2024 NFL Conference Championship Game: MVP Showdown, Mahomes’ Flawless Streak, Lions on Road
As the NFL’s Championship Sunday approaches, football fans everywhere are eagerly anticipating the thrilling matchups that await. The CBS Sports Research group has been hard at work crunching numbers to provide you with some fascinating facts and insights to enhance your game-day experience. Here are 15 key points to keep in mind as you gear up for Sunday’s games:
1. Passing the torch: Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have been dominant forces in the conference championship games, with one of them starting in each of the last 13 postseasons. Brady’s eight-year streak from 2011-18 overlapped with Mahomes’ six-year streak, making them the two quarterbacks with the longest consecutive appearances in NFL history. Notably, Mahomes has reached this stage in every season as a full-time starter.
2. Clash of MVPs: Lamar Jackson, the likely recipient of this year’s NFL MVP award, will face off against Patrick Mahomes, who won the prestigious title last year. This matchup marks the third time in playoff history that the last two MVP-winning quarterbacks have squared off, following Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes in 2018 and Brett Favre vs. Steve Young in 1995.
3. First vs. Last: The NFC Championship Game will witness an intriguing showdown between Jared Goff, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, and Brock Purdy, the 262nd overall pick in 2022. This historic matchup marks the first time in NFL history that quarterbacks drafted first and last will face each other in the playoffs.
4. Baltimore blowouts: Lamar Jackson has been on a roll, winning four consecutive starts by a margin of 14 points or more. In contrast, Patrick Mahomes has only suffered four losses by 14 points or more throughout his entire career, spanning 112 starts. Impressively, Mahomes has made more conference championship starts (six, including Sunday) than he has experienced 14-point losses.
5. Rushing title curse: Christian McCaffrey has the opportunity to defy the notion that a team cannot win a title with a standout running back. If McCaffrey, who clinched the rushing title, can lead his team to the Super Bowl, he will become the first rushing champion to achieve this feat since Shaun Alexander in 2005. However, the Detroit Lions’ formidable defense, which has not allowed a running back to rush for 70 yards in a game this season, poses a significant challenge.
6. Defensive powerhouses: While much attention will be focused on the quarterbacks, it’s crucial not to overlook the defensive prowess of the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams boast the top two scoring defenses in the NFL. The Ravens have made history by leading the league in scoring defense, takeaways, and sacks. Similarly, the Chiefs are the first team since the 2011 San Francisco 49ers to allow under 28 points in every regular-season game.
7. Mahomes’ playoff dominance: Patrick Mahomes has been channeling his inner Michael Jordan, delivering exceptional performances against a formidable lineup of young quarterbacks. In his last five playoff starts, Mahomes has emerged victorious against Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawrence. This remarkable achievement makes Mahomes the first quarterback in playoff history to win five straight starts against QBs under the age of 28.
8. Injury concerns for the 49ers: The status of Deebo Samuel remains uncertain for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game due to an injured shoulder. The San Francisco 49ers have a remarkable record when Samuel, Brock Purdy, and Christian McCaffrey play the entire game together. In fact, they have an 18-1 record in such instances during the Purdy era. However, the team has struggled in games where Samuel was injured, losing three consecutive matchups earlier this season.
9. Flawless Mahomes: Patrick Mahomes has been on a remarkable streak, going three consecutive playoff games without a turnover or sack. This unprecedented achievement makes him the only quarterback in NFL playoff history to achieve such a feat. It will be fascinating to see if Mahomes can maintain his flawless performance against the formidable Baltimore defense.
10. Action Jackson: Lamar Jackson’s unique talent sets him apart from any other quarterback in the Super Bowl era. In fact, he is the first QB to lead his team in rushing yards during the regular season and start a conference championship game. Jackson’s dynamic playing style adds an extra layer of excitement to the AFC Championship Game.
11. Road to redemption: The Detroit Lions face a significant challenge as they aim to end their road playoff drought, which dates back to 1957 in San Francisco. With 11 consecutive road playoff losses, the Lions hold the longest streak in NFL history. Additionally, they have suffered