Last weekend featured two thrilling wins in both the AFC and the NFC.
In Denver last Saturday, Ray Lewis held on for his last ride as the Baltimore Ravens battled Peyton Manning and the 13-3 Denver Broncos through four quarter and two overtime periods, until an interception coughed up by Manning and a field goal by Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker gave the Ravens a 38-35 win and a rematch with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship this Sunday.
On Sunday, the underdog Seahawks launched one of the biggest fourth quarter comebacks in history, cutting a 20-point Atlanta Falcons lead to take a 28-27 lead, but Atlanta kicker Matt Bryant's clutch field goal with eight seconds in the game gave the Falcons a narrow 30-28 win that stamped their ticket to the NFC title game against San Francisco.
Those games were amazing in their own right, perhaps even classic. But where do they stand against some of the other thrilling NFL playoff games in the last 10 years?
Latinos Post takes a look at some of the best NFL playoff games in the last decade:
5. New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers, 2011 NFC Championship
It was a game that had everyone's hearts in their throat at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22, 2012. On a cold and rainy Sunday in San Francisco, Calif., Eli Manning and the Giants did battle with Vernon Davis and the defensive powerhouse 49ers for four quarters, with San Francisco hammering Manning to the point where his gear was sloppily turned inside out after repeated tackles. Yet after regulation, the score remained tied: New York 17, San Francisco 17.
That would all change in overtime in thrilling fashion when New York's Jacquian Willians caused San Francisco special teams member Kyle Williams to fumble a punt that was recovered by the Giants' Devin Thomas.
Field goal kicker Lawrence Tynes, channeling his 2008 NFC Championship-winning kick against Green Bay, did the rest, kicking a 31-yard field goal through the uprights to send the Giants to what would be their second Super Bowl-which they won, again, against New England.
Final Score: Giants 20, 49ers 17
4. Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots, 2011 AFC Championship
On the same night that the Giants shocked the world, earlier that day, Tom Brady's and Ray Lewis' teams clashed at Gillete Stadium at Foxboro., Mass in what would be another thrilling, down to the wire finish.
While the Ravens led in the fourth quarter, 20-16, Tom Brady worked his fourth quarter magic for a touchdown--a rare one on what was an off-day with two interceptions for New England's favorite quarterback-to put the Pats ahead 23-20.
Still, Baltimore had a chance to send the game to overtime, getting to within 32 yards shy from the field goal. But Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed his 32-yarder, sending Baltimore home for the season and New England off to Super Bowl XLVI.
Will the script be the same on Sunday? Or will Baltimore write their own ending this time around?
Final Score: Patriots 23, Ravens 20
3. San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints, 2011 NFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL Playoff weekend on Jan. 14, 2012 will forever be linked to one magic game at Candlestick Park between the hard-hitting 49ers and the high-flying offense of quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints.
And that game will forever be linked to one play: "The Grab."
With the Saints up 32-30 and time running down, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith led an improbable drive that was capped when he threw a 14-yard pass to tight end Vernon Davis with nine seconds left that gave the 49ers a stunning 36-32 win to send them to the NFC Championship.
Final score: 49ers 36, Saints 32
2. New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts, 2006 AFC Championship
For years, Peyton Manning and the Colts would strive for playoff glory, and for years, Tom Brady and the Patriots would deny them. With the right to go to Super Bowl XLI on the line on Jan. 21, 2007, the Colts entered their home at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind., convinced that it was their time.
But after falling behind 21-6 at halftime, many of them weren't sure. But Colts coach Tony Dungy was. "I'm telling you, this is our game," Dungy told his players. "It's our time."
What happened next was nothing short of inspirational. Over the next two quarters, the Colts chipped away at the Patriots, until they were down 34-28 with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter. With that, the Colts' defense stopped a Patriots drive at 4th and 2, taking over at the 19-yard line. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne would catch a touchdown pass that put the Colts up 35-34, and an interception of Brady's throw by Indianapolis' Marvin Jackson seconds later sealed the Colts' AFC Championship, and Manning's first trip to the Super Bowl, which they would win for the franchise's first world championship.
Final Score: Colts 35, Patriots 34
1. New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings, 2009 NFC Championship
It was a much-needed game for a city that had been through much.
The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left the New Orleans Superdome, the home of the Saints, in shambles and the team's future in doubt. A stellar season behind quarterback Drew Brees and the punishing defense of the Saints lifted the team-and the city-to new heights. But to get to the promised land of Super Bowl XLIV, they would have to get past all-time NFL quarterback great Brett Favre and the motivated Minnesota Vikings.
Going back and fourth for four quarters, Favre threw two costly interceptions during the game that turned the tide in the Saints' favor ,and the fourth quarter of regulation ended tied at 28-all.
The Saints took possession in overtime, and on a 40-yard field goal with 10:15 remaining in overtime from New Orleans' kicker Garrett Hartley, the Saints sealed their first trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history-which turned into their first ever world championship, washing away years of futility and frustration and lifting the spirits of a city in need of something to cheer for.
Final Score: Saints 31, Vikings 28
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