The Jacksonville Jaguars, led by quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Leonard Fournette, meet the New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday, January 21, 2018 (1/21/18).
The Minnesota Vikings, led by quarterback Case Keenum, meet the Philadelphia Eagles, led by quarterback Nick Foles, in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 21, 2018 (1/21/18) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The winner advances to Super Bowl XLII on February 4, 2018 (2/4/18) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Here's what you need to know:
What: AFC Championship Game
When: Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018
Time: 3:05 p.m. Eastern
TV: CBS
Livestream: Yahoo app, CBS Sports Online
Line: Patriots -9 (Over/under 48)
Jaguars notes: QB BLAKE BORTLES had pass TD last week. In last meeting, passed for 242 yards & 2 TDs. Passed for 3,687 yards & has 3,500+ pass yards in each of past 3 seasons. Has 14,928 pass yards since entering league in 2014, 4th most in NFL history by player in 1st 4 seasons. * RB LEONARD FOURNETTE rushed for 109 yards & 3 TDs last week & is only rookie in NFL history with 100+ rush yards & 3+ rush TDs in postseason game. Led all rookies with 9 rush TDs & ranked 2nd with 1,040 rush yards. Is 1 of 2 rookies in franchise history (FRED TAYLOR) with 1,000+ rush yards. RB T.J. YELDON had 77 scrimmage yards (57 rec., 20 rush) & rush TD last week. * WR MARQISE LEE led team with 56 receptions. WR KEELAN COLE ranked 4th among NFL rookies with 748 rec. yards. Had 17.8 rec. yard avg., highest among rookies (min. 25 catches). WR ALLEN HURNS had 59- yard TD catch in last meeting. Rookie WR-PR JAYDON MICKENS was 1 of 3 NFL players with 10+ yard PR avg. (10.3) & PR-TD (1) in 2017 (min. 10 PR). * LB TELVIN SMITH tied career-high with 16 tackles & had FR-TD last week. Has 27 tackles, FF & FR in 2 career playoff games. Was 1 of 3 NFL LBs with 100+ tackles (102) & 3+ INTs (3). DE CALAIS CAMPBELL led AFC with franchise-record & career-high 14.5 sacks. DE YANNICK NGAKOUE was 1 of 2 NFL players (AARON DONALD) with 10+ sacks (12) & 5+ FFs (6). LB MYLES JACK has sack, INT & 3 PD in his 1st 2 playoff games. CB A.J. BOUYE has 2 INTs, FF & 7 PD in his past 4 postseason games.
Patriots notes: QB TOM BRADY is all-time postseason leader in career att. (1,378), comp. (866), pass yards (9,431) & pass TDs (66). Has 13 career 300+ pass yard games in playoffs, most in NFL history. Is 26-9 (.743) as starter in postseason, most wins by QB in league annals. Led NFL with 4,577 pass yards & ranked 1st in AFC with 32 TD passes, both most by QB at age 40 or older. Is making 12th career AFC CG appearance. In last game vs. Jax., completed 33 of 42 (78.6 pct.) for 358 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 118.1 yards. Aims for 3rd postseason meeting in row with 3 TDs, 0 INTs & 110+ rating. * RB DION LEWIS led team with career-high 896 rush yards. Had 141 scrimmage yards (79 rec., 62 rush) in AFC Div. Has 507 scrimmage yards (126.8 per game) with 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in past 4 (incl. playoffs). Had rush TD in last meeting. RB JAMES WHITE has 179 scrimmage yards (89.5 per game) & 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in past 2 postseason games. Since 2015, has 15 TD catches (incl. playoffs), most among NFL RBs. * TE ROB GRONKOWSKI led all NFL TEs with 1,084 rec. yards, his 4th career 1,000+ yard season, tied with TONY GONZALEZ and JASON WITTEN for most among TEs in NFL history. In past 6 postseason games, has 512 rec. yards (85.3 per game) & 7 TDs. Aims for 7th playoff game in row with TD catch. WR DANNY AMENDOLA has 190 rec. yards (95 per game) & TD catch in past 2 playoff games. * DE TREY FLOWERS had sack last week. Has 3.5 sacks in past 2 postseason games. LB JAMES HARRISON has 11 career sacks in postseason, tied for 5th most in NFL history. -- NFL Communications
What: NFC Championship Game
When: Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018
Time: 6:40 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox
Livestream: Yahoo app, Fox Sports Go
Line: Vikings -3 (Over/under 38.5)
Vikings notes: QB CASE KEENUM set career-highs in pass yards (3,547), pass TDs (22) & rating (98.3) in 2017. Passed for 318 yards & TD in postseason debut last week. * RB LATAVIUS MURRAY ties for NFL lead with 22 rush TDs since 2016 (incl. postseason). Had rush TD last week. Aims for his 3rd playoff game in row with TD. RB JERICK MC KINNON had rush TD last week. * WR ADAM THIELEN ranked 2nd in NFC with 1,276 rec. yards & 4th with 91 receptions. Joined ROD SMITH & WES WELKER as only undrafted players since 1967 with 90+ catches & 1,200+ rec. yards in single season. WR STEFON DIGGS had career-high 8 rec. TDs in 2017. Had 6 receptions for 137 yards, incl. GW 61-yard TD catch as time expired last week. TE KYLE RUDOLPH tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches. Has 37 career rec. TDs, most in franchise history among TEs. * DE EVERSON GRIFFEN tied for 4th in NFL with careerhigh 13 sacks. Had sack & FF last week. Aims for 4th playoff game in row with sack. S HARRISON SMITH was only player in NFC with 70+ tackles (78), 5+ INTs (5) & sack (1.5). Since 2014, leads NFL safeties with 8 sacks. Had 7 tackles & sack in Div. CB XAVIER RHODES had INT & FF in last game vs. Phi. LB ERIC KENDRICKS led team with 113 tackles, his 2nd consecutive 100+ tackle season. Led team with 10 tackles last week. LB ANTHONY BARR had INT in Div. Had FR in his last game vs. Phi. VIKINGS NOTES RR had INT in Div. Had FR in his last game vs. Phi.
Eagles notes: QB NICK FOLES has completed 46 of 63 (73 pct.) with 2 TDs & 0 INTs for 102.7 rating in 2 career playoff games. In 2 career games vs. Min., has 596 pass yards (298 per game) with 3 TDs & 1 INT. * RB LE GARRETTE BLOUNT rushed for TD last week. Has 9 rush TDs in 9 career postseason games. Since entering NFL in 2010, ranks 3rd in league with 60 rush TDs (including playoffs). RB JAY AJAYI has 98 scrimmage yards (54 rush, 44 rec.) last week. * WR ALSHON JEFFERY tied for 4th in NFL with 9 TD catches. Has 7 TD catches in 9 career games vs. Min. WR NELSON AGHOLOR set career-highs in catches (62), rec. yards (768) & rec. TDs (8). TE ZACH ERTZ tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches & ranked 3rd with 824 rec. yards. Jeffery (9), Agholor (8) & Ertz (8) were only trio of teammates in NFL with 8+ TD catches each. * DE BRANDON GRAHAM led team with career-high 9.5 sacks. Had sack & FF in his last game vs. Min. Since 2016, DT FLETCHER COX is 1 of 6 NFL DTs with 10+ sacks (12) & 2+ FFs (2). Had 7 tackles & sack last week. CB PATRICK ROBINSON led team with 4 INTs & 18 PD. S RODNEY MC LEOD had sack last week. Had INT, sack & FF in his last game vs. Min. LB NIGEL BRADHAM led team with 88 tackles. Had sack in Div. Had sack in his last game vs. Min. DE DEREK BARNETT ranked 2nd among NFC rookies with 5 sacks. -- NFL Communications