Some NFC/AFC Championship Series Trivia

As they say in college basketball, now it's down to the Final Four. Here is this week's series trivia.

San Francisco vs Atlanta: In this battle of former NFC West opponents, San Francisco leads the series 44-30-1, but Atlanta is 8-5 against the 49ers since 1998, winning their last four meetings. This is their first meeting since 2010. Atlanta is 19-18-1 against the 49ers at home and is 6-1 versus San Francisco in the Georgia Dome since 1998. They first met in Atlanta's inaugural season of 1966. Hall of Fame QB John Brodie's 49ers dominated QB Randy Johnson's (no, not The Big Unit) Falcons 44-7, leaving Atlanta still seeking its first ever victory. They met in the postseason once. In 1999, the Falcons beat the 49ers 20-18 in the NFC Divisional round on their way to losing Super Bowl XXXIII to the Denver Broncos. They went to overtime three times. San Francisco leads that series 2-0-1. They last went to overtime in 2001, a 37-31 49ers victory. The last time San Francisco shut out Atlanta was 20-0 in 1986. The last time Atlanta shut out San Francisco was 7-0 in 1977. Their only tie was 10-10, also in 1986.

Baltimore vs New England: This is their second consecutive meeting in the AFC Championship game. More on that in a  bit. The Patriots lead this series 7-2, but Baltimore won their last meeting in Week 3 earlier this season, 31-30. New England is 5-1 at home against the Ravens, winning their last two meetings in Foxboro. They first met in Baltimore's inaugural season in 1996, after moving from Cleveland. QB Drew Bledsoe's Patriots beat QB Vinny Testaverde's Ravens in a high scoring game 46-38. They met in the postseason twice. That series is tied 1-1. Baltimore won the first meeting in the AFC Wild Card game 33-14 in 2010.  New England won their second playoff meeting in last season's AFC Championship game 23-20 and went on to lose the the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. They went to overtime once in 2010. The Patriots won that game 23-20.Neither team has ever shut out the other, but Baltimore has never kept New England in single digits for a final score.

Other Thoughts...

Each of the for teams in the AFC and NFC Championship games has been to at least one Super  Bowl. However, only Atlanta has yet to win one. New England last won Super Bowl XXXIX. Baltimore's lone win is Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants. San Francisco last won Super Bowl XXIX over the San Diego Chargers.

If New England goes on to win the Super Bowl, it will be their second consecutive Super Bowl win in New Orleans. It would be their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance and fourth overall in New Orleans. New England got spanked by the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX and lost Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers. They first won Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans over the St. Louis Rams.

If Baltimore goes on to win the Super Bowl, future Hall of Fame LB Ray Lewis will be the only member of the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Ravens still on the team.

If Atlanta goes on to win the Super Bowl, it will obviously be their first ever championship, but it will also be the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV that a team won the Super Bowl in a divisional opponent's stadium. The St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in that game, which was held in the Georgia Dome. The Falcons and Rams were in the NFC West at the time.

In this group, the 49ers have gone the longest without appearing in a Super Bowl. If San Francisco goes on to win the Super Bowl, it will be their sixth, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most wins. The 49ers are undefeated in the big game. It will also be their second appearance in New Orleans for a Super Bowl. The last time they played one in New Orleans, Hall of Famers, QB Joe Montana, and WR Jerry Rice, and the Niners put on an offensive clinic that game. With the help of Hall of Fame DB Ronnie Lott and the vaunted 49er defense, San Francisco nailed Hall of Fame QB John Elway and the Denver Broncos 55-10.

I must confess to hoping for the Harbaugh Bowl, but it's up in the air for every team. Atlanta pulled out a great win, but San Francisco is not Seattle. Yes, both NFC West teams have mobile quarterbacks and a decent running game, but the Niners have a better defense, reminiscent of the old New Orleans Saints Dome Patrol defense. Whoever dominates the line of scrimmage will win the game. The Ravens appear to be outclassed by the Patriots on paper, but as they say, that's why they play the game. Baltimore has beaten the odds before against the Patriots in the playoffs. New England should win, but don't count the Ravens out.

Have a great day!!!