NFL Championship Sunday: It'll Be a Chiefs-49ers Rematch in Super Bowl LVIII
Super Bowl LVIII is set. And it’s a couple of juggernauts.
The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to Super Sunday in Las Vegas, beating the Baltimore Ravens, 17–10, in the AFC championship game. For the Chiefs, it will be their sixth appearance in the Super Bowl, having gone 3–2 in previous attempts.
Meanwhile, the NFC title game saw the San Francisco 49ers fall behind the Detroit Lions by 17 points at halftime, before the host flexed considerable muscle to ruin the Lions’ special season..
For the 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan, they’ve now reached their second Super Bowl in five seasons. Meanwhile, the Lions go home after winning the NFC North and two playoff games, altering a culture of losing for the better part of six decades.
NFC Championship
49ers 34, Lions 31
McCaffrey totaled 132 scrimmage yards along with two rushing touchdowns.
Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports
- What it means for Lions: Detroit (14–6) had a terrific year, but it doesn’t feel like it at the moment. The Lions had a 24–7 lead at halftime and gave up 27 unanswered points with Dan Campbell making two head-scratching decisions to eschew reasonable field goals, only to fail on both fourth-down attempts. Still, the Lions won the NFC North for the first time in their history. They hosted a playoff game for the first time in 30 years. They went to the NFC title game for the first time since 1991. The ending was sour, but the season was an unqualified success for the Lions.
- What it means for 49ers: San Francisco (14–5) is going to the Super Bowl once again, this time with Brock Purdy at the helm. The Niners fell behind early to the Lions before showing their might, with Purdy throwing for 267 yards and a touchdown along with an interception. The brightest star was Christian McCaffrey, who totaled 132 yards from scrimmage with two scores. Now, it’s a chance to get revenge for Super Bowl LIV against Kansas City.
AFC championship
Chiefs 17, Ravens 10
Kelce had 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports
- What it means for Chiefs: Kansas City (14–6) has further cemented itself as a dynasty. The Chiefs are going to their fourth Super Bowl in five years, looking to become the first repeat champion since the 2003-04 New England Patriots. Patrick Mahomes threw for only 241 yards and a single touchdown, but for the first time in the postseason, Kansas City didn’t commit a turnover. Travis Kelce turned back the clock, catching 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. For the Chiefs, immortality is at hand in Las Vegas two weeks from Sunday.
- What it means for Ravens: Baltimore (14–5) had an unbelievable season, but it ended in bitter disappointment. Lamar Jackson and the offense turned the ball over three times, including twice in the end zone to seal their fate despite a defensive effort that saw Kansas City shut out in the second half. Moving forward, the Ravens have a host of key free agents to retain, including Kevin Zeitler, Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Madubuike and others. A wonderful season once again for naught in Baltimore.
