Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. Photo: Patrick Smith
So, here it is: the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have made it to Super Bowl LVIII. For the Chiefs, it's a chance to cement themselves as the dominant NFL team of the era. For the Niners, it's an opportunity to turn a decade of almost getting there into a reality.
As many predicted in just two weeks' time we will indeed be witnessing a sure to be epic showdown, with the Super Bowl providing us with a rematch of 2020's big dance.
But let's look back to how we got here in the first place. The Conference Championship games both ran red hot, ultimately showing how the NFL justifiably earns its reputation as a game of inches and a one score league. There was very little to separate both the NFC and AFC games, with margins of seven points in the AFC and three in the NFC respectively separating the opponents.
And oh yeah, Taylor Swift is going to the Super Bowl in her rookie NFL season.
Kansas City Chiefs 17 - 10 Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offence posed an insurmountable threat to other teams over the course of the previous two months, so many expected them to dominate the AFC Championship Game going forward.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs hands off to Isiah Pacheco #10 during the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. Photo: Patrick Smith
Still, the Chiefs defence stuck to its unique pressure-based scheme, in order to effectively neutralise Baltimore's highly acclaimed attacking capabilities, persistently pursuing Jackson. This calculated strategy filled every possible escape path for Jackson and stuffed his runs on foot. Despite anticipations that Jackson would breeze over Kansas City's defence, the quarterback appeared helpless for a significant portion of the contest. Exceptional defence - a feature that received little attention prior to the weekend but will undoubtedly be duly noted in the next two weeks when talking about The Chiefs' victory as they prepare for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers 34 - 31 Detroit Lions
Dreams were shattered when Lions faithful came oh so close to making their first ever Super Bowl in the franchise's long 93-year history since they were first formed midway through 1930. With two consecutive NFC Championship Games ending in heartbreak, San Francisco came into Sunday feeling compelled to right the wrongs of the previous two years - it was a mission to cast aside old ghosts.
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts as he holds the George Halas Trophy after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game. Photo: Ezra Shaw
Many were ready to write off Kyle Shanahan's squad as having lost three straight NFC Championship games, but San Francisco showed tenacity, quickly eliminating the Lion's 17-point lead. Taking advantage of opportunities presented by applying constant defensive pressure and keeping themselves in the game, the 49ers quickly turned things around with a series of fortuitous incidents causing the Lions defence to crumble.
Using this momentum to their advantage, the 49ers produced a knockout blow through a drive that resulted in a game-winning field goal by Jake Moody. So now the 49ers head to Las Vegas for a Super Bowl rematch against their Super Bowl LIV rivals in what should be a game for the ages.
