In a playoff tournament filled with blowouts, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons left no doubt in their respective conference championships. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set a team playoff record with 384 passing yards as New England beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17. Over in the NFC, the Falcons used a huge day from wide receiver Julio Jones to down the Green Bay Packers 44–21. Jones had nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns. It also was the last-ever game in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, which will be demolished and replaced by a new stadium in 2017. This will be just the second Super Bowl appearance for the Falcons, while the Patriots will be making their ninth, the most in history. With two elite offenses, the big game is expected be a shootout.
