The best player matchups for NFL conference championship games

Brees and Goff put on a show in the first Saints vs. Rams matchup this season, and there's no reason to expect any different this time around. Brees threw for 346 yards and four scores, while Goff had 391 yards and three touchdown passes. It will be fun to watch one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the game vs. an up-and-comer.

Cooks had a terrific day in the first matchup vs. New Orleans with six receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown. Lattimore remains one of the league's elite cornerbacks and is riding high after effectively putting the Eagles away last week with an interception late in the fourth quarter. He has an even bigger game ahead against the speedy Cooks.

Ginn has returned from injury to become New Orleans' No. 2 wideout again and had a solid game against the Eagles, with three receptions for 44 yards. The 33-year-old will often be matched up against the 32-year-old Talib, who missed the first contest against New Orleans. It will be fun to watch these veterans as they fight for what could be their final shot at a Super Bowl.

Gurley might not be 100 percent due to a knee injury, but he still had a great game against Dallas with 115 yards rushing on only 16 carries. Davis has been a huge factor in New Orleans' great ability to stop the run this season, though the bodies in front of him took a hit with the loss of Sheldon Rankins last week. The task becomes even tougher for Davis now.

Jordan is arguably the best player on the Saints defense and a great pass rusher, finishing the regular season with 12 sacks. He will be matched up against Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein, who is a solid pass blocker.

Like Todd Gurley on the Rams, Kamara is a major threat for the Saints both as a rusher and a receiver. Littleton and Co. will have their hands full in stopping Kamara, who had 116 yards from scrimmage in the first matchup and 106 yards last week.

Lutz missed a 52-yard field goal late in Sunday's game that would have put the Eagles away, showing possible issues with the playoff pressure. With just a 3.5-point spread as of Monday, he will likely be a factor, as will Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. Kicking in a dome in New Orleans, the big legs of both kickers could play a role.

Peters was displeased after the first matchup when he was burned by Thomas for a long touchdown and then dissed following the game by Saints head coach Sean Payton. He vowed revenge, and now the former Pro Bowl cornerback has his chance. Thomas had 12 receptions for 211 yards in the first contest and 12 catches for 171 yards last week against Philly.

Apple was acquired from the Giants earlier this season, but he's been a weak link in the Saints secondary. Woods has come into his own this season, finishing the year with more than 1,200 receiving yards, and he will certainly be a challenge for Apple and Co. to cover.

It won't only be New Orleans center Max Unger tasked with blocking dominant Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but likely the entire Saints offensive line double teaming Donald at one point or another during the game. While Donald didn't have a sack in the first matchup against the Saints, he did have four quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. Once again, the Saints will have their hands full.

Will this game be the passing of the baton? The 41-year-old Brady has won eight AFC Championships, while Mahomes is participating in his first. The likely NFL MVP, Mahomes has a tall task in what could be sub-zero temperatures, while Brady had a terrific divisional round game vs. the Chargers after being written off for much of the season.

Ford has become a superstar for the Chiefs with 13 sacks during the regular season, but he was held in check by the Patriots during the teams' first matchup. Brown and the rest of the Patriots offensive line still will face a big challenge stopping him.

Houston is coming off arguably the best game of his season vs. the Colts and gets a shot at his first Super Bowl with a win on Sunday. Cannon is one of the game's best right tackles and will be assigned to Houston for much of the game.

Edelman had a terrific game vs. the Chargers last week, with nine receptions for 151 yards. However, Fuller and the rest of the Chiefs secondary did a good job against Edelman in the first matchup, holding the wideout to four receptions for 54 yards. Edelman probably needs to be more active for the Patriots to keep up with K.C.'s offense.

Gronkowski made a key catch late in the first matchup vs. the Chiefs and finished the game with three receptions for 97 yards. Eric Berry held Gronk in check in Week 1 last season, but if he's unable to play, it will be Daniel Sorensen covering Gronkowski. Sorensen missed the first matchup against the Patriots due to injury but is a marked upgrade over what the Chiefs were using at safety earlier in the season.

Hill has been almost impossible for any team to contain this season, including the Patriots. The speedster had seven receptions for 142 yard and three touchdowns in the first matchup early in the season, so head coach Bill Belichick will almost certainly be scheming to stop him with Gilmore and Co.

Kelce is coming off a big game against the Colts but was held relatively in check during the first matchup vs. the Patriots this season, finishing with five receptions for 61 yards. Chung was partially responsible and will get another shot, along with the McCourty twins.

Michel has been a workhorse when healthy this season, as he was in the first game against the Chiefs, with 24 receptions for 106 yards. The Chiefs run defense allowed more than 5.0 yards per carry during the regular season, but Hitchens has come on recently after being signed in the offseason. Along with the defensive line, Hitchens will have a tall task ahead.

Flowers has become New England's star along the defensive line, but he will often be matched up against All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Flowers had 7.5 sacks during the regular season but was held relatively in check by Schwartz in the first game.

Williams has emerged as Kareem Hunt's replacement at running back for the Chiefs and has done a terrific job, including 129 yards rushing last week. Hightower is a difference maker in run defense for the Patriots, but New England allowed 5.5 yards per carry to K.C. in the first matchup at New England.