NFC Championship Game
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 49ers (12-4-1) travel to play the No. 1 seed Atlanta Falcons (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).
Atlanta 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 Asante 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 Chmapionship 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).
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