8 best conference championship games in NFL history

With four top-end quarterbacks remaining for this weekend's conference championship games, there's a good chance we will be treated to a classic playoff matchup.

But in the meantime, here are the eight greatest conference championships to keep us entertained.

Note: Games are referred to by year of season, not the date of game.

8. NFC 1999 - Rams 11, Bucs 6

After a season of dominating the NFL, "The Greatest Show on Turf" met its match against the Tony Dungy-led Buccaneers.

Kurt Warner looked stumped through the first three-and-a-half quarters in the only game of the season the Rams failed to scored at least 21 points. He canceled out his three interceptions, finding Ricky Proehl for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter - the receiver's only score of the season.

The Rams went on to defeat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, 23-16.

7. NFC 2013 - Seahawks 23, 49ers 17

The Seahawks and 49ers were the two best teams in the NFC in 2013, each defeating the other on home field during the regular season and combing for eight All-Pro players.

San Francisco held a 17-10 lead late in the third quarter before Seattle roared back with three field goals and a touchdown. The 49ers looked poised for a last-minute scoring drive, but a tipped pass by Richard Sherman in the end zone resulted in a game-sealing interception and one of the most memorable interviews in playoff history.

The Seahawks moved on to defeat the Denver Broncos in a Super Bowl XLVIII blowout, 43-8.

6. AFC 1987 - Broncos 38, Browns 33

Believe it or not, the Browns used to compete in conference championship games, but in true Browns fashion, they would rather not remember those times. A year after John Elway led the "The Drive" against Cleveland to reach his first Super Bowl, running back Earnest Byner defined his franchise with "The Fumble."

After falling to a 21-3 deficit early, the Browns marched back and looked like they were in the clear for Byner to score a game-tying touchdown before he was stripped by Broncos defensive back Jeremiah Castille at the 1-yard line.

Two weeks later, the Broncos would fall to the Washington Redskins 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII, their second straight championship defeat.

5. AFC 2006 - Colts 38, Patriots 34

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning's playoff rivalry may have ended with a 2-3 tally for "The Sheriff," but getting that first W was a tough one. With Brady handling Manning's Colts by a total score of 44-17 in their first two postseason contests, Indianapolis finally came to play in 2007.

The Patriots scorched out to a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter off a Manning-thrown pick-6, but the Tennessee product dug deep and brought his team back into the heavyweight bout, tying the game in the third. The two future Hall of Famers traded blows back and forth as the game wound down before Manning landed the knockout punch with a minute to go.

Manning capped off his accomplished season by dismantling the Chicago Bears 29-17 for his first career Lombardi Trophy.

4. AFC 1986 - Broncos 23, Browns 20 OT

In the second Broncos-Bears game of this list, the story was much more of a positive feel for Denver instead of a sad one for Cleveland. John Elway proved to everyone that he could get it done in crunch time after one-game showings in his first two postseason appearances.

Down by seven with five-and-a-half minutes to play, Elway led his team with a 98-yard, 15-play sequence that would forever become known simply as "The Drive." The future Hall of Famer's ninth pass of the drive found Mark Jackson for a 5-yard score that would tie the game before an overtime field goal won it.

Elway and the Broncos wouldn't be able to get past the New York Giants in their final game, losing 39-20.

3. NFC 2009 - Saints 31, Vikings 28 OT

Brett Favre trying to win a Super Bowl with the team he called his rival for 16 seasons. Drew Brees leading the city of New Orleans and the Saints' franchise out of the darkness. Either way, it was going to be a great story, but the game made things that much better.

Neither team held more than a one-touchdown lead at any point of the game as the Saints continued to find ways to keep it close, despite being drastically out gained 475-257 in the game. Favre's gunslinger style went too far on his final possession of regular time as he passed up a scramble into field-goal position to throw a cross-body pick to Tracy Porter.

The Saints kicked a game-winning field goal in overtime to reach their first and only Super Bowl, which they won thanks to another clutch Porter interception 31-17 against the Colts.

2. NFC 1981 - 49ers 28, Cowboys 27

Much like a few other matchups on this list, this classic slug fest was infamous for its most famous play - "The Catch."

En route to the 49ers' first Super Bowl win under Bill Walsh and Joe Montana, the Dallas Cowboys gave San Francisco all it could handle, forcing six turnovers in the game - but it wasn't enough. Down six points, Montana took the 49ers on an 89-yard drive that he finished with a play called "Sprint Right Option."

Joe Cool rolled out, saw his intended receiver Freddie Solomon was covered, spotted Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone, and, while falling backwards, threw one of the NFL's most-famous touchdowns.

1. NFC 2014 - Seahawks 28, Packers 22 OT

Holding a commanding 19-7 lead with 4:57 left in the fourth quarter, Packers safety Morgan Burnett picked off Russell Wilson and took a knee, assuming he was well on his way to the Super Bowl.

Not so fast.

In one of the wildest five-minute spans the NFL has ever seen, the Seahawks made crazy play after crazy play to grab a lead off a few examples of what "Beast Mode" means to Marshawn Lynch, a Brandon Bostick muff, and the most-insane two-point conversion ever. But Aaron Rodgers wouldn't be outdone, setting up a game-tying field to force overtime.

Wilson went off in overtime finding Doug Baldwin for 35 yards on third down, one play before hitting Jermaine Kearse for game-winning strike of the same distance.

The Seahawks would only be outdone by the Patriots two weeks later as Wilson was famously picked off at the goal-line by Malcolm Butler to seal New England's fourth franchise Super Bowl.