On Sunday, the NFL Conference Championship games didn’t disappoint as there has been no shortage of exciting games in the NFL postseason. This postseason has seen a flurry of wins by only three points, and yesterday was no different.

Bengals Shut Down Chiefs in Second Half

After trailing Kansas City 21-3 in the second quarter, the Cincinnati Bengals came back to outscore the Chiefs 21-3 themselves throughout the rest of regulation and extend the game to overtime, coming out on top 27-24. The Cincinnati Bengals advance to their first Super Bowl since 1988 as. Rookie K Evan McPherson was again the difference maker in overtime. His 31-yard field goal was the game-winner as he was again 4-4 on the day.

The Chiefs tied the game on a 44-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time ran out in regulation. They then won the coin toss in overtime, and on third and ten on their own 25-yard line, Patrick Mahomes was intercepted by Bengals’ safety Vonn Bell. QB Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense then picked up three first downs to get to the KC 10 yard line, where McPherson made the game-winning kick. 

In the postseason, Cincinnati becomes the first team to win back-to-back overtime games as they picked up their second straight win over the Chiefs this season. In advancing to their first Super Bowl in 33 years, Cincinnati must play for the championship against the Rams on their home field in Los Angeles.

Rams Finally Triumph Over 49ers  

The Los Angeles Rams got their first victory over their division rival San Francisco 49ers since 2018 and advanced to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory in the NFC Championship game. Los Angeles came back from a 17-7 deficit to start the fourth quarter and held the 49ers scoreless in the final period while scoring 13 points of their own. In his first season in Los Angeles, QB Matthew Stafford will advance to the championship game after spending 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions and losing three times without a win in the playoffs.  

The Rams took the lead in the fourth quarter in the fourth quarter after a 10-play, 49-yard drive, which ended with a Matt Gay 30-yard field goal with 1:46 remaining in the game. After two incomplete passes by QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the Niners faced a third and thirteen. Travin Howard intercepted the quarterback’s short pass attempt to WR JaMycal Hasty. Stafford and the Rams then ran out the clock on the next possession to take the victory. 

Rams Making History

The Rams become the first team to host both an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl at their home stadium in the same season. Tampa Bay was the first to win the title on their home field last season. 

The Rams advance to their fourth Super Bowl, where they have lost two straight against the New England Patriots, in 2002 and 2019. They were victorious in Super Bowl 34 against the Tennessee Titans in 2000 and advanced to their first championship game in 1980, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl LVI is coming on February 13. It will be interesting to see if this is another 3-point postseason win. Joe Burrow has had a lot of success this year, but his luck may be running out. The Rams are the early favorites at -190, but the emphasis is on the NFL spread. Unless it moves, it’s only at four points.