What years in the NFL did a conference championship game feel like the “real” Super Bowl?

[Street Knowledge]

In the NBA for example during the early 00’s the WCF was the real nba finals because of how bad the east was. The 2,3,4 best teams in the league were out west so any team that won the conference essentially won the chip. The actual finals was a formality

What years would you say this about the nfl?

1994 NFC championship game for example Cowboys/49ers was basically who had the right to blow out the Chargers in the superbowl

 

[premier58]

2006 AFC, definitely. It was a foregone conclusion that either Indy or New England would beat Chicago in the SB

 

[Canada Goose]

That NFC title game where Sherman cut a wrestling promo on Crabtree post game, Seahawks won the SB that year against the Broncos like 45 - 8

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

Damn near every NFC title game from the mid 80s to the mid 90s

 

[premier58]

That NFC title game where Sherman cut a wrestling promo on Crabtree post game, Seahawks won the SB that year against the Broncos like 45 - 8

Thats in hindsight, tho. No one thought that the record breaking, MVP Peyton Manning Broncos, would be a pushover in the big game

 

[Street Knowledge]

2006 AFC, definitely. It was a foregone conclusion that either Indy or New England would beat Chicago in the SB

The 4 best teams in the nfl were all in the AFC

 

[broller]

That NFC title game where Sherman cut a wrestling promo on Crabtree post game, Seahawks won the SB that year against the Broncos like 45 - 8

But prior to the games it wasn't expected that the NFCCG winner would definitely win. Not as a consensus anyway.

I think for much of the 1980s, and 1990s, it was thought that the NFCCG would be the de facto Super Bowl.

 

[premier58]

But prior to the games it wasn't expected that the NFCCG winner would definitely win. Not as a consensus anyway.

I think for much of the 1980s, and 1990s, it was thought that the NFCCG would be the de facto Super Bowl.

Agreed, but it also depends on the matchup. Like if the Rams beat the Bears in 85, what is a given that they would beat the Pats? If the Bears beat the Niners in 88, what is it a guarantee they beat the Bengals? Detroit beats Wash in 91, are they favored to beat Buffalo? If Chicago beats SF, are they expected to beat the Miami team that already beat them?!

 

[premier58]

The 4 best teams in the nfl were all in the AFC

Most def. SD, Baltimore, Indy and New England. AFC was a straight bloodbarh from like 03-07.

 

[Jplaya2023]

1983-1996 NFC Championship Games

2003, 2004 AFC Championship Games

 

[premier58]

1983-1996 NFC Championship Games

2003, 2004 AFC Championship Games

If by way of miracle, the Rams beat SF in 89, who's to say they beat Denver in the SB. Wouldnt say 90, either, because no one expected the NYG to beat Buffalo in SB25..

 

[King Poetic]

Niners/cowboys in the 90s

Felt like the spurs/lakers run

 

[Soldier]

2018 AFC championship game

Patriots at Chiefs

 

[premier58]

2018 AFC championship game

Patriots at Chiefs

Good pick. I was thinking of this one, too. SB certainly had an anti-climatic feel after that epic AFC championship game.

 

[Soldier]

Good pick. I was thinking of this one, too. SB certainly had an anti-climatic feel after that epic AFC championship game.

The saints were robbed by the refs in the 2018 nfc championship game. Rams weren’t ready for the big show yet. But they deserved their SB win against the bengals 3 years later.

Saints/Patriots vs Chiefs would have been a better SB in 2018.