By John Turney
The Bengals shocked the NFL world by beating the Chiefs today and this evening the Rams edged the 49ers.
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| Cooper Kupp Credit: Fox Sports |
The Rams won 20-17 in their eleventh NFCCG appearance and are now 4-7. In doing so Matthew Stafford set Ram record for completions (31), attempts (45), yards (337), and touchdowns (2) in an NFC Championship Game. Cooper "MVP" Kupp set marks for receptions (11), yards (142), and touchdowns (2). Odell Beckham Jr.'s nine catches (second) and 113 yards (third) make top lists as well.
The Rams defense allowed 282 yards, good for eighth out of eleven games even though 282 yards is an excellent total in this day and age. The 17 points the Rams allowed was good for the fourth-best in NFC title games.
The run defense allowed 50 yards on 20 carries (2.5-yard average gain) good for the second-fewest rushing yards allowed by Rams in a Conference Championship game. The 2.5 yards per carry is also the second-best. The best was the 2018 records from the Saints game (21-48-2.3-0). And obviously, the zero rushing touchdowns are tied for first, being the fifth time that has occurred.
It was a solid night for the Rams.
As for the Bengals, this was just their third time to go to an AFCCG and they are now 3-0. Joe Burrow set the marks for completions, attempts, yards, and tied for the most touchdowns, besting Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason's marks.
Both games were excellent and it will be a good matchup in Los Angeles in two weeks for all the marbles.
Physical, hard hitting NFC Championship game with dropped balls and borderline hits. The referees in both games let the players play. That dropped interception might have cost the Niners the win.
ReplyDeleteI shake my head at what the Chiefs did on two drives inside the Bengals 15yrd line. How do you not throw into the endzone with five seconds left before the half though the FG was there as well ? Their second chance was bad also where they never went into the endzone and ended up settling for the FG. Mahomes was constantly turning his back towards the defense while Burrow kept escaping the Chiefs pass rush. Gritty effort by the Bengals but the Chiefs took their foot off their necks.