NFC Championship game - wikipedia NFC Championship game NFC Championship Game NFC Championship logo First played 1971 ( 1970 season ) Trophy George Halas Recent and upcoming games 2017 season TBD January 21, 2018 TBD vs. TBD The NFC Championship Game ( also unofficially referred to as the NFC Title Game ) is one of the two semi-final playoff games of the National Football League ( NFL ), the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the National Football Conference ( NFC ). The winner then advances to face the winner of the American Football Conference ( AFC ) Championship Game in the Super Bowl. The game was established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League ( AFL ), with the merged league realigning into two conferences. Since 1984, each winner of the NFC Championship Game has also received the George Halas Trophy, named after the founder and longtime owner of the NFL 's Chicago Bears, George Halas. Contents 1 History 2 Playoff structure 3 George Halas Trophy 4 List of NFC Championship Games 5 Appearances 1970 -- present 6 NFC Championship Game records 7 TV Ratings 8 References History The first NFC Championship Game was played following the 1970 regular season after the merger between the NFL and the American Football League. The game is considered the successor to the original NFL Championship, and its game results are listed with that of its predecessor in the annual NFL Record and Fact Book. Since the pre-merger NFL consisted of six more teams than the AFL, a realignment was done as part of the merger to create two conferences with an equal number of teams : The NFL 's Baltimore Colts, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the ten former AFL teams to form the AFC ; while the remaining 13 pre-merger NFL clubs formed the NFC. Every NFC team has played in an NFC Championship at least once. The Seattle Seahawks, who have been members in both the AFC and the NFC, hold the distinction of appearing in both conference title games. Only the Detroit Lions have yet to win an NFC Championship Game. Playoff structure NFC Championship Game logo, 2008 -- 2010 ( Used with old shield since 2005 ) For more details on this topic, see NFL playoffs. At the end of each regular season, a series of playoff games involving the top six teams in the NFC are conducted. In the current ( since 2002 -- 03 season ) NFL playoff structure, this consists of the four division champions and two wild card teams ( those clubs that possess the two best won - loss records after the regular season yet fail to win their division ). The two teams remaining following the Wild Card round ( first round ) and the divisional round ( second round ) play in the NFC Championship game. Initially, the site of the game was determined on a rotating basis. Since the 1975 -- 76 season, the site of the NFC Championship has been based on playoff seeding based on the regular season won - loss record, with the highest surviving seed hosting the game. A wild card team can only host the game if both participants are wild cards, in which case the fifth seed would host the sixth seed. Such an instance has never occurred in the NFL. George Halas Trophy Beginning with 1984 - 85 season, the winner of the NFC Championship Game has received the George Halas Trophy, named after the longtime owner and coach of the Chicago Bears, a charter member of the NFL. The original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted NFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back. It, and the Lamar Hunt Trophy that is awarded to the AFC champion, were redesigned for the 2010 -- 11 NFL playoffs by Tiffany & Co. at the request of the NFL in an attempt to make both awards more significant. The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a small base to more closely resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl. The George Halas Trophy should not be confused with the Newspaper Enterprise Association 's George S. Halas Trophy which was awarded to the NFL 's defensive player of the year from 1966 to 1996 or the Pro Football Writers Association 's George S. Halas Courage Award. List of NFC Championship Games Numbers in parentheses in the winning team column are NFC Championships won by that team. Bold indicates team won Super Bowl that year. Numbers in parentheses in the city and stadium column is the amount of times that metropolitan area and stadium has hosted a NFC Championship, respectively. Season Playoffs Winning team Score Losing team Score Location Stadium 1970 1970 -- 71 Dallas Cowboys ( 1 ) 17 San Francisco 49ers 10 San Francisco, California Kezar Stadium 1971 1971 -- 72 Dallas Cowboys ( 2 ) 14 San Francisco 49ers Irving, Texas Texas Stadium 1972 1972 -- 73 Washington Redskins ( 1 ) 26 Dallas Cowboys Washington, D.C. RFK Stadium 1973 1973 -- 74 Minnesota Vikings ( 1 ) 27 Dallas Cowboys 10 Irving, Texas ( 2 ) Texas Stadium ( 2 ) 1974 -- 75 Minnesota Vikings ( 2 ) 14 Los Angeles Rams 10 Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Stadium 1975 -- 76 Dallas Cowboys ( 3 ) 37 Los Angeles Rams 7 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 1976 1976 -- 77 Minnesota Vikings ( 3 ) 24 Los Angeles Rams 13 Bloomington, Minnesota ( 2 ) Metropolitan Stadium ( 2 ) 1977 1977 -- 78 Dallas Cowboys ( 4 ) 23 Minnesota Vikings 6 Irving, Texas ( 3 ) Texas Stadium ( 3 ) 1978 1978 -- 79 Dallas Cowboys ( 5 ) 28 Los Angeles Rams 0 Los Angeles, California ( 2 ) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ( 2 ) 1979 1979 -- 80 Los Angeles Rams ( 1 ) 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 Tampa, Florida Tampa Stadium 1980 1980 -- 81 Philadelphia Eagles ( 1 ) 20 Dallas Cowboys 7 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Veterans Stadium 1981 1981 -- 82 San Francisco 49ers ( 1 ) 28 Dallas Cowboys 27 San Francisco, California ( 2 ) Candlestick Park 1982 1982 -- 83 Washington Redskins ( 2 ) 31 Dallas Cowboys 17 Washington, D.C. ( 2 ) RFK Stadium ( 2 ) 1983 -- 84 Washington Redskins ( 3 ) 24 San Francisco 49ers 21 Washington, D.C. ( 3 ) RFK Stadium ( 3 ) 1984 1984 -- 85 San Francisco 49ers ( 2 ) 23 Chicago Bears 0 San Francisco, California ( 3 ) Candlestick Park ( 2 ) 1985 1985 -- 86 Chicago Bears ( 1 ) 24 Los Angeles Rams 0 Chicago, Illinois Soldier Field 1986 1986 -- 87 New York Giants ( 1 ) 17 Washington Redskins 0 East Rutherford, New Jersey Giants Stadium 1987 -- 88 Washington Redskins ( 4 ) 17 Minnesota Vikings 10 Washington, D.C. ( 4 ) RFK Stadium ( 4 ) 1988 1988 -- 89 San Francisco 49ers ( 3 ) 28 Chicago Bears Chicago, Illinois ( 2 ) Soldier Field ( 2 ) 1989 1989 -- 90 San Francisco 49ers ( 4 ) 30 Los Angeles Rams San Francisco, California ( 4 ) Candlestick Park ( 3 ) 1990 1990 -- 91 New York Giants ( 2 ) 15 San Francisco 49ers 13 San Francisco, California ( 5 ) Candlestick Park ( 4 ) 1991 1991 -- 92 Washington Redskins ( 5 ) 41 Detroit Lions 10 Washington, D.C. ( 5 ) RFK Stadium ( 5 ) 1992 1992 -- 93 Dallas Cowboys ( 6 ) 30 San Francisco 49ers 20 San Francisco, California ( 6 ) Candlestick Park ( 5 ) 1993 -- 94 Dallas Cowboys ( 7 ) 38 San Francisco 49ers 21 Irving, Texas ( 4 ) Texas Stadium ( 4 ) 1994 -- 95 San Francisco 49ers ( 5 ) 38 Dallas Cowboys 28 San Francisco, California ( 7 ) Candlestick Park ( 6 ) 1995 1995 -- 96 Dallas Cowboys ( 8 ) 38 Green Bay Packers 27 Irving, Texas ( 5 ) Texas Stadium ( 5 ) 1996 -- 97 Green Bay Packers ( 1 ) 30 Carolina Panthers 13 Green Bay, Wisconsin Lambeau Field 1997 1997 -- 98 Green Bay Packers ( 2 ) 23 San Francisco 49ers 10 San Francisco, California ( 8 ) 3Com Park ( 7 ) 1998 1998 -- 99 Atlanta Falcons ( 1 ) 30 Minnesota Vikings 27 Minneapolis, Minnesota ( 3 ) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 1999 1999 -- 00 St. Louis Rams ( 2 ) 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 St. Louis, Missouri Trans World Dome 2000 2000 -- 01 New York Giants ( 3 ) 41 Minnesota Vikings 0 East Rutherford, New Jersey ( 2 ) Giants Stadium ( 2 ) 2001 2001 -- 02 St. Louis Rams ( 3 ) 29 Philadelphia Eagles 24 St. Louis, Missouri ( 2 ) Edward Jones Dome ( 2 ) 2002 2002 -- 03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1 ) 27 Philadelphia Eagles 10 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ( 2 ) Veterans Stadium ( 2 ) 2003 2003 -- 04 Carolina Panthers ( 1 ) 14 Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ( 3 ) Lincoln Financial Field 2004 -- 05 Philadelphia Eagles ( 2 ) 27 Atlanta Falcons 10 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ( 4 ) Lincoln Financial Field ( 2 ) 2005 2005 -- 06 Seattle Seahawks ( 1 ) 34 Carolina Panthers 14 Seattle, Washington Qwest Field 2006 2006 -- 07 Chicago Bears ( 2 ) 39 New Orleans Saints 14 Chicago, Illinois ( 3 ) Soldier Field ( 3 ) 2007 2007 -- 08 New York Giants ( 4 ) 23 Green Bay Packers 20 Green Bay, Wisconsin ( 2 ) Lambeau Field ( 2 ) 2008 2008 -- 09 Arizona Cardinals ( 1 ) 32 Philadelphia Eagles 25 Glendale, Arizona University of Phoenix Stadium 2009 2009 -- 10 New Orleans Saints ( 1 ) 31 Minnesota Vikings 28 New Orleans, Louisiana Louisiana Superdome 2010 -- 11 Green Bay Packers ( 3 ) 21 Chicago Bears 14 Chicago, Illinois ( 4 ) Soldier Field ( 4 ) 2011 2011 -- 12 New York Giants ( 5 ) 20 San Francisco 49ers 17 San Francisco, California ( 9 ) Candlestick Park ( 8 ) 2012 2012 -- 13 San Francisco 49ers ( 6 ) 28 Atlanta Falcons 24 Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 2013 2013 -- 14 Seattle Seahawks ( 2 ) 23 San Francisco 49ers 17 Seattle, Washington ( 2 ) CenturyLink Field ( 2 ) 2014 2014 -- 15 Seattle Seahawks ( 3 ) 28 Green Bay Packers 22 Seattle, Washington ( 3 ) CenturyLink Field ( 3 ) 2015 2015 -- 16 Carolina Panthers ( 2 ) 49 Arizona Cardinals 15 Charlotte, North Carolina Bank of America Stadium 2016 2016 -- 17 Atlanta Falcons ( 2 ) 44 Green Bay Packers 21 Atlanta, Georgia ( 2 ) Georgia Dome ( 2 ) 2017 2017 -- 18 TBD -- TBD -- ^ a : Overtime Appearances 1970 -- present Num Team PCT PF PA Last appearance Last championship Home games Home wins Home losses Home Win Pct. Away games Away wins Away losses Away Win Pct. 15 San Francisco 49ers 6 9. 400 307 289 2013 2012 9 5. 444 6. 333 14 Dallas Cowboys 8 6. 571 317 264 1995 1995 5. 800 9 5. 444 9 Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams 6. 333 82 187 2001 2001. 500 5. 200 8 Minnesota Vikings 5. 375 136 175 2009 1976. 667 5. 200 7 Green Bay Packers. 429 143 126 2016. 500. 500 6 Washington Redskins 5. 833 139 78 1991 1991 5 5 0 1.000 0. 000 6 Philadelphia Eagles. 333 109 119 2008. 500 0. 000 5 New York Giants 5 0 1.000 116 50 2011 2011 0 1.000 0 1.000 5 Chicago Bears. 400 80 86 2006. 500 0. 000 Carolina Panthers. 500 90 82 2015 2015 0 1.000. 333 Atlanta Falcons. 500 108 103 2016 2016. 500. 500 Seattle Seahawks 0 1.000 85 53 2014 2014 0 1.000 0 0 0 - 6 ! -- -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 333 33 30 2002 2002 0. 000. 500 New Orleans Saints. 500 45 67 2009 2009 0 1.000 0. 000 Arizona Cardinals. 500 47 74 2015 2008 0 1.000 0. 000 Detroit Lions 0. 000 10 41 1991 N / A 0 0 0 - 7 ! -- -- 0. 000 ^ b : Includes appearances during their first tenure in Los Angeles ( the 1970 merger to 1994 ), where they went 1 -- 6 in NFC Championship Games ; and their period as the St. Louis Rams ( 1995 -- 2015 ), where they went 2 -- 0 in NFC Championship Games. ^ c : The Seahawks were members of the NFC in 1976 and then members of the AFC from 1977 -- 2001, before rejoining the NFC in 2002. Including their only appearance in the AFC Championship Game ( 0 -- 1 ), they hold a combined 3 -- 1 record between both Conference Championship Games. NFC Championship Game records NFC Championship Game logo, 2001 -- 2005 Most Victories : 8 -- Dallas Cowboys ( 1970 -- 71, 1975, 1977 -- 78, 1992 -- 93, 1995 ) Most Losses : 9 * * -- San Francisco 49ers ( 1970 -- 71, 1983, 1990, 1992 -- 93, 1997, 2011, 2013 ) Most Appearances : 15 -- San Francisco 49ers ( 1970 -- 71, 1981, 1983 -- 84, 1988 -- 90, 1992 -- 93 -- 94, 1997, 2011 -- 12 -- 13 ) Most Consecutive Appearances : 4 ( tie, 2 teams, 3 times ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1970 -- 1973 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1992 -- 1995 ) Philadelphia Eagles ( 2001 -- 04 ) Most Consecutive Victories : 2 -- ( tie, 6 teams, 8 times ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1970 -- 71 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1973 -- 74 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1977 -- 78 ) Washington Redskins ( 1982 -- 83 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1988 -- 89 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1992 -- 93 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1996 -- 97 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2013 -- 14 ) Most Victories Without a Loss : 5 * * -- New York Giants ( 1986, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2011 ) Most Appearances Without A Win : 1 -- Detroit Lions ( 1991 ) Most Defensive Shutouts -- 2 * * ; -- New York Giants ( Jan 11, 1987, 17 -- 0 vs Redskins & Jan 14, 2001, 41 -- 0 vs Vikings ) Most Times Shut Out -- 2 * * ; -- Los Angeles Rams ( Jan 7, 1979, 0 -- 28 vs Cowboys & Jan 12, 1986, 0 -- 24 vs Bears ) Most Consecutive Losses : 3 * -- ( tie, 3 times ) Los Angeles Rams ( 1974 -- 76 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1980 -- 82 ) Philadelphia Eagles ( 2001 -- 03 ) Most Games Hosted : 9 -- San Francisco 49ers ( 1970, 1981, 1984, 1989 -- 90, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2011 ) Most numerous matchup : 6 * * -- Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers ( 1970 -- 1971, 1981, 1992 -- 1994 ) Most points scored : 49 points -- January 24, 2016 -- Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals ( 2015 season ) Largest margin of victory : 41 points -- January 14, 2001 ( 2000 season ), New York Giants ( 41 ) vs. Minnesota Vikings ( 0 ) Closest margin of victory : 1 point -- San Francisco 49ers ( 28 ) vs. Dallas Cowboys ( 27 ), 1981 NFC Championship Game * * Fewest points scored, winning team : 9 ; January 6, 1980 ( 1979 season ) -- Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fewest points scored -- 0 * ; ( tie, 5 teams, 6 times ) Los Angeles Rams 0 vs Dallas Cowboys 28 January 7, 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 vs Los Angeles Rams 9 January 6, 1980 Chicago Bears 0 vs San Francisco 49ers 23 January 6, 1985 Los Angeles Rams 0 vs Chicago Bears 24 January 12, 1986 Washington Redskins 0 vs New York Giants 17 January 11, 1987 Minnesota Vikings 0 vs New York Giants 41 January 14, 2001 Most points scored, losing team : 28 ( tie ) ; January 15, 1995 ( 1994 season ) -- Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, January 24, 2010 ( 2009 season ) -- Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints Most combined points scored : 66 ; January 15, 1995 ( 1994 season ) -- San Francisco 49ers ( 38 ) vs. Dallas Cowboys ( 28 ) Fewest combined points scored : 9 * * ; January 6, 1980 ( 1979 season ) -- Los Angeles Rams ( 9 ) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 0 ) Longest game : 71 minutes, 52 seconds * * ; January 17, 1999 ( 1998 season ) -- Atlanta Falcons ( 30 ) @ Minnesota Vikings ( 27 ), OT Most NFC Championships won in overtime : 2 * * -- New York Giants ( 2007, 2011 ) Most NFC Championships lost in overtime : 2 * ( tie ) -- Green Bay Packers ( 2007, 2014 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1998, 2009 ) Current teams which have never won an NFC Championship Detroit Lions ( 0 -- 1 ) * * * Longest drought without appearing in an NFC Championship Game : 23 years Detroit Lions ( last appearance -- 1991 ) Washington Redskins ( last appearance -- 1991 ) Longest drought without an NFC Championship : 45 years * * * ; Detroit Lions Largest comeback : 17 points ( trailed 17 -- 0 ; won 28 -- 24 ), San Francisco 49ers, 2012 Overtime games 1998 Atlanta Falcons 30 Minnesota Vikings 27 2007 New York Giants 23 Green Bay Packers 20 2009 New Orleans Saints 31 Minnesota Vikings 28 2011 New York Giants 20 San Francisco 49ers 17 2014 Seattle Seahawks 28 Green Bay Packers 22 * Tied for Conference Championship record ^ * * : Conference Championship record ^ * * * : Lions most recently won the NFL Championship in 1957 -- pre -- Super Bowl Era TV Ratings 2006 : 35.233 million viewers ; Post Gun : 24.641 million ; Post Game : 15.279 million 2007 : million viewers ; Post Game : million ( 1 ) ( 2 ) 2008 : million viewers ; Post Game : million ( 3 ) 2009 : million viewers ; Post Game : 23.83 million ( 10 : 27pm -- 11 : 02pm ) ( 4 ) 2010 : 57.9 million viewers ( 5 ) 2011 : 51.9 million viewers ; 2012 : 57.6 million viewers ( 6 ) ; Post Game : million ( 7 ) 2013 : 42.0 million viewers ; Post Game : million ( 8 ) 2014 : 55.91 million viewers ( peak : 66.3 million viewers ) ; ( 6 : 42 - 9 : 59pm ) ; Post Game ( 9 : 55 - 9 : 59pm ) : 44.903 million ( 9 ) ; The OT ( 9 : 59 - 10 : 19pm ) : 30.339 million viewers ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) 2015 : 49.8 million viewers ( peak : 60.5 million viewers ) ; The OT : 16.280 million viewers ( 6 : 40 - 7 : 06pm ) ( 13 ) References Time Almanac 2004 Jump up ^ `` Playoff Games ''. NFL Record and Fact Book 2009. Time, Inc. Home Entertainment. ISBN 978 - 1 - 60320 - 809 - 3. Jump up ^ `` NFC 's Halas trophy has new look ''. Chicago Sun - Times. Jump up ^ Bell, Jarrett ( January 25, 2011 ). `` NFL Replay : Gritty Steelers are n't pretty, but they are Super ''. USA Today. Jump up ^ Last NFL Game in Kezar Stadium. Jump up ^ These 1972 Dallas Cowboys were the first ever NFC wild card franchise to advance to the Conference championship game. Jump up ^ The 1975 Dallas Cowboys were the first ever wild card franchise to advance to the Super Bowl. Jump up ^ played on Saturday National Football League awards and trophies Team Vince Lombardi Trophy Lamar Hunt Trophy ( AFC ) George Halas Trophy ( NFC ) Individual Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Walter Payton Man of the Year `` Whizzer '' White Man of the Year Bert Bell Award Art Rooney Award Super Bowl MVP One - time only 75th Anniversary All - Time Team ( 1994 ) All - Decade Teams Annual presentation NFL Honors NFL Top 100 Awards organizations Kansas City Committee of 101 Maxwell Football Club National Football League Alumni Touchdown Club of Columbus Washington D.C. Touchdown Club Defunct Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy Brunswick - Balke Collender Cup NEA Defensive Player of the Year PFWA Defensive Player of the Year NEA Rookie of the Year UPI AFL - AFC Player of the Year UPI NFC Player of the Year UPI AFL - AFC Rookie of the Year UPI NFL - NFC Rookie of the Year National Football League ( 2017 ) AFC East North South West Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Oakland Raiders NFC East North South West Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Seasons Seasons ( by team ) Preseason Hall of Fame Game American Bowl Regular season Kickoff game Monday Night Football International Series Thanksgiving games Christmas games Playoffs Streaks Droughts AFC Championship NFC Championship Super Bowl champions quarterbacks Pro Bowl History League history Executive history Championship history AFL Championship ( 1960 -- 1969 ) NFL Championship ( 1920 -- 1969 ) Playoff Bowl Other Owners Officials Properties Stadiums ( chronology ) Timeline Defunct franchises Franchise moves and mergers Los Angeles team history Records individual team Super Bowl All time win -- loss Last undefeated Awards All - Pro Numbers ( retired ) Hall of Fame Lore Nicknames AFL Merger International Foreign players London Toronto Bills Series List of games played outside the U.S. Media TV NFL Network Radio Management Council Competition Committee Collective Bargaining Agreement NFLPA Player conduct Suspensions Player misconduct Combine Draft Training camp Rivalries NFL Foundation Tied games Canceled games Lockouts Controversies Cheerleading Mascots Color Rush Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NFC_Championship_Game&oldid=805994850 '' Categories : NFC Championship Games Recurring sporting events established in 1971 Hidden categories : Pages using deprecated image syntax Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español 日本 語 Português Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 18 October 2017, at 23 : 51. 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Question: when was the last time the cowboys were in the nfc championship
Answer: 1995