It’s January, and frigid temperatures prevail across many regions of the United States. This climatic condition indicates that the NFL postseason is progressing toward the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs hold the top seed in the AFC, while the Detroit Lions are in the NFC.

If the Kansas City Chiefs secure victory in Super Bowl LIX, it will etch the franchise name in the annals of NFL history as the first team to achieve this remarkable feat. The Chiefs are not only on track to conclude the year with a mere two losses but are also regarded as the frontrunners for the Super Bowl title.

Buffalo, set to compete against the Broncos in the first round of the playoffs, dealt the Chiefs its initial defeat of the season with a score of 30-21 on November 17th. The Chiefs’ second loss concluded the regular season, which allowed the Broncos to secure a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Kansas City will not be the only team competing for an opportunity to reach the big dance. Baltimore, recognized as the leading wild-card team, is anticipated to make a significant impact, provided it overcomes Pittsburgh in its upcoming matchup, which marks the third encounter between the two teams this season.

Houston will commence the initial match of seven wild-card games by welcoming the Chargers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

In the NFC, the top-seeded Detroit Lions, having performed admirably throughout the season, enjoy the benefit of a bye and home-field advantage. Other matchups include the Los Angeles Rams facing the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers competing against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going up against the Washington Commanders.

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The first game of the season did not disappoint, and neither did the Rams defense.

Running backs Cam Akers and Malcolm Brown combined for 118 yards, two touchdowns, quarterback Jared Goff threw for 275 yards, and Aaron Donald frustrated the Cowboys offense as the Rams squeaked by, 20-17 on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams opened the third quarter with its winning possession on its 15-yard line. Akers toted the ball twice before receiver Robert Woods, who gave the Cowboys secondary fits, came up with a pair of big plays. A ten-yard catch at the Rams 30 and a 30-yard reception at the Dallas 26. Four plays later, running back, Malcolm Brown scored a two-yard touchdown, expanding the score 20-14 following Samuel Sloman’s extra point kick.

The Rams looked impressive most of the night, piling 422 yards, using its two-headed rushing attack of Akers and Brown, which ran up the middle of the Cowboys defense to success. The pair combined for 118 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns. Brown, 5’11”, 222 pounds provided most of the damage, bruising the core of the Cowboys defense.

The Cowboys’ (0-1) final desperation drive stalled after three incomplete passes and a sack by Rams linebacker, Jaylon Smith.

Three series later, Cowboy’s defensive back, Chidobe Awuzie picked off Goff at the Rams 39 with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Dallas converted it into a 33-yard field goal after Amari Cooper dropped a third-down pass a yard a shy of the first down.

On a tough evening for the Cowboys, Elliott rushed for 96 yards on 22 carries a score. Prescott finished 25 of 39 for 266 yards and a touchdown, and Amari Cooper caught 10 passes for 81 yards.

It’s defense recorded three sacks and made several big stops. Aaron Donald and company harassed the Cowboys offense, including defensive tackle Michael Brockers, inside linebacker Micah Kiser, and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. It’s secondary played well in the second half.

The Rams executed its game plan. Recognizing one of the top pass rushes in the NFL, Goff, who’s thriving afternoon starting with getting rid of the ball quick, passed for 275 yards on 20-of-31 attempts with an interception and a sack.

Soon after, Dallas forced a three and out. Although it led to another failed opportunity. Schultz dropped a pass at the 9-yard line and with the Cowboys facing fourth and three, cornerback Jordan Fuller tackled Lamb a yard short of the line to achieve.

The Rams began the game with the ball and drove 75-yards. Woods used a pair of Goff’s passes to maximize gains. The first covered 20 yards to midfield and a 31-yard reception to the Cowboys 15. Brown finished the drive with a two-yard scoring run out to give the Rams its first touchdown of the season, 7-0 following Samuel Sloman’s extra point kick, 7-0.

The first two times Elliott touched the ball he accumulated 20 yards which produced a Cowboys first down at Los Angela’s 45-yard line. Yet on second and ten, Donald sacked Prescott at the Dallas 48 and an incomplete pass forced the Cowboys punted.

The Rams offense continued to advance the ball down field. Goff conducted the offense into the Cowboys territory at the 11 where Slowman’s 29-yard Field goal attempt ricochetted off the left upright with 2 seconds left in the first quarter.

Later, Prescott threw a quick pass to receiver Aaron Parker, which resulted in a 24-yard pickup. Parker staved off several arm tacklers on the gain.

Two penalties delayed the drive. Still, Elliott took a screen pass from Prescott and rambled 19 yards to the end zone. Zuerlein’s bonus kick concluded the 8-play, 80-yard drive, tying the game at seven with 12:24 left in the second quarter.

Rams moved the ball at will, receiving production from its offense every time it entered the field of play. Brown ripped off 11 yards to the 36, following Woods 14-yard gain at the 50-yard line. Two plays later, tight end Tyler Higbee turned a quick pass into a 21-yard gain at the Dallas 29. However, Goff’s intentional ground infraction coupled with Brown’s dropped a screen pass which had a opening to the end zone with blockers out in front. The Rams settled for three points off the foot of Sloman’s 35-yard field goal with 8:42 left in the second quarter. That gave Los Angeles a 10-7 lead.

The Cowboys blew an opportunity to tie the game at ten when Zuerlein missed a 53-yard field goal with 5:12 left in the second quarter.

That set the stage for the Ram’s next score. Which benefitted from Goff’s 31-yard strike to receiver Van Jefferson at the Cowboys 21, leading to Sloman’s 31-yard field goal, to extend Los Angeles lead, 13-7 with 1:56 left.

Yet, the Cowboys had time to respond. 73-yards later, Elliot punched the ball in from a yard out to tie the game and Zuerlein’s kick put Dallas in front, 14-13 with 17 seconds left in the first half.

Injured Cowboys included Vander Esch (Collarbone), Jarwin (Knee)

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With angered reactions surrounding two questionable no-calls, the Saints’ frustrations boiled over. But, Los Angeles retained its focus on the task at hand.

With the oversite in the rearview mirror, Rams kicker, Greg Zuerlein nailed a 57-yard field goal worthy of 67-yards to send the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII by defeating the New Orleans Saints, 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The kick, a postseason record for Los Angeles, is one of the longest in an NFC championship game, sent the Rams to its first Super Bowl since 2000 when it best the Tennessee Titans, 23-16.

A drive that started at the Rams 46 required only two plays of positive yards to give Zuerlein a shot at the winning kick. Jared Goff threw two passes to tight end Tyler Higbee, which covered 18 yards to set up a fourth down at the Saints 39.

To help its cause, the Rams defense responded in a championship manner by recording three significant plays to halt the Saints’ last possession before overtime. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers batted away Drew Brees pass before New Orleans caught a break when linebacker Mark Barron interfered with Saints tight end Cole Wick at the 40-yard line. But Rams defenders’, Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler, and John Johnson, accounted for three consecutive big plays.

Donald dropped Mark Ingram for a six-yard loss, Fowler bull-rushed Brees, forcing him to throw a pass off balance, resulting in Johnson picking it off.

Before overtime, the Rams trailed 23-20 with 1:41 left. Nonetheless, Los Angeles marched 75-yards as fans watched Zuerlein boot a 48-yard field goal to tie and send the game into overtime with 15 seconds remaining.

Even with the Rams’ hard-fought victory, Saint fans left the game angry over what transpired late in the fourth quarter.

Game officials missed a pair of infractions that possibly cost the Saints a chance to play for a Super Bowl.

It started with 4:57 left, and the score locked at 20. The Saints took a promising drive downfield. Eight plays into the possession, Rams’ defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman slammed into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived while running a wheel route with 1:45 remaining in regulation. The no-call frustrated Saint Fans as Sean Payton pleaded with the line judge to no avail.

The replay screen showed both head and line judge viewing in the direction of the unfavorable play as it unfolded. Yet no flag.

Though the Saints led 13-0 in the first quarter, it left points on the board when Wick dropped a touchdown pass on the first series of the game, but Wil Lutz drilled a 37-yard field goal with 10:04 to go in the first quarter to give New Orleans a 3-0 lead.

Then Goff threw an interception when Gurley allowed the ball to go through his hands into the waiting arms of linebacker Demario Davis at the Rams 16.

Still, the Saints allowed another red-zone opportunity to turn into a Lutz 29-yard field goal. New Orleans led, 6-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter.

The touchdown drive was highlighted by Drew Brees two passes, one to tight end Josh Hill for 24 yards at the Rams 44 and a 19-yard pass to receiver Michael Thomas at the 18. Three plays later, fullback Gary Griffin reeled in a five-yard scoring pass from Brees as New Orleans led, 13-0 following Lutz bonus kick.

Los Angeles defense played well and kept the score close until its offense could circle. Ndamukong Suh led the way with two first-half sacks. Linebackers Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton, and defensive lineman Michael Brockers excited Ram fans with multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage.

The Rams put a three spot on the scoreboard following a fake punt while facing fourth and five from its 30. Punter Johnny Hekker lined up in punt formation, took the long snap, turned and threw a pass to Sam Sheilds who took the ball to the 42 for a new set of downs. Eventually, Zuerlein nailed a 36-yard field goal with 9:54 to go in the second quarter.

Two possessions later, Goff directed an 81-yard scoring drive that saw receiver Brandin Cook come up with back-to-back receptions to gain the Saints six-yard line. Gurley completed the drive, carrying the ball to the end zone. That made the score 13-10 with 23 seconds before intermission.

The Rams beat the odds by coming to New Orleans and walking out with the win.

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