City to earn a trip to Super Bowl LVI.
With a win on Sunday at Kansas City (6:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+), Cincinnati can become the first team since the NFL began seeding teams in 1975 to defeat the No. 1 seed in its conference in consecutive postseasons. The Bengals would also become the second team ever to win two road playoff games in consecutive seasons, joining the 2009-10 New York Jets.
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
CHAMPIONSHIP COACHES: Kansas City head coach ANDY REID is set to make his 10th Conference Championship appearance, tied for the second-most ever by a head coach. After leading Philadelphia to Super Bowl XXXIX and Kansas City to Super Bowls LIV and LV, Reid can become the ninth head coach in NFL history to appear in at least four Super Bowls.
Reid enters Sunday with 20 career postseason victories and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (20 postseason wins) for the second-most playoff wins by a head coach in NFL history. Only BILL BELICHICK (31 wins) has more.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
