Jim Harbaugh led the Indianapolis Colts to within a play of the Super Bowl on Jan. 14, 1996. Harbaugh also led the Colts into Pittsburgh to face the heavily favored Steelers with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake. Harbaugh’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Floyd Turner gave the Colts a second-half lead, but Pittsburgh rallied on the strength of two big pass plays to regain the lead with just under 2 minutes left.
Harbaugh led the Colts to the Steelers’ 29-yard line with 5 seconds left, setting the stage for one of the most gut-wrenching moments in Pittsburgh sports history. Harbaugh’s lone AFC title game start as an NFL quarterback is included in the top 20 AFC/NFC title games of all time.
In 2011, the Patriots and Ravens played in a memorable AFC Championship game that came right down to the wire, with the Patriots ultimately winning 23-20. In 2008, the Steelers and Ravens faced off in a vintage and intense AFC Championship game, with the Steelers emerging victorious with a score of 23-14. The 2020 NFC Championship game between the Buccaneers and the Packers, which was the only playoff game between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, lived up to the hype with the Buccaneers winning 31-26. In the 1999 NFC Championship game, the Rams emerged victorious with a score of 11-6 over the Buccaneers, showcasing the strength of the Rams’ defense.
The 1981 AFC Championship game saw the Bengals defeating the Chargers with a score of 27-7, with quarterback Ken Anderson’s performance in sub-freezing temperatures standing out. In the 2015 AFC Championship game, the Broncos secured a narrow 20-18 victory over the Patriots, and Peyton Manning’s performance was a key factor. The 1992 NFC Championship game was a changing-of-the-guard game, where the Cowboys dethroned the 49ers as the league’s premier team with a 30-20 victory. The 2013 NFC Championship game saw the Seahawks emerging victorious with a score of 23-17 over the 49ers, in a hard-hitting, defensive-fueled grudge match.
In the 2014 NFC Championship game, the Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime, after staging a comeback from a 16-0 halftime deficit. In the 2007 NFC Championship game, the Giants emerged victorious in overtime with a score of 23-20 over the Packers, setting up their upset win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The 1987 AFC Championship game saw the Broncos defeating the Browns 38-33, with the Browns experiencing a heartbreaking loss after a fumble two yards short of the end zone. The 2009 NFC Championship game between the Saints and Vikings was a classic, with the Saints emerging victorious 31-28 in overtime after an interception by Tracy Porter. In the 1998 NFC Championship game, the Falcons stunned the Vikings with a 30-27 overtime victory, in what was one of the most surprising upsets in NFL postseason history.
The 2021 AFC Championship game featured a historic comeback by the Bengals as they defeated the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime, earning their first Super Bowl berth since 1988. The 1995 AFC Championship game saw the Steelers securing a 20-16 victory over the Colts, following a heart-stopping Hail Mary pass that fell incomplete. The 1990 NFC Championship game featured the Giants upsetting the 49ers with a 15-13 victory, halting the 49ers’ quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl win. The 1986 AFC Championship game saw the Broncos defeating the Browns 23-20 in overtime, in a game that included John Elway’s historic game-tying and game-winning drives. The 2006 AFC Championship game was a memorable matchup between the Colts and the Patriots, with the Colts securing a 38-34 victory, advancing to win their lone Super Bowl with Peyton Manning under center. The 2018 AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Chiefs was an intense battle that went into overtime, with the Patriots ultimately winning 37-31 after a game-winning drive by Tom Brady.
