<b><i>Packers 20</i></b>
<b><i>49ers 37</i></b>
For the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28477123/kyle-shanahan-tells-49ers-their-regular-season-win-packers-holds-zero-relevance-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second time this season</a>, San Francisco pummeled the Packers — again thanks to Robert Saleh's defense beating up the offense designed by <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28496309/the-best-man-battle-packers-matt-lafleur-vs-49ers-robert-saleh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his best man Matt LaFleur</a>, making this the worst best man beating since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8S97VSvbBw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lance's profanity-laced beatdown of Harper in The Best Man</a>. But this game belonged to Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Mostert; the former for joining his dad, Mike, as the only father-son duo to lead teams to a Super Bowl and the latter for his <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1219091595032715264?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breakout game for the ages</a>. Whether they win Super Bowl LIV or not, this is one of <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1219092859208585216?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the greatest turnarounds in NFL history</a>.
The man with the "<a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/16/49ers-are-leery-of-the-aaron-rodgers-wrist-flick-from-hell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrist flick from hell</a>" had the homecoming from hell, as California-native Aaron Rodgers dropped to 0-5 in his postseason career against a Top 10 pass defense and Green Bay blew the opportunity to cap the NFL's centennial season with a rematch of the first-ever Super Bowl. Rodgers may see <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/19/aaron-rodgers-this-window-is-open-for-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an open window,</a> but it seems his only path to another ring will be if the Packers can assemble an unbeatable supporting cast like Denver did for Elway in the late 1990s.
<b><i>Titans 24</i></b>
<b><i>Chiefs 35</i></b>
Kansas City's run is poetic for so many reasons. The Chiefs' Super Bowl IV victory was the last meeting between the AFL and NFL before the 1970 merger, and it feels like Andy Reid — whose championship drought is roughly half as long — is due for a breakthrough. Patrick Mahomes is here to <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1219053473880211463?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remind you why he's the reigning MVP</a> and the Chiefs defense is eerily reminiscent of <a href="https://pick256.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/the-worst-defense-to-ever-win-a-super-bowl-the-2006-colts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the 2006 Colts D</a> that woke up from a regular season slumber to propel Tony Dungy to his long-awaited title.
Though the Titans fell short of a Super Bowl, Tennessee's unexpected run to Championship Sunday was impressive. After steamrolling the Chiefs in the regular season, Derrick Henry's <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/13/derrick-henry-having-a-postseason-for-the-ages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">postseason for the ages</a> ended with only 69 yards — but it was enough to <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/afc-championship-game-2020-derrick-henry-breaks-john-riggins-37-year-old-playoff-rushing-record/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snap a playoff record</a> near and dear to the hearts of Redskins fans. If <a href="https://www.insidehook.com/article/sports/derrick-henry-is-the-nfls-best-rb-but-the-titans-shouldnt-re-sign-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the case for Henry to leave Nashville</a> plays out, don't be surprised to see the Skins throw a lot of money his way.
2 OF 2
Making the Most(ert) of an opportunity, a best man beatdown and a Super Bowl berth five decades in the making. The NFL Recap’s saved its Sunday best for last.
Quarterback Alex Smith’s grueling road to recovery chronicled in ESPN program
NFL quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury that put his career in jeopardy and had him fighting for his life, and his long and grueling road to recovery is chronicled in an upcoming one-hour program from ESPN called "Project 11."
The leg injury occurred Nov. 18, 2018, in the third quarter of a game between the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. After being sacked by the Texans' J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson, Smith suffered a spiral and compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula.
