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Following a great weekend of football in the NFL’s divisional round, the two championship game matchups are set. In the NFC, one legendary quarterback duel - Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees - is replaced by a second legendary quarterback duel - Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers.
In the AFC, the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs survived an injury to Patrick Mahomes to advance to their third straight AFC Championship Game. The Bills, making the most of their first successful postseason in 25 years, took out Lamar Jackson and the Ravens and are a game away from their first Super Bowl since 1994.
NFC Championship: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers (-3½)
For the first time since the 2007 season, a ticket to the Super Bowl will be punched at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. That year, it was the Giants beating the Packers, who then went on to spoil the perfect season of the Patriots.
This year’s storyline once again involves Brady, who now leads the Buccaneers and their collection of outside weapons. He is in his 14th career conference championship game - though his first playing in the NFC - and is seeking a 10th trip to the Super Bowl. It would also be the first time a team played a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
Rodgers was not the quarterback in that last Lambeau Field NFC Championship Game. Brett Favre was the quarterback, making his last ever start for the Packers.
So this will mark the first time in Rodgers’ career that he will play for the George Halas Trophy at home. On the road, in the NFC Championship Game, he is 1-3 for his career - losing at Seattle, Atlanta, and San Francisco last year.
Rodgers is the likely NFL MVP, and the Packers offense is one of the most well balanced in the league, and that has online betting markets making them the early 3½-point favorites.
AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
Rodgers, at 37 years old, is hosting an NFC Championship Game for the first time, while Mahomes, at 25, is hosting his third straight AFC Championship Game. Each team has the best odds to win Super Bowl LV in their respective conferences.
But will Mahomes be healthy?
He injured his toe in the first half of Kansas City’s win over Cleveland, then was forced to leave the game after a third-quarter concussion. But even without clarity on the availability of Mahomes, online sportsbooks have installed the Chiefs as early field goal favorites.
If Mahomes isn’t able to play, it will be backup Chad Henne making the start.
Three of the four quarterbacks playing on Sunday have won NFL MVP awards and Super Bowl MVPs. The one who hasn’t, Josh Allen, might be playing better than all of them right now.
Since the Bills lost on a last-second hail mary touchdown pass at Arizona, they have eight straight wins, and Allen has 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
Buffalo did lose to Kansas City in Week 6, 27-14, and Allen was held to just 122 yards passing - his season low. But since then, he’s gone over 300 yards six times and is playing at an MVP level.
