We're down to the final four, and elite quarterbacks are the story in the NFL Playoffs.
It's conference championship weekend, and I'm trying to repress memories of what happened the last time my Packers made it this far. Fortunately, it's a different opponent and a different year, where anything can happen. On the other side, a pair of quarterbacks who have run this rodeo before return, as the two of them combined with the recently retired Peyton Manning have been to all but one of the last like 15 Super Bowls. For a league that claims to be all about parity, the AFC seems to run counter to that.
So without further ado, let's look at the two games coming up on Sunday.
Sunday Afternoon
(4) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have their first trip to the NFC title game in a long time, and have gotten there on the back of their elite offense. Matt Ryan, after being a quarterback in the tier just below the elite quarterbacks, has made a solid case this season, leading the highest scoring attack in the NFL and posted the best net yards per attempt number in the league. He's got an elite Julio Jones, who is battling a toe injury but shouldn't be limited by it, and a good 1-2 punch out of the backfield in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. This is a defense, however, that can get run on and has allowed a pretty high number of passing yards, and is not a very good scoring defense, while being a middle of the pack team in terms of takeaways. For their troubles, they get to take on the hottest team in the NFL. The Packers are fighting a number of significant injuries, with safety Morgan Burnett a question mark. Fortunately, Davante Adams, who had to leave the Dallas game late, is probable to go on Sunday. With Green Bay's defense not being very good either, the Packers are going to need every weapon at their disposal. Fortunately for them, they have the best one in the game in Aaron Rodgers, the guy who you do not want to have the ball in the fourth quarter with the game close. It will probably come down to who has the ball last, and the way things have gone, I'm not betting against Aaron Rodgers.
Prediction: Packers 44, Falcons 42
Sunday Night
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers @ (1) New England Patriots
Another year, another Patriot appearance in the AFC title game. That makes six in a row for New England, who had some struggles last week against an elite Texans defense before settling in. Tom Brady is still not someone to bet against, especially at home, and New England's defense is getting overlooked. They're going to be heavily tested this week though against a three headed monster in black and gold. Ben Roethlisberger is still dealing with an ankle injury, but as one of the toughest guys in the league, he's still a threat. Le'Veon Bell will pose a problem, even against a very good run defense, and Antonio Brown is not to be trifled with either. This is going to be another good game, but at the end of the day, you can't count out Touchdown Tom in Foxboro in January.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Steelers 24
Record So Far
6-2 Straight Up (3-1 last week)
5-3 Against the Spread (3-1 last week)
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