The winner of the Steelers-Patriots game on Sunday will play in their 9th Super Bowl, more than any other franchise. The Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys and Broncos have all appeared in 8, with the Steelers leading the way with 6 wins.
The 4 QB scheduled to start this weekend -- Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers -- have combined to win seven Super Bowls, the most on any Championship weekend since the 1970 Merger. It's also the 3rd time since 1970 3 Super Bowl-winning starting QB will play in the Conference Championship in a single season.
Tom Brady, who already has played in the most Divisional Playoff games all-time, will set the record for the most Championship Game appearances with 11, breaking the record shared by Gene Upshaw and George Blanda. If Brady wins, he'll appear in his 7th Super Bowl, which will break his tie with Mike Lodish for most all-time.
Carl Cheffers to receive first Super Bowl assignment.
Carl Cheffers will be the referee for Super Bowl LI, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.It will be the first Super Bowl assignment as a referee for Cheffers, who joined the league as a side judge in 2000 and has been a referee since 2008.
The NFL has not yet made a formal announcement. The website Football Zebras also confirmed Cheffers' assignment.
Cheffers was the referee for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 18-16 victory Sunday night over the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that included a controversial holding penalty on Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher. The penalty wiped out a two-point conversion that would have tied the game at 18 with two minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the game.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was livid about the call after the game. Referring to Cheffers' jersey number, Kelce said: "Referee No. 51 shouldn't even be able to wear a zebra jersey ever again. He shouldn't even be able to work at f---ing Foot Locker."
On Monday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he also disagreed with the call. Reid suggested that the block looked worse than it was because Steelers linebacker James Harrison slipped in the wet conditions while engaged with Fisher.
"There are certain things you agree with and don't agree with during games,'' Reid said. "It really doesn't matter now that we're sitting here. I don't want to be fined any money but I would tell you I was probably leaning the other way. I thought Fish did what he needed to do on that particular block to get that done, and the problem is when [Harrison] slipped it can look worse than it is.
"I know Fish is going to have a lot of eyes on him for that call, and I'm not sure I completely agree with what took place, but it did. The call was made and we live with that.'"
Here are the other officials who will work the Super Bowl, assignments the NFL makes based on regular-season grades.
- Umpire: Dan Ferrell
- Head linesman: Kent Payne
- Line judge: Jeff Seeman
- Field judge: Doug Rosenbaum
- Side judge: Dyrol Prioleau
- Back judge: Todd Prukop
- Replay official: Tom Sifferman
Bill Belichick had a take – per usual – when asked about the importance of home crowd advantage.
Chris Hogan (thigh) set to play vs. Steelers.
The Patriots will have one of their unheralded but reliable wideouts back for the AFC Championship Game.
Chris Hogan (thigh) is good to go in the conference title contest, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, per a source informed. He was limited in Wednesday's practice. Hogan left late in New England's win over Houston with the thigh injury, but could have returned if he was needed, Rapoport said. With the Patriots owning a multiple-score lead, the receiver instead spent the rest of the game on the sideline.
Hogan made his name in the NFL as a third or fourth receiving option in Buffalo, catching 36-plus passes and tallying at least 426 yards in each of his final two seasons with the Bills before joining New England, where he's found his best fit. Anyone who watched Hogan's final two seasons in Buffalo and knows how otherwise marginal receivers thrive in the Patriots' system could have seen Hogan's career year -- 38 catches, 680 yards, four touchdowns -- coming down the pike.
Hogan's status is welcome for a Patriots offense that has been forced to look elsewhere after losing Rob Gronkowski but is comfortable with spreading the ball around. Five targets caught 30 or more passes in the regular season. Hogan is another cog in a Patriots machine that is looking to make yet another Super Bowl appearance.
Tight end Martellus Bennett (knee), linebacker Dont'a Hightower (shoulder), wideouts Danny Amendola (ankle) and Malcolm Mitchell (knee), and defensive end Jabaal Sheard (knee) were all limited.
Here's another injury we've been tracking on Wednesday:
1. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (ribs) is working with the team's rehab group on Wednesday, head coach Mike McCarthy said. Rapoport reported that Nelson is unlikely to play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Safety Morgan Burnett (quad) did not participate in practice but also worked with the rehab group, and cornerback Quinten Rollins is closer to clearing concussion protocol, McCarthy said. Receiver Davante Adams (ankle) also did not practice, working with the rehab group as well.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice as he is still in the concussion protocol. Coach Mike Tomlin told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala that he does not have an update on Green's status regarding the protocol.
