We couldn’t have asked for two better conference championship matchups this week. While fans will have their bias, the fact of the matter is that the four best teams in the NFL are still alive with a berth in Super Bowl 48 on the line.
But which teams will get the job done on Sunday and advance? Let’s take a look and make a couple of predictions.
Beginning with the first game on Sunday in the AFC Championship. The top-two seeds will clash, with the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots. On the surface, the first thing to mention is the fact that it’s Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. These are two of the best quarterbacks in history, playing as well as they ever have.
But the game is much bigger than just two players. It’s the Broncos vs. Patriots and the team that wins will need to do several things to make it happen.
Denver received some bad news about defensive back Chris Harris this week. Harris tore his ACL in the win over the Chargers and will miss the rest of the season. This makes the Broncos thin across the secondary, as Harris was one of the their best cover corners.
Still, the Broncos will want to make New England throw the ball. This seems odd considering it’s Brady under center. But the key to the Patriots success starts with the run game, and then opening up play action for Brady to pick apart the defense.
On offense for the Broncos, it’s pick your poison. In the regular season game between Denver and New England, the Broncos asserted themselves in the first half before collapsing in the second. If there’s one thing that Denver has done this season, it’s learn from mistakes. Just look back to last week where the emphasis was on controlling the football against San Diego. In a Week 14 loss, the Chargers had the ball twice as long as the Broncos. Denver switched things up on play calls, controlled the clock, and won the game.
- Prediction – Broncos 34 Patriots 23
In the NFC it’s a matchup between two teams in the West division. The Seattle Seahawks will host the San Francisco 49ers. The two split the regular season 1-1, with San Francisco winning the latter. Both teams won their games at home though. Seattle is arguably the toughest place in the NFL to play.
There was a small earthquake that registered at CenturyLink Field this past weekend when the Seahawks scored. Yeah, it’s loud.
But if there is a team equipped to handle the challenge it’s San Francisco. The 49ers have won back-to-back games on the road in the postseason. It was a heavyweight fight against Carolina with two great defenses. This one should be another.
But it’s the play of the quarterbacks that will determine the outcome here. Russell Wilson did not have a great game against New Orleans. He sat in the pocket too long and took away his scrambling ability. He can make plays with his legs and will need to do that Sunday.
Colin Kaepernick is the same way. But having Michael Crabtree back in the lineup has been a great addition. This will definitely present a new look for the Seahawks in the secondary.
Expect this game to be close in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
- Prediction – Seahawks 23 49ers 20