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
2007N.Y. Giants at Green BayN.Y. Giants23-20*
2008Philadelphia at ArizonaArizona32-25
2009Minnesota at New Orleans New Orleans31-28*
2010Green Bay at ChicagoGreen Bay21-14
2011N.Y. Giants at San FranciscoN.Y. Giants20-17*

 

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
2003Kansas City13-3Advanced to Divisional
2005Indianapolis14-2Advanced to Divisional
2006Indianapolis12-4Won Super Bowl XLI
2007New England16-0Advanced to Super Bowl XLII
2008Tennessee13-3Advanced to Divisional
2009Indianapolis14-2Advanced to Super Bowl XLIV
2009New Orleans13-3Won Super Bowl XLIV
2011Green Bay15-1Advanced to Divisional
2012Atlanta13-3???

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 HarbaughSan Francisco2011-2012
Rex RyanN.Y. Jets2009-2010
Barry SwitzerDallas1994-1995*
George SeifertSan Francisco1989*-1990
Don McCaffertyBaltimore1970*-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 SeifertSan Francisco1989-199032
Barry Switzer Dallas1994-199528
Steve Mariucci San Francisco1997-199827
Jim Harbaugh San Francisco2011-201226*
Jim CaldwellIndianapolis2009-201026
Mike MartzSt. Louis2000-200126

 

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 HostetlerN.Y. Giants19904Won 15-13 at San Francisco
Shaun KingTampa Bay19995Lost 11-6 at St. Louis
Vince FerragamoL.A. Rams19795Won 9-0 at Tampa Bay
Pat HadenL.A. Rams19767Lost 24-13 at Minnesota
Colin Kaepernick*San Francisco20127???

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).

NFC Championship Game: What To Look For - 49ers vs Falcons