Best NFC Championship Games

Author:
SI Staff
Updated:
Jan 19, 2020
Original:
Jan 25, 2010

Best NFC Championship Games

1966: Packers 34, Cowboys 27

Ever wonder what NFL life would be like with the "Landry Trophy" instead of the Lombardi Trophy? Before the Ice Bowl, the Cowboys could have won this one. The Packers went up 14-0 at the Cotton Bowl. The upstart Cowboys closed to within 21-20 later. The Packers stretched it out again to 34-20. But with Dallas within 34-27, Don Meredith carried his team to a first-and-goal at the Packers' 2-yard-line. Before long it was fourth-and-goal at the two. Then the Pack's Tom Brown intercepted a pass in the end zone.<br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

1967: Packers 21, Cowboys 17

Four fans had heart attacks in the stands. Nearly two dozen were hospitalized and treated for exposure in minus-45 wind chill temperatures. One fan died. If the Ice Bowl were allowed to happen today, there's a good chance the NFL would be sued. And if Vince Lombardi's call of a quarterback sneak with 16-seconds remaining and no timeouts happened today -- and failed -- he likely would be fired by Monday morning. Instead, he has his name on the most recognizable trophy in American sports. Times change, but the legend of the Ice Bowl never will. Bart Starr sneaks it behind Jerry Kramer. Ballgame.

1981: 49ers 28, Cowboys 27

The game was known for, "The Catch." The heroes were Joe Montana and Dwight Clark. But it easily could be argued the biggest play of the game actually was Eric Wright's fingertip tackle of Drew Pearson after Montana's heroics. And if played today? Perhaps it would be known as, "The Horse Collar." After Montana-to-Clark, Cowboys QB Danny White hit Pearson perfectly with just seconds left. No one was between Pearson and the end zone. But Niners DB Wright reached and barely grabbed the back of Pearson's jersey -- in horse-collar fashion -- and dragged the Cowboys receiver down before he broke away.

1983: Redskins 24, 49ers 21

Redskins kicker Mark Moseley was having a Nate Kaeding kind of day. Yeah, THAT bad ... Moseley missed four field goals, opening the door for the Niners. And after the 49ers came from behind to tie the game at 21, Moseley got one more shot after a pair of controversial pass interference calls set up the Redskins. Moseley hit the game-winning 25-yarder.

1990: Giants 15, 49ers 13

Each of these teams began the year 10-0 and staged an epic Monday Night game, which the Niners won 7-3. That led to homefield advantage for San Francisco and made the 49ers odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl. But trailing late in the game and San Francisco seemingly in control, Giants kicker Matt Bahr made a 46-yard field goal. Then Leonard Marshall knocked Joe Montana out of the game. Then Bill Parcells called a fake punt to set up another field goal. And after Roger Craig uncharacteristically fumbled, the Giants got the game-winning field goal and an unlikely win in the final two minutes.

1992: Cowboys 30, 49ers 20

Ever wonder where Jimmy Johnson's "How `bout dem Cowboys!" giddy howl came from? It was after this one, in a joyous Cowboys locker room. And it was well deserved. The Cowboys set up their 1990s dynasty in protypical style, choking the life -- and the football -- out of the 49ers defensively and making big plays offensively. Dallas forced four crucial turnovers and got huge games out of Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.

1995: Cowboys 38, Packers 27

The stars did what stars do. Troy Aikman and Brett Favre engaged in an epic back-and-forth battle. Emmitt Smith romped for three touchdown runs and Michael Irvin had more than 100 yards receiving and a pair of TDs. Favre brought his team from behind and took a late lead. But interestingly and often forgotten: Before little-known Larry Brown became Super Bowl MVP with a pair of picks two weeks later, he sealed the win in this one with an interception and 28-yard run prior to Smith's winning score.

1998: Falcons 30, Vikings 27 (OT)

No way Gary Anderson would miss. No way. The Vikings were brash and confident and near-perfect in every way, featuring a rejuvenated Randall Cunningham and a precocious rookie named Randy Moss. Until the 2007 Patriots, no team could match the 556 points the Vikes scored. But all they needed was three more to seal a 16-1 season and berth in the Super Bowl. Anderson, who had not missed a field goal all year, missed a 38-yarder wide left. The Falcons capitalized, tied the game, won it in overtime and went on to the Super Bowl instead. <br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

2008: Giants 23, Packers 20

Some athletes wait a lifetime for redemption and it never comes. The Giants -- and specifically kicker Lawernce Tynes -- had to wait just 2:35 of clock time. On the bitterly cold afternoon of football dubbed Ice Bowl 2, Tynes froze in more ways than one on the final play of regulation. He missed a 36-yard potential game-winner wide left. In overtime, however, the gunslinging ways of Brett Favre backfired, as he threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by New York's Corey Webster. Moments later, Tynes connected on a 47-yarder that sent the Giants to Glendale, Ariz., to face the New England Patriots and, ultimately, the Super Bowl title.

2009: Saints 31, Vikings 28 (OT)

Another brutal overtime loss for the Vikings in a championship game. With the game tied and Minnesota close to field-goal range in the waning seconds of regulation, Brett Favre throws across his body on third down and is intercepted by Tracy Porter. The Saints win the toss to start overtime and Drew Brees leads New Orleans into range for Garrett Hartley's game-winning 40-yard FG to send the Superdome into pandemonium.