NFL Championship Weekend: Top moments you might’ve missed

The penultimate week of the NFL season did not disappoint, with a pair of nail-biting contests to set up a showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

Here are some of the top moments you may have missed from the AFC and NFC Championship games.

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Joe Burrow sets the tone with pre-game fit

Cincinnati Bengals fans probably got the sense Joe Burrow had something special in store for them when he rocked up to the AFC Championship game dripping with swag.

His black skivvy, gold chain combo even caught the eye of movie star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who likened it to a famous outfit of his own.

Patrick Mahomes plays ‘backyard football’

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is known for doing freakish things on the football field.

He was at it again when he managed to turn this broken down play into something special by linking up with Travis Kelce for a touchdown.

Unfortunately for Mahomes, his second half performance against the Bengals was not up to his usual lofty standards as the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs.

Evan McPherson earns a smooch from Burrow

For the second straight week, the fate of the Bengals’ season was left to rest on the foot of kicker Evan McPherson.

And for the second straight week, McPherson was unflinching as he split the uprights.

His game-winner to send the Bengals to the Super Bowl even earned him a little kiss from quarterback Burrow.

Like father, like son

The fathers of Bengals duo Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase celebrated their sons’ success with a post-game cigar, just like their boys did.

They will no doubt be hoping to continue the ritual after Super Bowl LVI.

Gould continues to do his thing

Nothing will get in the way of Robbie Gould’s pre-game warm-up.

The San Francisco 49ers kicker was still lining up shots as the Los Angeles Rams made their way onto the field for the opening kickoff in the NFC Championship game.

Gould has never missed a field goal attempt during the playoffs, so it’s hard to fault his meticulous process.

Warner’s ‘bush league’ cheap shot

The 49ers knew shutting down Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was key to their hopes of winning the NFC Championship game, but this late hit from Fred Warner might have taken it a little too far.

The cheap shot appeared to do little to rattle Stafford, who steered the Rams to an epic comeback victory.

Beckham consoles Samuel after heartbreaking loss

No one felt the 49ers’ gut-wrenching exit from the playoffs more than Deebo Samuel with the utility’s incredible season a big factor in the 49ers making so far into the post-season.

Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recognised Samuel’s contribution and made a point to go and console his opponent on the sideline following the game.

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