The NFL playoff bracket for the conference championship round of the 2020 postseason was finalized when the Packers beat the Seahawks on Sunday night to close the divisional round, which featured its share of notable results.
While the 49ers had little trouble running over the Vikings on their way to the NFC championship game a day before the Packers joined them with their win over Seattle, the AFC championship game matchup is a surprise.
MORE NFL PLAYOFFS:
Complete TV schedule, results | Picks & predictions
The Titans, a week after upsetting the Patriots on the road and guaranteeing a new team will win the Super Bowl this year, pulled off an even more shocking upset against the Ravens.
Tennessee will travel to Kansas City for the AFC title game. The Chiefs overcame a disastrous first quarter against the Texans in the divisional round and went on to blow out Houston.
NFL conference championship matchups
AFC championship game
(Getty Images)
2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. 6. Tennessee Titans
The Chiefs almost messed around and let the Texans host the AFC title game against their division rivals, but Patrick Mahomes and Co. were too strong for Houston in the divisional round. Unless the Titans have a third consecutive mind-blowing upset in them, chances are the Chiefs will be too much for them, too.
This is a rematch of the Week 10 game Tennessee won at home 35-32. The Titans pulled off the victory thanks to a Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass to Adam Humphries with 23 seconds to play. That was Mahomes’ first game back in the lineup after a knee injury cost him three starts. It was played Nov. 10th. Kansas City his not lost since, and Mahomes seems to be getting better every week.
Another improvement in Kansas City has been the defense that let Tennessee running back Derrick Henry rack up 188 yards in the Week 10 meeting. Even considering that improvement, Henry is expected to continue the hot streak the Titans have ridden into the AFC championship game.
No matter what Henry does, though, it might not matter given how Mahomes is playing.
NFC championship game
(Getty Images)
1. San Francisco 49ers vs. 2. Green Bay Packers
The top-seeded 49ers, who pounded the Vikings in the divisional round to reach their first NFC championship game since the 2013 season, were going to draw a rematch no matter which team won Sunday night’s game in Green Bay. They’ll get the No. 2-seeded Packers, who may or may not have been the preference considering San Francisco obliterated Green Bay at home back in Week 12.
That was the Packers’ worst performance of the season, but it also marks the last time they’ve lost a game. Powered by a stingy defense, a reliable rushing attack and that dude named Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay is playing some of its best football of the season at the perfect time.
Then again, based on what happened in the divisional round, so is San Francisco. Writes SN’s Vinnie Iyer about the 49ers entering the NFC championship game: “This is more about the 49ers than who they are playing. There was plenty of evidence against the Vikings they are an undaunted, well-oiled machine, one that takes them back in time to resemble their best-ever playoff teams.”
NFL conference championship TV schedule
The two conference championship games are split between the NFL’s two primary broadcast partners, CBS and Fox. The former will show the AFC championship game, and the latter will carry the NFC championship game.
Per usual, and this year mirroring the start times for Sunday’s divisional playoff games, the first conference championship game will kick off at 3:05 p.m. ET, with the second following at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Below is the full NFL conference championship schedule for 2020, complete with TV channels and live stream links.
Sunday, Jan. 19
| Matchup | Start time | TV channel | Live stream |
| Chiefs vs. Titans | 3:05 p.m. ET | CBS | Yahoo/ DAZN (CA) |
| 49ers vs. Packers | 6:40 p.m. ET | Fox | Yahoo/ DAZN (CA) |
MORE: Watch every NFL playoff game on DAZN (Canada only)
NFL playoff bracket 2020
(SN Illustration)
AFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 2. | Kansas City Chiefs | 12-4 | No. 2 seed; division |
| 6. | Tennessee Titans | 9-7 | No. 6 seed |
NFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 1. | San Francisco 49ers | 13-3 | No. 1 seed; division |
| 2. | Green Bay Packers | 13-3 | No. 2 seed; division |