San Francisco 49Ers (12-4-1) at Atlanta Falcons (14-3)

(Sunday, FOX, 3:00 PM ET)

 

Close Games

The NFC Championship Game has featured close games in each of the past five seasons, including three overtime games. There have been five consecutive NFC Championship Games that were decided by seven points or fewer, the longest streak in conference championship game history.

The NFC's No. 2 seed San Francisco (12-4-1) travel this Sunday to play the No. 1 seed Atlanta (14-3). The Falcons had 10 games this season that finished within seven points or fewer, including last week's 30-28 win over Seattle, while San Francisco had four such games.

The past five NFC Championship Games to finish within seven points or fewer

Season	Teams	Winner	Final Score
Source: NFL
2007	N.Y. Giants at Green Bay	N.Y. Giants	23-20*
2008	Philadelphia at Arizona	Arizona	32-25
2009	Minnesota at New Orleans	New Orleans	31-28*
2010	Green Bay at Chicago	Green Bay	21-14
2011	N.Y. Giants at San Francisco	N.Y. Giants	20-17*

 

With a win against Atlanta on Sunday, the 49ers would earn their sixth Super Bowl berth, tying DENVER (six) for the fourth-most ever. The 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX).

The teams with the most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history are the Dallas Cowboys (8), Pittsburgh Steelers (8), New England Patriots (7), Denver Broncos (6), San Francisco 49ers (5 tied with five other teams).

 

Falcons Aiming High

The Falcons started the season 8-0 for the first time in franchise history and finished with a 13-3 record, earning the NFC's No. 1 seed.

The Falcons are now the ninth team since realignment in 2002 to start a season 8-0 and with a victory Sunday over San Francisco, they would become the fifth such team to reach the Super Bowl. Two of the four teams to accomplish the feat went on to win the Super Bowl (2006 Indianapolis and 2009 New Orleans).

NFL teams to begin a season 8-0 or better since realignment in 2002

Year	Team	Final Reg. Season Record	Playoff Result
Source: NFL
2003	Kansas City	13-3	Advanced to Divisional
2005	Indianapolis	14-2	Advanced to Divisional
2006	Indianapolis	12-4	Won Super Bowl XLI
2007	New England	16-0	Advanced to Super Bowl XLII
2008	Tennessee	13-3	Advanced to Divisional
2009	Indianapolis	14-2	Advanced to Super Bowl XLIV
2009	New Orleans	13-3	Won Super Bowl XLIV
2011	Green Bay	15-1	Advanced to Divisional
2012	Atlanta	13-3	???

 

Winning Formula

San Francisco 49ers head coach JIM HARBAUGH has compiled a 26-8-1 (.757) record in his first two seasons (including postseason), leading his team to two NFC West titles and a second consecutive NFC Championship Game.

Harbaugh became the fifth head coach since 1970 to reach the conference championship game in each of his first two seasons, joining Don McCafferty, Rex Ryan, George Seifert and Barry Switzer.

With a win at Atlanta on Sunday, Harbaugh (26) can tie STEVE MARIUCCI (27) for the third-most victories by a head coach in his first two seasons in NFL history (including playoffs).

NFL head coaches to reach the conference championship in each of their first two seasons since 1970:

Coach	Team	Seasons
Source: NFL *Won Super Bowl
Jim Harbaugh	San Francisco	2011-2012
Rex Ryan	N.Y. Jets	2009-2010
Barry Switzer	Dallas	1994-1995*
George Seifert	San Francisco	1989*-1990
Don McCafferty	Baltimore	1970*-1971

 

NFL head coaches with the most wins in their first two seasons in NFL history (including playoffs):

Coach	Team	Seasons	Wins (Including Playoffs)
Source: NFL *Active
George Seifert	San Francisco	1989-1990	32
Barry Switzer	Dallas	1994-1995	28
Steve Mariucci	San Francisco	1997-1998	27
Jim Harbaugh	San Francisco	2011-2012	26*
Jim Caldwell	Indianapolis	2009-2010	26
Mike Martz	St. Louis	2000-2001	26

 

No Experience Needed

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has a 5-2 regular-season record as a starter and led the 49ers to their second consecutive NFC Championship game last week with 181 rushing yards, the most by a quarterback in an NFL game in regular-season or postseason history.

With Kaepernick starting this weekend against Atlanta, San Francisco would become the first team since the 1986-1987 WASHINGTON REDSKINS (JAY SCHROEDER in 1986; DOUG WILLIAMS in 1987) to start different quarterbacks in consecutive conference championship games. Eight teams have started different quarterbacks in consecutive conference championship games since the merger.

With a start, Kaepernick (seven) would tie PAT HADEN (seven) for the fourth-fewest regular season starts by a starting quarterback in an NFC-AFC Championship Game. JEFF HOSTETLER of the New York Giants only had four regular season starts before the 1990 NFC Championship Game.

NFL quarterbacks with the fewest regular-season starts entering an NFC-AFC Championship Game:

Quarterback	Team	Season	Regular-Season Starts	Championship Game Result
Source: NFL *Will start on Sunday
Jeff Hostetler	N.Y. Giants	1990	4	Won 15-13 at San Francisco
Shaun King	Tampa Bay	1999	5	Lost 11-6 at St. Louis
Vince Ferragamo	L.A. Rams	1979	5	Won 9-0 at Tampa Bay
Pat Haden	L.A. Rams	1976	7	Lost 24-13 at Minnesota
Colin Kaepernick*	San Francisco	2012	7	???

 

Sensational Samuel

Atlanta cornerback Asante Samuel played in his 20th career postseason game last week and has amassed four interception-return touchdowns and 227 interception-return yards, the most in postseason history. His seven playoff interceptions are tied for the sixth-most in NFL postseason history.

With an interception this Sunday, Samuel could add to his league leading totals and tie ED REED (eight) and LESTER HAYES (eight) for the fourth-most INTs in postseason history.

 

NFC Trophy Presentation

The winner of the NFC Championship Game will be presented with the George Halas Trophy.

Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears and a founder of the NFL, is the second-winningest coach in history (324-151-31) behind DON SHULA (347-173-6). He won six NFL championships with the Bears and is a charter enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).

 

 

Copyright © 2013 iHaveNet