Sunday’s conference championship games include two matchups of No. 1 seeds hosting No. 3 seeds. In NFL history, things don’t bode very well for the No. 3 seed, and the numbers aren’t very reassuring if you are a Chiefs or Lions fan.
Obviously, both Kansas City and Detroit have overcome their fair share of obstacles this season. They also have trump cards in the form of Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) and momentum (Lions).
There have been 15 total matchups between No. 1 and No. 3 seeds. Here is how these teams historically have fared by the numbers:
– The No. 1 seed has won 14 of 15 matchups with No. 3 seeds.
– The only upset came in 2003 when the Panthers defeated the Eagles.
– No. 1 seeds are averaging 26.3 points per game, while the No. 3 seeds are averaging 14.8 points per game.
The Chiefs and Lions both are hoping to be able to bend history to their own benefit come Sunday. History repeats itself more in the NFL than in any other sports league, one could argue.
