(Pittsburgh,Pa) The AFC and NFC Championship games were packed with drama as each game produced the 2 participants that will take part in Super Bowl 52 in two weeks in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The two opponents are no strangers as the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will face each other in the Big Game for the first time since 2004 in Super Bowl 39. The Patriots won that contest by the score of 24-21. It’s the 10th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots and the 3rd for the Eagles. The Patriots have won 5 Lombardi Trophies and the Eagles winless on the big stage.
???@tonyromo‘s BEST CALLS from the AFC Championship! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PhXDCx3lct
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2018
The AFC championship game-at one point looked like the Jacksonville Jaguars would’ve made their first Super Bowl in franchise history, but they failed to do the one thing and that was put the Patriots away. After disposing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round, QB Blake Bortles got the Jaguars started as they punched the Patriots in the mouth en-route to a 14-3 lead at Gillette Stadium, but you knew QB Tom Brady and his injured hand would eventually wake up and get the Patriots back into this game, and that he did.
Tom Brady’s Top 5 Throws from the AFC Championship! #GoPats #NFLPlayoffs #JAXvsNE pic.twitter.com/Rgnfn9PoiD
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2018
The Patriots would close to within 7 before the half with a 1-yard run by RB James White. In the second half, all the Jaguars could do was settle for 2 Josh Lambo field goals which only extended their lead to 20-10. Then came the 4th quarter, and the Patriots. Brady fired 2 TDs to WR Danny Amendola and suddenly the Patriots had a 24-20 lead. Bortles and the Jaguars unsuccessfully tried to get in into the end zone as the Patriots received the Lamar Hunt Trophy given to the AFC Champion. Former Steeler LB James Harrison had a sack & 3 tackles in the game.
EVERY deep ball from @NFoles_9 in the NFC Championship! #FlyEaglesFly #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/l6DstA27ab
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2018
NFC Championship Game-The Minnesota Vikings were hoping to become the first NFL team to host a Super Bowl and they got off to a good start as they took an early 7-0 lead over the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. But unfortunately, it was Casey Keenum’s next pass that began to hurt their chances as it was intercepted by CB Patrick Robinson who returned it 50 yards for the game-tying TD. Then the Eagles would do onto score 35 unanswered points to beat the Vikings 38-7 and get the George Halas Trophy, given to the NFC Champion. QB Nick Foles was amazing as he passed for 352 yards and 3 TDs for the Eagles.
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