NFL Division Round Update

Fifty years ago yesterday, on January 11, 1970, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled the second straight big upset for the old AFL, when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, in the last AFL vs NFL Super Bowl. (The first, by the way was 51 years ago today, when the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts).

Yesterday, the NFC top seed, S.F. 49ers ended the Vikings’ 59th season (Lonnie Warwick anyone?), winning easily at home. Minnesota has played more NFL seasons, sans an “all the way” title than any other team. They were credited with the last NFL Title, that in 1969, but they lost the subsequent Super Bowl.

On paper, where we know games are NOT played, it appears the Chiefs again had a big January 11th, as now they can advance to their first Super Bowl since that January 11th day 50 years back, with two home wins, one today vs the Houston Texans and another next week vs the Tennessee Titans nee Houston Oilers.

For a second straight Saturday night, ex Patriots’ Supe winner, Mike Vrabel’s Titans pulled a big upset, this roughly double the size of last week’s wild card round win at New England, going into (14-2) Baltimore (Ravens) and winning (28-12).

Today, in later starting division round games, the Chiefs face the Texans, the winner to host the Titans, at roughly the same time next week in the AFC Title Game.

Meanwhile in “night at Green Bay action,” the Packers host the Seattle Seahawks. The Niners, losers in their last two such games, host the GB/Sea winner, in the later title game start next week.

Gifford Nielsen, pictured above, was the Houston Oilers quarterback when they upset the heavily favored San Diego Chargers in the later, Saturday division round game forty years ago.