AFC Championship 3:00 p.m. EST
Denver Broncos 34 - 28 New England Patriots
Truly a matchup for the ages. The two top guns in the AFC, featuring two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The 13-3 Broncos are hosting the 12-4 Patriots. Earlier this season the Patriots hosted the Broncos in New England and fell behind 24-0 by halftime. In the second half, the Patriots had a comeback for the ages and went ahead 31-24. The Broncos would score late to force overtime. And in OT, the Patriots would prevail 34-31.
This game however will be in Denver. And Denver will ave favorable conditions - good for both quarterbacks - as the temperatures will be in and around the 40s. Setting aside the conditions and home field advantage, I feel the Broncos are not only the better team, but this is their time. Peyton Manning, as the whole sporting world knows, is having the best single season by a quarterback in football history. His whole career he's been plagued by the notion of having a lack of championships to cement him as one of the greatest ever. And his 10-11 playoff career record doesn't help either.
Peyton won't be subdued by the Patriots' defense this time. He'll have a great game that will be supplemented by a great run game that put up 280 rush yards against the Patriots earlier this season. I also feel a lack of targets for Brady and a beat-up defense will hinder the Patriots in this one.
I'm sticking with my preseason prediction for the team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl as I take the Denver Broncos.
Truly a matchup for the ages. The two top guns in the AFC, featuring two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The 13-3 Broncos are hosting the 12-4 Patriots. Earlier this season the Patriots hosted the Broncos in New England and fell behind 24-0 by halftime. In the second half, the Patriots had a comeback for the ages and went ahead 31-24. The Broncos would score late to force overtime. And in OT, the Patriots would prevail 34-31.
This game however will be in Denver. And Denver will ave favorable conditions - good for both quarterbacks - as the temperatures will be in and around the 40s. Setting aside the conditions and home field advantage, I feel the Broncos are not only the better team, but this is their time. Peyton Manning, as the whole sporting world knows, is having the best single season by a quarterback in football history. His whole career he's been plagued by the notion of having a lack of championships to cement him as one of the greatest ever. And his 10-11 playoff career record doesn't help either.
Peyton won't be subdued by the Patriots' defense this time. He'll have a great game that will be supplemented by a great run game that put up 280 rush yards against the Patriots earlier this season. I also feel a lack of targets for Brady and a beat-up defense will hinder the Patriots in this one.
I'm sticking with my preseason prediction for the team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl as I take the Denver Broncos.
NFC Championship 6:30 p.m. EST
San Francisco 49ers 27 - 24 Seattle Seahawks
Another perfect matchup in this year's conference championship. NFC West divisional enemies, two of the toughest defenses in the league, and Colin Kaepernick versus Russell Wilson.
These teams met twice in the regular season, splitting the series and each home team winning. In this matchup, I feel the 49ers have the edge. San Fran is trending upwards, slowly playing better throughout the second half of the regular season and grinding out tough wins in various conditions in the playoffs. Kaepernick is not the quarterback he was in the first matchup against the Seahawks; he's tapered down his turnovers and knows when to use his legs. Seattle has been somewhat trending downward and their offense has been faltering.
I take Kaepernick as the better of the QBs and Frank Gore for the 49ers is very underrated. Wilson will play well but his receivers are very weak this year.
I'm taking the San francisco 49ers in a tough and close game (as was also my preseason Super Bowl prediction for the NFC).
Another perfect matchup in this year's conference championship. NFC West divisional enemies, two of the toughest defenses in the league, and Colin Kaepernick versus Russell Wilson.
These teams met twice in the regular season, splitting the series and each home team winning. In this matchup, I feel the 49ers have the edge. San Fran is trending upwards, slowly playing better throughout the second half of the regular season and grinding out tough wins in various conditions in the playoffs. Kaepernick is not the quarterback he was in the first matchup against the Seahawks; he's tapered down his turnovers and knows when to use his legs. Seattle has been somewhat trending downward and their offense has been faltering.
I take Kaepernick as the better of the QBs and Frank Gore for the 49ers is very underrated. Wilson will play well but his receivers are very weak this year.
I'm taking the San francisco 49ers in a tough and close game (as was also my preseason Super Bowl prediction for the NFC).