The 15-1 Carolina Panthers made light work of the Arizona Cardinals, winning the 2015 NFC Championship Game 49-15 and advancing to the Super Bowl. MVP Cam Newton produced a season of dual-threat quarterback play for the ages as the team lost only to the Atlanta Falcons after starting 14-0. Carolina also beat the Legion of Boom Seattle Seahawks 31-24, but then lost to the Denver Broncos 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.
MVP Matt Ryan and his Atlanta Falcons inflicted Aaron Rodgers' Packers with their second NFC Championship defeat in three seasons, blowing them out 44-21. Ryan led his Atlanta Falcons to a 11-5 record before they beat the Seahawks 36-20 in the divisional round. Kyle Shanahan and Dan Quinn's offense would flounder, however, as they lost Super Bowl LI in the largest playoff comeback of all time.
This was the year that Philadelphia broke its long-standing championship drought. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 13-3 record, but lost quarterback Carson Wentz late in the season. Nick Foles then went on to have the unlikeliest playoff run of all time. Philadelphia hung on 15-10 in the Divisional Round before blowing out the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game. They went on to beat Tom Brady's Patriots 41-33 in the Super Bowl.
The 2018 Los Angeles Rams were among the most explosive offenses in league history. After putting together a 13-3 record, they beat the Cowboys 30-22 in the Divisional Round. Their 26-23 NFC Championship win over Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints was marred by some refereeing controversies. The Rams would then go on to lose Super Bowl 53 to the New England Patriots, 13-3.
The 49ers returned to the Super Bowl after a 7-year hiatus as Kyle Shanahan's team put up a historic defensive display through the season. After going 13-3, the Niners beat the Vikings 27-10 before disposing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship. The team would, however, lose to the Kansas City Cheifs in Super Bowl 54.
Tom Brady made a switch from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and assembled a veritable 'Avengers'-like receiving corps. His Buccaneers team started 2020 slow, going 7-5 in 12 weeks. However, they went on an 8-game win streak after that as the Bucs beat Washington Football Team in the wild card round, Drew Brees and the Saints in the Divisional Round and the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship. The Bucs would then inflict Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs a humiliating 31-9 Super Bowl loss as Brady won his 7th Super Bowl ring and 5th Super Bowl MVP trophy.
Sean McVay would not be denied for a second time as the Los Angeles Rams made a 12-5 regular season record count. They beat the Cardinals 34-11 in the Wild Card round, Tom Brady's Buccaneers 30-27 in the Divisional Round and then eked out a 20-17 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship. Matthew Stafford held his nerve and led them down the field for a game-winning touchdown as the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in the Super Bowl.
The 2022 Philadelphia Eagles were one of the most stacked rosters of all time. The team made light work of the NFC, going 14-2 during the season before dispatching the Giants and the 49ers 38-7 and 31-7 respectively. The team, however, went on to lose the Super Bowl 38-35 as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs put together a late-game masterclass.
The 2023 San Francisco 49ers are arguably a top-5 roster to not win the Super Bowl. After a 13-4 record secured them a wild card bye, the Niners beat the Green Bay Packers 24-21 before making a huge comeback in their 34-31 NFC Championship win over the Detroit Lions. The 49ers lost their second Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs agonizingly in overtime.
After a down season in 2023, Nick Sirianni's Eagles have had a resurgence as they return to the Super Bowl for the second time in 3 years. The 2024 Eagles finished 14-3 and beat the Green Bay Packers 22-10, Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in the Divisional Round and the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship game. With talent in every position group, Philadelphia enter the 2024 Super Bowl with a vengeance against familiar opponents.
