NFL 2021-22: From Playoffs to the Super Bowl Quiz

Answer: NFC: Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles. AFC: Steelers, Raiders, Patriots

The teams seeded 2-7 in each conference played off in the Wild Card round. In the AFC the Chiefs beat the Steelers 42-21 in what was Ben Roethlisberger's last game before retirement; the Bengals outlasted the Raiders 26-19 and the Patriots were thrashed 47-17 by the neighbouring Bills.

In the NFC, the 49ers (third in the NFC West) upset the Cowboys in Texas 23-17; The Buccaneers beat the Eagles 31-15 at home, and the Rams comprehensively defeated Kyler Murray's Cardinals 34-11.

Answer: A field goal (3 points)

In the Titans-Bengals match in what was a fairly dour affair at Titans, both teams scored a single touchdown in the third quarter with both teams kicking three field goals by the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was scoreless but with only 21 seconds to go, Bengals intercepted and two plays later with four seconds left on the clock kicked the winning field goal 19-16.

The NFC was remarkably similar. T Lambeau Field the Packers scored a touchdown on their initial drive but did not score again until they scored a field goal in the fourth quarter. The 49ers managed a field goal in the third quarter but were playing catch-up all game. With four minutes to go they scored a touchdown from a blocked Packers' punt to make it 10 a piece. They then kicked a field goal with four seconds remaining. 13-10 49ers. Both teams had lost at home by three points. Both team were expected to progress to the conference championships.

Answer: No home team led after 60 minutes of regular play

The Rams appeared to be comfortable with a touchdown in each of the first three quarters to be leading the Bucs 27-3 with five to play in the third quarter. But then the Bucs scored 24 unanswered points to draw level 27-27 with a touchdown with a minute to go. The Rams, scoreless since the mid-third quarter, then marched down the field and kicked a field goal with four seconds left on the clock. Tom Brady, in front of his home crowd, could not pull off another Super Bowl LI with a comeback from 28-3, and this turned out to be his last game.

Answer: True

In what was arguably the best game of the season, the Bills scored on their opening drive at Arrowhead, but did not regain the lead until the fourth quarter when Allen threw a touchdown pass with under two minutes remaining. Up to that point each team had scored a touchdown in each quarter with a KC field goal the difference.

The lead changed four times and 25 points were scored in the final two minutes of regulation time and most people thought the Bills had won when they scored a touchdown to lead 36-33 with 13 seconds to go.

But the Chiefs kicked a field goal in the last seconds of regulation to tie it up. They then scored a TD in overtime to finish 42-36 in front.

Answer: True

In the AFC Championship, the Chiefs raced out to a 21-3 lead with a minute to go in the second quarter before the Bengals started a comeback. The Bengals drew level 21 a piece with six to go in the final quarter when they kicked a field goal to lead for the first time in the match.

The Chiefs kicked a field goal to draw level 24-24 with 20 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. The Bengals then kicked a field goal themselves in the second overtime period to edge out the more favoured Chiefs.

The Bengals were off to the Super Bowl.

Answer: True

In a scoreless first quarter, the Rams scored the opening touchdown in the second quarter but then the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points to lead 17-7 two minutes into the fourth quarter. After an early fourth quarter LA field goal, Cooper Kupp then scored his second touchdown of the night and the Rams kicked the winning field goal with 1.48 on the clock.

Answer: Neither side won their Division in the regular season

Both teams won their division but in tight fought contests with the other three teams in the same division: The Bengals won AFC North 10-7 but even the Ravens who came fourth were 8-9. The Rams qualified first in NFC West in a conference where the 49ers and the Cardinals also qualified. In four previous attempts, the Rams had won the Super Bowl once but that was in 2000 when they were the St Louis Rams. The Bengals made the Super Bowl twice before losing both. This season was the first time the Bengals had won a post-season game in 31 years.

LA Rams QB, Matthew Stafford held a 86-95-1 record, while Joe Burrow was 12-13-1. Stafford spent the most of his career with the Detroit Lions, who reached the playoffs three times in his 12 years with the team. On each occasion they were eliminated in week one. Prior to 2021 he was traded to the Rams in a series of player recruitments that would go a long way to facilitating the Rams to a Super Bowl win. Joe Burrow was just in his second season. He went 2-7-1 in his rookie year. His rookie year ended after 10 games when he tore knee ligaments against the Washington Football Team (which became the Washington Commanders).

Answer: This was the first time two NFL teams (Rams and Chargers) had shared the same stadium

When the SoFi Stadium was opened in 2020 it had cost around $US4 billion to build with the surrounding development surpassing $US6 billion, making it the most expensive sporting stadium anywhere in the world. It hosts the Rams and the Chargers and is therefore the second stadium to host two NFL teams after the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ which started hosting the Jets and the Giants in 2010.

The NFL rotates the Super Bowl home team alternately. In 2021-22 the AFC were the designated home team so they chose their customary black with orange uniforms. The Rams played in a new uniform of a predominantly white shirt with blue and yellow highlights and yellow pants.

In February 2021, Tampa Bay hosted Super Bowl LV. Tampa Bay played in that final (and won) giving Tom Brady his seventh Super Bowl win which was more than any other team when they beat the Chiefs 31-9.

Answer: 3 points (a field goal)

Los Angeles was 13-3 up with six to go in the first half before the Bengals scored their first touchdown to make it 13-10 at half-time. The Bengals scored another touchdown in their traditional third quarter comeback to lead 20-16 deep into the fourth quarter.

The Rams scored their third touchdown with one minute 25 on the clock and held on to win 23-20, the difference being three touchdowns to the Bengals' two with the Bengals scoring two field goals to the Rams' one with the Rams missing a conversion).

In thirteen 2021-22 post season games, this was the sixth where the winning margin was a single field goal score over their opponent. Only five safeties were scored in the entire season, none in the post-season.

Answer: Cooper Kupp

Matthew Stafford justified the high price they paid when they traded him from Detroit with Jared Goff, with a get-it-done sort of game with 26 catches from 40 attempts (65%) for 283 yards, three touchdown passes and two interceptions. Joe Burrow matched the veteran with 22/33 (67%) and 263 yards, one TD and no picks.

Ja'Marr Chase was touted as a potential MVP before the game,and he had five receptions from Burrow for 89 yards, but was pipped by Tee Higgins whose 4 receptions yielded 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Cooper Kupp's combination with Stafford was outstanding and his two receiving touchdowns, eight receptions and 92 yards made him the logical winner.