No Guarantees: The Biggest Upsets In NFL Championship Game History

Since the consummation of the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, the AFC/NFC conference championship games have featured the four best teams remaining, but often times these four remaining teams haven’t been the top two seeds in each conference. Because of upsets in the divisional rounds, underdogs have made their way into the conference championship games, and sometimes even beyond.

There have been some massive upsets in the conference championships, so let’s take a look at some of the biggest ones.

2003 NFC Championship: Carolina Panthers 14, Philadelphia Eagles 3

Before the Eagles finally broke through and won their first Super Bowl in 2018, they were one of the best teams in football in the early 2000s. This was their third straight NFC championship game, two of which were at home, and they were expected to finally break through after two straight losses. Wrong again. The Panthers harassed Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb the entire game, physically beating him up and rendering him immobile on the way to the victory. The Eagles would finally get to the Super Bowl the following year after finally winning their fourth straight conference championship appearance.

2005 AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Denver Broncos 17

The 11-5 Steelers were a 6-seed in name only, as the week before they upset the 14-2 1-seed Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round. The 13-3 Broncos never had a chance in this game, down 24-3 at halftime. The Broncos committed four turnovers and the Steelers rolled on to Super Bowl XL which they went on to win over Seattle.

2012 AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens 28, New England Patriots 13

The Ravens have a history of being one of the few teams that have never been intimidated going into New England and this game was no different. A week earlier they had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at heavily favored Denver (“The Miracle at Mile High”); down 13-7 at halftime, they would have to do the same here--and they did. The Joe Flacco-led Ravens offense finally woke up and the Ray Lewis-led defense shut out the Patriots in the second half and the Ravens went on to win the championship and the Super Bowl two weeks later.

1994 AFC Championship: San Diego Chargers 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 13

One of the great games of the late Junior Seau’s career, the Steelers were supposed to easily beat San Diego and cruise to a meeting with San Francisco in the Super Bowl. With a 13-3 lead after three quarters, they were well on their way. But Seau and Chargers running back Natrone Means had other plans. Behind the rushing of Means and the 16 tackles of Seau, San Diego would get the upset.

1990 NFC Championship: New York Giants 15, San Francisco 49ers 13

This was supposed to be the cherry on top of the sundae for the 49ers as the Team of the 1980s (they still were). Quarterback Joe Montana was doing everything but sizing his thumb for Super Bowl ring number five, but the New York Giants defense knocked him out of the game and dominated the 49ers offense on the way to victory. Kicker Matt Bahr made five field goals, including the game-winner as time expired. No Super Bowl three-peat for the Niners.

2007 NFC Championship: New York Giants 23, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)

The Giants have worn the underdog tag well throughout their history in the postseason, winning games when many thought they had no chance; they thrived in those situations. On the frozen tundra of Lambeau, the Giants outplayed Brett Favre and Green Bay; Favre’s interception in overtime would lead to the game-winning field goal and would also be his last pass as a Packer. The Packers had never lost a league or conference championship game at Lambeau Field before this one--that in and of itself makes this one of the greatest championship game upsets ever.

1998 NFC Championship: Atlanta Falcons 30, Minnesota Vikings 27 (OT)

Led by Randall Cunningham, Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Robert Smith, the 15-1 Vikings were absolutely dominant, scoring a then single-season record 556 points. They were 11-point favorites over the 14-2 Falcons, who themselves had a fantastic season. The Vikings had control of this game--until they didn’t. Kicker Gary Anderson missed his first field goal all season (a chip shot that would’ve sealed the victory), opening the door for Atlanta to tie the game and send it into overtime, where they eventually won. The 1997-98 Minnesota Vikings, one of the greatest offenses ever, became one of the greatest teams to never make the Super Bowl.

2001 AFC Championship: New England Patriots 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s legendary career began earlier in the regular season when he replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe, but on this day, it was the veteran Bledsoe returning the favor as Brady was earlier knocked out of the game. The Pats held on for the victory and Brady eventually returned to win his first of six Super Bowls.

*Credit to the main photo of this article belongs to Bill Kostroun/Associated Press (Panthers), Keith Srakocic/Associated Press (Chargers), Ed Reinke/Associated Press (Falcons), Steven Senne/Associated Press (Ravens)