NFL Playoffs: Rams and Pats Win Conference Titles In OT On Road To Set Up Rematch Of SB XXXVI

Both National Football League conference championship games were contested on Sunday.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At New Orleans:

Greg Zuerlein kick four field goals, including the game-winner from 57 yards out in overtime as the Los Angeles Rams, who had never led during regulation, knocked off the New Orleans Saints 26-24 on the road to win their first National Football Conference title in seventeen years.

The Rams will be playing in their fourth Super Bowl.



AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Kansas City, Missouri:

Rex Burkhead scored two touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime as the New England Patriots advanced to their third straight Super Bowl (and eleventh overall) by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 on the road.

The Patriots will be gunning for their record-tying sixth Super Bowl title, all under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.

Sony Michel, who ran for three touchdowns in the divisional playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, ran for two more in the AFC title game.



Super Bowl LIII will be played on Sunday, February 3 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3:30 PM Pacific Time, CBS).

NFL Playoffs: Pats Make Short Work Of Chargers, Advance To 8th Straight AFC Title Game; Saints Overcome Then Hold Off Eagles To Get Shot At Rams

The divisional round of the NFL Playoffs concluded on Sunday with two games.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Running Back Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the New England Patriots raced out to a 35-7 lead before halftime, then coasted to a 41-28 home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a divisional playoff game.

The Patriots will make their NFL-record eighth consecutive conference championship game appearance when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday at 3:40 PM Pacific Time (CBS).



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At New Orleans:

Drew Brees threw for two touchdowns while Marcus Lattimore intercepted two Nick Foles passes as the New Orleans Saints overcame an early 14-point deficit and ended the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl title defense by holding off the visitors 20-14 in a divisional playoff contest.

Next Sunday, the Saints will host the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship at 12:05 PM Pacific Time (FOX).

NFL Playoffs: Chiefs, Rams Advance To Respective Conference Title Games

The Division Round of the NFL Playoffs opened on Saturday with two games.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Kansas City, Missouri:

Running back Damien Williams ran for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Kansas City Chiefs downed the visiting Indianapolis Colts 31-13 in a divisional playoff game.

The Chiefs will host next Sunday's AFC Championship Game (their first title game appearance in 25 years) against the winner of Sunday's Los Angeles Chargers-New England Patriots contest.


NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Los Angeles:

C.J. Anderson ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns while fellow running back Todd Gurley garnered 115 yards on the ground and another score as the Los Angeles Rams racked up a franchise playoff-record 273 rushing yards in holding off the visiting Dallas Cowboys 30-22 for their first playoff victory in 14 years.

The Rams will play in next Sunday's NFC Championship Game, at home against Philadelphia, or in New Orleans, depending on who wins Sunday's Eagles-Saints game.

NFL Playoffs: Chargers Hold Off Ravens To Earn Shot At Pats In Foxborough; Eagles Hold Off Bears On Road, Get Saints In Big Easy

The opening round of the NFL Playoffs is set to conclude on Sunday with two games.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Baltimore:

Michael Badgley kicked a franchise playoff-record five field goals as the Los Angeles Chargers held off the Baltimore Ravens 23-17 in an opening-round playoff contest.


NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Chicago:

Quarterback Nick Foles threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 56 seconds remaining as the Philadelphia Eagles kept alive their Super Bowl title defense by holding off the Chicago Bears 16-15 on the road.

The Bears' Cody Parkey (an ex-Eagle) saw his would-be game-winning 43-yard field goal attempt with ten seconds remaining blocked.



Here's the schedule for the Divisional Playoff Round:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Kansas City, Missouri:

Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday @ 1:35 PM Pacific Time (NBC)

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots, Sunday @ 10:05 AM Pacific Time (CBS)



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Los Angeles:

Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Rams, Saturday @ 5:15 PM Pacific Time (FOX)

At New Orleans:

Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints, Sunday @ 1:40 PM Pacific Time (FOX)

Colts and Cowboys Take Saturday Wins As NFL Playoffs Open

The National Football League Playoffs opened on Saturday with two games.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Houston:

Quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts upended the Houston Texans 21-7 on the road, earning them a trip to Kansas City for next weekend's divisional playoff against the Chiefs.



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

At Arlington, Texas:

Dak Prescott threw for 226 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score while Ezekiel Elliot ran for 137 yards and still another TD as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the visiting Seattle Seahawks 24-22 in their opening round contest.

NFL Playoffs To Open Saturday

Here's the schedule for the first two weeks of the National Football League Playoffs with all scheduled kick-off times Pacific.

OPENING ROUND:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Saturday:

Indianapolis @ Houston, 1:35 PM (ESPN/ABC)

Sunday:

Los Angeles Chargers @ Baltimore, 10:05 AM (CBS)



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Saturday:

Seattle @ Dallas, 5:15 PM (FOX)

Sunday

Philadelphia @ Chicago, 1:40 PM (NBC)



DIVISIONAL ROUND:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Saturday, January 12:

Lower-seeded first-round winner @ Kansas City, 1:35 PM (NBC)

Sunday, January 13:

Higher-seeded first-round winner @ New England, 10:05 AM (CBS)



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Saturday, January 12:

Higher-seeded first-round winner @ Los Angeles Rams, 5:15 PM (FOX)

Sunday, January 13:

Lower-seeded first-round winner @ New Orleans, 1:40 PM (FOX)



CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Sunday, January 20 @ 12:05 PM (FOX)

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:

Sunday, January 20 @ 3:40 PM (CBS)



SUPER BOWL LIII:

Sunday, February 3 @ 3:30 PM @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (CBS)