The NFL playoff bracket is set, and the road to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada, is clear.
The conference championship games will be played on Sunday, January 28, 2024, with the winners advancing to the big game on Sunday, February 11, 2024¹. Here are the matchups and some highlights from the previous rounds:
- **AFC Championship Game**: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions, and they have been dominant all season, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. They defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 42-21 in the divisional round, after earning a first-round bye as the top seed in the AFC². The Bills are the surprise team of the playoffs, as they have won their first two postseason games in 25 years. They beat the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 in the wild-card round, and then stunned the Baltimore Ravens 17-3 in the divisional round, with cornerback Taron Johnson returning an interception 101 yards for a touchdown². The Chiefs and the Bills met in Week 6 of the regular season, with the Chiefs winning 26-17³.
- **NFC Championship Game**: Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams. The Packers are the top seed in the NFC, and they have the likely MVP of the league in quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 48 touchdowns and only five interceptions in the regular season. They beat the Los Angeles Rams 32-18 in the divisional round, with Rodgers throwing for two touchdowns and running for another². The Rams are the lowest seed remaining in the playoffs, but they have a formidable defense, led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. They upset the Seattle Seahawks 30-20 in the wild-card round, and then held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 23 points in the divisional round, despite playing without injured quarterback Jared Goff². The Packers and the Rams did not face each other in the regular season.
The Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The halftime show will feature Rihanna, who will return to the stage after a long hiatus from music. The game will also have a special guest performer, Usher, who will join Rihanna for some of his hits¹. The Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event in the world, and it is expected to draw millions of viewers and fans to the entertainment capital of the world..
Source:
(1) Super Bowl LVII: When, Where, & More | NFL.com. https://www.nfl.com/super-bowl/.
(2) Super Bowl 2024: Latest NFL playoff bracket, news, updates - ESPN. https://www.espn.com/nfl/super-bowl/.
(3) NFL Playoff Bracket - 2023 Playoffs and Super Bowl Schedule. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/postseason/bracket/.
(4) NFL Playoff Picture: Standings, schedule, dates on road to Super Bowl .... https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/12757753/nfl-playoff-picture-standings-schedule-dates-on-road-to-super-bowl-lvii-in-arizona.