Four teams enter, two teams will leave. But which ones will go onto the Super Bowl? Let’s look at some stats and records that will only confuse things more.
10 things that may or may not predict the NFL conference championships
FACTS!
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
1. There will be an upset
History tells us there will be an upset today. In current playoff format (1990) both #1 seeds have NEVER made it to Super Bowl in b2b years
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 18, 2015
Bettors are giving the Colts slightly better chances off pulling off the upset, or at least covering the spread.
2. The Seahawks are pretty good at home
#Seahawks at home during Russell Wilson era have won 25 of 27 games (20-7 Against the Spread)
— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) January 18, 2015 The Packers are 32-29 on the road since 2008, when Aaron Rodgers became the team’s primary quarterback.
3. Russell Wilson is pretty good in the postseason
Top 3 in postseason QB rating (min. 150 att.): 1. Russell Wilson 109.6; 2, Aaron Rodgers 105.3; and 3. Bart Starr 104.8. #Packers #Seahawks
— Robert Zizzo (@robertzizzo) January 18, 2015 Whoa. Better than Flacco even ...
4. The Packers have been good against the Seahawks in the playoffs
@packers 2-0 vs @seahawks in playoffs. "We want the ball and we're gonna score" and Ryan Grant in the snow. What memory awaits today?
— tim van vooren (@tvvfoxsix) January 18, 2015 But the last time they played each other in the postseason was January 2008. Both of those games were in Green Bay.
5. What about Aaron Rodgers?
Green Bay has never been a touchdown underdog in a game Aaron Rodgers has started. Packers are currently +8 today.
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) January 18, 2015
Oh my.
6. Tom Brady has some experience with this
The Patriots quarterback has been to the AFC Championship nine times. That’s an NFL record. New England is 5-3 in those games.
7. So maybe it’ll be Andrew Luck?
Andrew Luck: Trying to become 4th QB to beat Peyton Manning & Tom Brady in consecutive games (McNair/Sanchez/Flacco).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 18, 2015 That’s #ELITE company potentially welcoming Andrew Luck. He certainly seems like the most talented quarterback of that group, but the bigger question is whether or not the team around him is good enough to stop Tom Brady and whatever running back Bill Belichick decides to use this week.
8. It really could be Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck is 12-0 when facing a team again in the same season. Won all 9 divisional games the 2nd time and playoff games vs. KC, CIN, DEN.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) January 18, 2015 He’s 0-3 against the Patriots, including a loss in last year’s divisional round game, but has never faced them twice in the same season.
9. Mr. Clutch
Sunday will be Vinatieri’s 30th postseason game, Brady’s 28th http://t.co/tm4Tprw40J pic.twitter.com/ByHPqnouV5
— SUPER BOWL on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 17, 2015 Vinatieri won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and one with the Colts. Most notably, the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl without him.
10. All the rings!
According to @EliasSports this is the first Championship Sunday ever where all 4 franchises had won a Super Bowl in the previous 10 seasons.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 18, 2015
This also happens to be the first time since 1983 that three of the four starting quarterbacks and head coaches in the conference championships have Super Bowl rings.
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