Championship Sunday

Two football games to watch today, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line in each of them. First up...

The NFC Championship game in Atlanta, with the Falcons hosting the San Francisco 49ers. Atlanta began with a first quarter Matt Ryan touchdown pass of 46 yards to Julio Jones, and Matt Bryant knocked in the extra point. The Falcons added on as Bryant booted a field goal of 35 yards. Atlanta kept going in the second quarter on a Ryan touchdown pass of 20 yards to Jones, and Bryant again kicked the extra point. San Francisco scored with LaMichael James running 15 yards for a touchdown, and David Akers nailed the extra point. The 49ers got closer with Colin Kaepernick throwing a 4 yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis, and Akers made another extra point. The Falcons padded the lead as Ryan found Tony Gonzalez for 10 yards and a touchdown, and Bryant tacked on the extra point. San Francisco chipped away in the third quarter on a 5 yard Frank Gore touchdown run, and Akers was there with the extra point. The 49ers took the lead in the fourth quarter as Gore rushed 9 yards for a touchdown, and Akers kicked the PAT. This held up for a 28-24 win, leaving the San Francisco 49ers with tickets to New Orleans in two weeks, while the Atlanta Falcons are done for the year. As an aside, if this is Tony Gonzalez's final game, thanks to him for a fabulous career as the best tight end of all time.

The AFC Championship came next, with the New England Patriots hosting the Baltimore Ravens. New England led off with a first quarter Stephen Gostkowski 31 yard field goal. Baltimore edged ahead in the second quarter as Ray Rice ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Justin Tucker knocked in the extra point. The Patriots took the lead back as Tom Brady passed 1 yard for a touchdown to Wes Welker, and Gostkowski supplied the extra point. The Ravens pulled back in front in the third quarter as Joe Flacco threw 5 yards for a touchdown to Dennis Pitta, and Tucker nailed the PAT. Baltimore padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Flacco passed 3 yards for a touchdown to Anquan Boldin, and Tucker was true with the extra point. The Ravens added on as Flacco found Boldin again for 11 yards and a touchdown, and Tucker booted the extra point. They held on to win 28-13, advancing to the Harbaugh Bowl, while the Patriots head into the offseason.

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