Jan. 22 (UPI) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills battle for Super Bowl berths in two of the biggest games of the weekend, which also features a Conor McGregor UFC bout.
Elite quarterback play has led the final four NFL teams into the AFC and NFC championship games.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers face Tom Brady’s Buccaneers in the first of the two games Sunday in the NFC finale.
Then, Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs host the Bills in the AFC finale.
The Packers and Chiefs are favored to advance to the Super Bowl.
The Packers-Buccaneers game is at 3:05 p.m. EST on Fox. The Chiefs face the Bills at 6:40 p.m. on CBS.
“We’ve been pretty good on the road all year outside of the first game and the Chicago game,” Brady told reporters Wednesday.
“Let’s keep that streak going. That would be pretty sweet. Let’s get another one. We’re going to be challenged to get it because we’re going up against a great football team.”
McGregor UFC bout
Former UFC champion Connor McGregor will fight for the second time in seven days when he takes on Dustin Poirier in the main event Saturday at UFC 257.
McGregor (22-4-0) is ranked No. 4 in the lightweight division. Poirier (26-6-0) won his last fight on June 27 after a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 at UFC 242. He is ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division.
McGregor also lost to Nurmagomedov in 2018 before he beat Donald Cerrone on Saturday at UFC 246. McGregor also beat Poirier in their only other meeting in 2014 at UFC 178.
The UFC 257 main card starts at 10 p.m. EST and airs on ESPN+. The first fight is a women’s straw-weight bout between Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Ribas. Lightweight Matt Frevola then takes on Ottman Azaitar.
The third bout features women’s flyweights Jessica Eye and Joanne Calderwood. Dan Hooker then has a lightweight bout against Michael Chandler for the co-main event before Poirier-McGregor.
NBA
This weekend’s NBA action starts with a doubleheader on ESPN. Jaylon Brown and the Boston Celtics battle Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers in the first game at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday in Philadelphia.
Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets then face Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns at 10 p.m. on Friday in Phoenix.
Saturday’s NBA slate features a high-profile matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.
Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kevin Durant and the Nets host the defending Eastern Conference champions at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBATV.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are featured in one of the best games of Sunday’s slate. The Bucks host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 p.m. on NBATV.
Friday
Golf
AmericanExpress 2021: Second round from 3 to 7 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
College basketball
Michigan at Purdue at 7 p.m. EST on FS1
Seton Hall at Butler at 9 p.m. EST on FS1
Milwaukee at Cleveland State at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2
NHL
Rangers at Penguins at 7 p.m. EST on NHL Network
Oilers at Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Predators at Stars at 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
NBA
Celtics at 76ers at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
Nuggets at Suns at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN
Saturday
College basketball
Cincinnati at Houston at noon EST on CBS
Kansas at Oklahoma at noon EST on ESPN
UConn at Creighton at noon EST on Fox
Virginia Tech at Syracuse at noon EST on ACC Network Alternate
Auburn at South Carolina at noon EST on ESPN2
Baylor at Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. EST on CBS
Maryland at Minnesota at 2 p.m. EST on Big Ten Network
NC State at North Carolina at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN
Florida at Georgia at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Clemson at Florida State at 3 p.m. EST on ABC
Ohio State at Wisconsin at 4 p.m. EST on CBS
West Virginia at Kansas State at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Duke at Louisville at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN
UCLA at Stanford at 5 p.m. EST on Fox
Mississippi State at Alabama at 6 p.m. EST on SEC Network
LSU at Kentucky at 6 p.m. EST on ESPN
Georgia Tech at Virginia at 8 p.m. EST on ACC Network
Colorado at Washington State at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Missouri at Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. EST on SEC Network
Oregon State at Oregon at 10:30 p.m. EST on Pac-12 Network
NHL
Lightning at Blue Jackets at 2 p.m. EST on NHL Network
Flyers at Bruins at 7 p.m. EST on NHL Network
Kings at Blues at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Golf
AmericanExpress 2021: Third round from 3 to 7 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
NBA
Heat at Nets at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBATV
UFC 257 on ESPN+
Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Ribas at 10 p.m. EST
Matt Frevola vs. Ottman Azaitar after first fight
Jessica Eye vs. Joanne Calderwood after second fight
Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler after third fight
Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor after fourth fight
Sunday
NHL
Red Wings at Blackhawks at 12:30 p.m. EST on NBC
Maple Leafs at Flames at 4 p.m. EST on NHL Network
Rangers at Penguins at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Predators at Stars at 8 p,m. EST on NHL Network
Golf
AmericanExpress 2021: Final round from 3 to 7 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
NFL
NFC Championship game: Buccaneers at Packers at 3:05 p.m. EST on Fox
AFC Championship game: Bills at Chiefs at 6:40 p.m. EST on CBS
NBA
Hawks at Bucks at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBATV
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