The 2020 NFL Playoffs have been whittled down to four teams as the AFC Championship and NFC Championship games are set for next week.
After an upset-filled Wild Card Weekend of the 2020 NFL Playoffs, there were high hopes for the Divisional Round and the potential chaos that it could bring. Ultimately, it was largely a chalk week across the 2020 NFL Playoff bracket as three of the four higher seeds advanced. The Tennessee Titans, however, may have pulled off the upset of the year — again.
One week removed from the No. 6 seed in the AFC going into Foxborough and knocking off Tom Brady and the Patriots, Derrick Henry and the Titans went on the road to Baltimore to face not only the team with the best record in the NFL but a team led by likely MVP Lamar Jackson. And they didn’t just win, they did so in dominant fashion.
Their second upset victory now has them in the AFC Championship Game where they’ll be on the road once again. But let’s look at the team that will face the upset-minded Titans and who is facing off in the NFC Championship Game as well as the matchups and schedule for Conference Championship weekend of the 2020 NFL Playoffs are now set.
6 Tennessee Titans at 2 Kansas City Chiefs – AFC Championship Game
Time: Sunday, Jan. 19, 3:05 p.m. ET | CBS
While the Titans were able to pull off an incredible feat by taking down the Ravens, their fellow AFC South members, the Houston Texans, seemed to be on their way to another big-time shocker. They jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and seemed to have the game on lock. Instead, it was fool’s gold for Houston.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offense turned on the afterburners on Sunday afternoon from Arrowhead Stadium and never looked back. They rallied back from that huge deficit with 41 unanswered points and ultimately picked up a 51-31 victory.
Kansas City will host Henry, Ryan Tannehill and the Titans on Sunday afternoon in the AFC Championship Game in what should be a thrilling matchup. Tennessee is the hottest team in the league but no team can get hotter in a game than KC. This should be must-watch TV for NFL fans.
2 Green Bay Packers at 1 San Francisco 49ers – NFC Championship Game
Time: Sunday, Jan. 19, 6:40 p.m. ET | FOX
To begin the Divisional Round on Saturday afternoon, Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers welcomed the Minnesota Vikings to Levi’s Stadium and everyone wondered how the quarterback would fare in his first career playoff start. As it turned out, he wasn’t needed all that much. The Niners defense was dominant behind Nick Bosa and co. and San Fran punched their ticket to the next round.
That set the stage for a potential all-NFC West matchup in the NFC Championship Game as the Seattle Seahawks went on the road to try and catch Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers slipping. Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones had other plans though, as they jumped out to a 28-10 lead and then held off a Russell Wilson comeback.
So, while the AFC side of the 2020 NFL Playoff bracket has the No. 6 seed in the conference championship game, the NFC side is the top two seeds duking it out for the right to head to Miami for Super Bowl LIV. And while San Fran won the regular-season matchup handily, you have to believe the playoff stakes will make this one a thriller from the Bay Area.