NFL 2012: Conference Championships
After watching the Baltimore Ravens improbable comeback in Denver, seeing Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers shred the Packers, watching Atlanta blow a huge lead and come back to win in the final minute, to Tom Brady and the Patriots absolutely dominating the Houston Texans, I believe we are in for one Hell of a day on Sunday. It's Conference Championship Sunday, two trips to the Super Bowl are on the line, the pressure is on, and we got two outstanding matchups to talk about.
First, the San Francisco 49ers and their electrifying QB Colin Kaepernick head to Atlanta to take on QB Matt Ryan and the Falcons in what should be one exciting football game. For an encore, a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game with LB Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens heading up to Foxborough to take on QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in what could be Lewis' final NFL game. It doesn't get much better than that.
So, buckle your chinstrap and get ready for some great football. Who's going to win, you ask. Well, here's who I see headed to New Orleans on February 3rd for Super Bowl XLVII.
Conference Championship Picks (Home team in CAPS)
San Francisco over ATLANTA: If you weren't impressed by what 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick did last Saturday night against the Packers then you can't call yourself a football fan. Even Green Bay fans had to be impressed by the display Kaepernick and the 49ers offense put on. San Francisco racked up 579-yards of total offense, with Kaepernick accounting for 444 of those yards, and 45 points. Alex Smith played well while he was quarterback, but Kaepernick has rejuvenated the 49ers offense with both with his arm and his legs. He throws the ball the way a pitcher throws a fastball and he runs like a gazelle, a pretty unique combination.
The Falcons have their own unique set of weapons on offense too, however. QB Matt Ryan, WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones, and TE Tony Gonzalez are all Pro Bowl caliber players and Gonzalez will be headed to Canton once he hangs up his cleats. Unfortunately, the Falcons defense struggled mightily against Panthers QB Cam Newton this season, whose play is almost identical to that of Kaepernick's. Atlanta gave up 502-yards passing and 202-yards rushing to Newton in their two meeting this season and I think the Atlanta defense will give up some big plays and lots of yards to Kaepernick on Sunday.
My prediction, 49ers go into Atlanta and put up lots of yards and points to avenge last year's loss in the NFC Championship game and earn a trip to New Orleans.
NEW ENGLAND over Baltimore: Last year the Ravens had a chance to go to Super Bowl XLVI, but a 32-yard game-tying field goal by then kicker Billy Cundiff sailed wide, wide left and sent the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Ray Lewis and the Ravens are hoping for a different outcome on Sunday and I expect a very close game.
Baltimore is very fortunate to even be in this position after Denver gave them a gift last Saturday by allowing QB Joe Flacco to hit WR Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left to tie the game. The Ravens went on to win the game in double overtime and Ray Lewis, who is retiring at the conclusion of the season, lived to play one more game. Watching Ray Lewis play football has been outstanding, his motivation and leadership is something that few can replicate. He is without a doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but so is Patriots QB Tom Brady.
We might very well see another game-tying or game-winning field goal in the final minutes of this one, but I expect the Patriots to advance to their second straight Super Bowl, the sixth in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. Quite remarkable.
Next week, we have the always competitive Pro Bowl, hint of sarcasm there, which means the second annual unveiling of my All-"Holy Crap" Team. I know everyone is excited for that, so stay tuned.
Playoff Record: 4-4
Regular-Season Record: 171-85
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| Ravens, Patriots, 49ers, Falcons. Four teams with a one common goal, win on Sunday and earn a trip to Super Bowl XLVII. (Chris Humphreys, Robert Hanashiro, John David Mercer, David Butler II /USA TODAY Sports) |
So, buckle your chinstrap and get ready for some great football. Who's going to win, you ask. Well, here's who I see headed to New Orleans on February 3rd for Super Bowl XLVII.
Conference Championship Picks (Home team in CAPS)
 |
| Two words describe Colin Kaepernick -- fast and athletic -- but the two words I would use after watching him last Saturday, "Holy Crap!" (Harry How/Getty Images) |
San Francisco over ATLANTA: If you weren't impressed by what 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick did last Saturday night against the Packers then you can't call yourself a football fan. Even Green Bay fans had to be impressed by the display Kaepernick and the 49ers offense put on. San Francisco racked up 579-yards of total offense, with Kaepernick accounting for 444 of those yards, and 45 points. Alex Smith played well while he was quarterback, but Kaepernick has rejuvenated the 49ers offense with both with his arm and his legs. He throws the ball the way a pitcher throws a fastball and he runs like a gazelle, a pretty unique combination.
The Falcons have their own unique set of weapons on offense too, however. QB Matt Ryan, WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones, and TE Tony Gonzalez are all Pro Bowl caliber players and Gonzalez will be headed to Canton once he hangs up his cleats. Unfortunately, the Falcons defense struggled mightily against Panthers QB Cam Newton this season, whose play is almost identical to that of Kaepernick's. Atlanta gave up 502-yards passing and 202-yards rushing to Newton in their two meeting this season and I think the Atlanta defense will give up some big plays and lots of yards to Kaepernick on Sunday.
My prediction, 49ers go into Atlanta and put up lots of yards and points to avenge last year's loss in the NFC Championship game and earn a trip to New Orleans.
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| Ray Lewis has had a Hall of Fame career and whether his career comes to an end on Sunday or not, it sure was fun watching him play the game of football. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) |
Baltimore is very fortunate to even be in this position after Denver gave them a gift last Saturday by allowing QB Joe Flacco to hit WR Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left to tie the game. The Ravens went on to win the game in double overtime and Ray Lewis, who is retiring at the conclusion of the season, lived to play one more game. Watching Ray Lewis play football has been outstanding, his motivation and leadership is something that few can replicate. He is without a doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but so is Patriots QB Tom Brady.
We might very well see another game-tying or game-winning field goal in the final minutes of this one, but I expect the Patriots to advance to their second straight Super Bowl, the sixth in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. Quite remarkable.
Next week, we have the always competitive Pro Bowl, hint of sarcasm there, which means the second annual unveiling of my All-"Holy Crap" Team. I know everyone is excited for that, so stay tuned.
Playoff Record: 4-4
Regular-Season Record: 171-85
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