Conference Championship Picks
It's sad that only three NFL games remain this season (four if you can't the Pro Bowl, but that is the most meaningless game of the year, so I don't count it), but the three games that do remain should be entertaining to say the least.
One reason to be excited for this weekend is we have four elite quarterbacks taking the field. No more of these Connor Cook vs. Brock Osweiler matchups. We have Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, who are both going to be in the Hall of Fame and both are in the argument of best quarterback ever. Ben Roethlisberger will most likely be in Canton one day as well and Matt Ryan will probably win this year's MVP award. Not bad.
Another reason to be excited is that as was the theme last week, both Conference Championship games on Sunday will be rematches. New England went into Pittsburgh on October 23rd and beat the Steelers, 27-16, but that was without QB Ben Roethlisberger who was injured. So, I don't think you can put much stock into that game since Big Ben was a non-factor.
In the NFC, Green Bay traveled to Atlanta once already this season back on October 30th and lost to the Falcons, 33-32. Matt Ryan threw an 11-yard TD pass to Mohamed Sanu with 31 seconds left to seal the win. Both teams combined for 65-points and 698-yards of total offense, so I don't see why this Sunday will be any different offensively.
Finally, a chance to go to the Super Bowl is on the line. Doesn't get much more exciting than that. With that being said, who will advance to Super Bowl LI? My predictions are next.
Conference Championship Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Green Bay over ATLANTA (Sunday, 3:05 p.m. ET, FOX): The over/under for this game is currently 61 points and I'll take the over. It'll be more like 70 total points scored in this one, it was 65 points in the Falcons win over the Packers earlier this season. Two of the best offenses in the league plus the likely MVP in Matt Ryan, going up against arguably the best QB of all-time in Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, a lot of points are going to be scored. Atlanta finished the season averaging 33.8 points/game and Green Bay is averaging 32.1 points/game during their eight-game winning streak. Atlanta's defense is fast and Green Bay's has found a way to force turnovers, but neither defense is the '85 Bears. I expect 300-yards and 3 TD each from Ryan and Rodgers and both teams will put up over 425-yards of total offense. With that being said I'm taking the Packers here simply because Aaron Rodgers is playing the best football any quarterback has ever played in the history of the sport. It's unbelievable watching him throw the ball and make so many clutch throws, like the one he had to Jared Cook last week in Dallas, that there's not a chance I'd go against him right now -- plus I picked the Packers to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season. Packers advance to their second Super Bowl in the Aaron Rodgers era on another late Mason Crosby field goal. Packers 38, Falcons 37.
NEW ENGLAND over Pittsburgh (Sunday, 6:40 p.m. ET, CBS): 12 of the last 13 Super Bowls have included either Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback for the AFC champion and Super Bowl LI will be no different. New England has won eight straight, only two decided by a touchdown or less and Pittsburgh has won nine straight, five of those, however, were by less than a touchdown. So, both teams are playing good football at the right time of year and both have experienced QB's who will be in the Hall of Fame. The Patriots have the advantage in my opinion because of Bill Belichick. Belichick is notorious for taking away a team's best player and this week look for him to take away Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell. I expect New England to load the box, double team Bell, and force Roethlisberger to throw the ball. Roethlisberger is going to make some mistakes if he's forced to throw a lot (he's thrown 3 INT already this postseason) and Brady will take advantage of those opportunities to earn his seventh trip to the Super Bowl. Patriots 27, Steelers 23.
Last Week: 3-1
Playoffs: 7-1
Overall: 170-94 (.644)
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| Only two weeks away from Super Bowl LI. |
Another reason to be excited is that as was the theme last week, both Conference Championship games on Sunday will be rematches. New England went into Pittsburgh on October 23rd and beat the Steelers, 27-16, but that was without QB Ben Roethlisberger who was injured. So, I don't think you can put much stock into that game since Big Ben was a non-factor.
In the NFC, Green Bay traveled to Atlanta once already this season back on October 30th and lost to the Falcons, 33-32. Matt Ryan threw an 11-yard TD pass to Mohamed Sanu with 31 seconds left to seal the win. Both teams combined for 65-points and 698-yards of total offense, so I don't see why this Sunday will be any different offensively.
Finally, a chance to go to the Super Bowl is on the line. Doesn't get much more exciting than that. With that being said, who will advance to Super Bowl LI? My predictions are next.
Conference Championship Picks (Home team in CAPS)
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| Aaron Rodgers' 36-yard pass to TE Jared Cook helped setup a game-winning field goal that sent the Packers to the NFC Championship game. (Smiley N. Pool/AP) |
NEW ENGLAND over Pittsburgh (Sunday, 6:40 p.m. ET, CBS): 12 of the last 13 Super Bowls have included either Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback for the AFC champion and Super Bowl LI will be no different. New England has won eight straight, only two decided by a touchdown or less and Pittsburgh has won nine straight, five of those, however, were by less than a touchdown. So, both teams are playing good football at the right time of year and both have experienced QB's who will be in the Hall of Fame. The Patriots have the advantage in my opinion because of Bill Belichick. Belichick is notorious for taking away a team's best player and this week look for him to take away Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell. I expect New England to load the box, double team Bell, and force Roethlisberger to throw the ball. Roethlisberger is going to make some mistakes if he's forced to throw a lot (he's thrown 3 INT already this postseason) and Brady will take advantage of those opportunities to earn his seventh trip to the Super Bowl. Patriots 27, Steelers 23.
Last Week: 3-1
Playoffs: 7-1
Overall: 170-94 (.644)
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