We are very close to the Super Bowl. Too close. But to get there, a crucial step remains the NFL Championship Round.
The last step before the Super Bowl will pass through here. The winners, or rather, conference champions, will emerge from here to play each other in the most important event in the United States.
How is it played?
Just like the previous rounds, the conference finals are played at the home of the team with the best regular-season record in that conference.
It’s a single-game elimination, so the victorious team will become the representative of each conference in the famous “Super Sunday.”
AFC Championship Round Game
| DATE | AWAY | HOME | STADIUM | EST |
| 01-28-2023 | WORST RECORD | BEST RECORD | BEST RECORD TEAM’S STADIUM | TBD |
NFC Championship Round Game
| DATE | AWAY | HOME | STADIUM | EST |
| 01-28-2023 | WORST RECORD | BEST RECORD | BEST RECORD TEAM’S STADIUM | TBD |
History of the NFL Championship Round
Since the merger of the AFL and NFL in 1970, the AFC and NFC conferences were created.
From that point on, the decisive matchups for each conference determine the tickets to the Super Bowl.
AFC
The AFC has been playing its championship finals since 1970. However, starting in 1985, the conference champion has been awarded the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named in honor of the founder of the AFL.
Below is the list of AFC winners since 1970:
| AFC CHAMPIONS | ||
| TEAM | WINS | WIN YEARS |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | 11 | 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | 8 | 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2010 |
| DENVER BRONCOS | 8 | 1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2015 |
| MIAMI DOLPHINS | 5 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984 |
| LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | 4 | 1976, 1980, 1983, 2002 |
| BUFFALO BILLS | 4 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | 3 | 1970, 2006, 2009 |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | 3 | 2019, 2020, 2022 |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS | 3 | 1981, 1988, 2021 |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS | 2 | 2000, 2012 |
| TENNESSEE TITANS | 1 | 1999 |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | 1 | 1994 |
NFC
The NFC has been playing its championship finals since 1970. However, starting in 1985, the conference champion has been awarded the George Halas Trophy, named in honor of the owner and coach of the Chicago Bears and a founding member of the NFL.
Below is the list of NFC winners since 1970:
| NFC CHAMPIONS | ||
| TEAM | WINS | WIN YEARS |
| DALLAS COWBOYS | 8 | 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1995 |
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | 7 | 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2012, 2019 |
| LOS ANGELES RAMS | 5 | 1979, 1999, 2001, 2018, 2021 |
| WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | 5 | 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991 |
| NEW YORK GIANTS | 5 | 1986, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2011 |
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 4 | 1980, 2004, 2017, 2022 |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS | 3 | 1973, 1974, 1976 |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS | 3 | 1996, 1997, 2010 |
| SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | 3 | 2005, 2013, 2014 |
| CHICAGO BEARS | 2 | 1985, 2006 |
| TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | 2 | 2002, 2020 |
| CAROLINA PANTHERS | 2 | 2003, 2015 |
| ATLANTA FALCONS | 2 | 1998, 2016 |
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | 1 | 2009 |
| ARIZONA CARDINALS | 1 | 2008 |
