NFL Conference Championship Previews
Tomorrow at 3:05 EST, the festivities begin. Packers at Falcons.
Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. Two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Two of the best field generals. One team has been dominant all season long, rarely skipping a beat. The other has made an immaculate turnaround from the road’s middle to the best of the best. Now here they are, battling on the precipice of the World’s Biggest Stage. Here’s the kicker: this game has been given the highest point total in the history of the NFL with 61 points. So needless to say, it’s going to be an explosive game.
Right now the Falcons are favored by 4.5 points. But that’s been fluctuating and most likely will continue to do so until tomorrow when the game starts. If you look at Matt Ryan’s offense against the Seahawks, you’ll notice something. They rarely make mistakes. They’re capable of making big plays. They have a talented back in Devonta Freeman. A monster of a wideout in Julio Jones. And their offensive line is one of the best in football. If you’re looking at this game from a purely statistical standpoint or a firepower standpoint, signs would point to Atlanta.
But it’s not that simple. We have Aaron Rodgers to account for. Putting aside a season-altering eight game win streak, Aaron Rodgers has been impeccable since the Pack faced off against Washington in late November. Since then he’s thrown 24 touchdowns on a single interception. He’s passing with the sort of accuracy these big stages demand of a player. He’s playing like he wants to win. And that’s why he’s the X-factor in this game. If Jordy Nelson is healthy, he’ll be playing alongside a hot Jared Cook and Randall Cobb. So Rodgers will have more options.
Essentially this game is going to come down to points, points, points. Like a pair of boxers going blow for blow. If Aaron Rodgers can come out hot and stay that way all game, I think the Pack really has a chance. If the Falcons defense is able to make a few plays and keep the ball in Matt Ryan’s hands, they might just get the edge. But really it’s a toss-up.
MY PREDICTION: 28-34 FALCONS
Then at 6:40 PM EST, Big Ben and the Steelers face Tom Brady’s Patriots.
Right now Vegas lines have the Patriots winning by 6. Which makes sense. This is a Patriots team that stomped all over the Texans a week ago; a Patriots team that hasn’t really been challenged all season long; a Patriots team run by (dare I say) the best quarterback in the history of the NFL. But they might just get their biggest challenge yet on the road to the Lombardi Trophy. The Steelers have been consistent for weeks. They enter this game with some momentum. Still, they’re facing the most complete team still in the playoffs.
Here’s why the Patriots will probably win this game. Both teams are balanced as hell. They each held teams to 16 points in last week’s game. They each managed to move the ball down the field and capitalize on their drives. But this is where we separate the wheat from the chaff. The Patriots are better offensively. They’ve averaged 30 points a game since Brady came back from suspension. And Brady’s prowess makes every player on offense a potential weapon. Look at Dion Lewis. He had a huge game last week. He executed in three phases–special teams, rushing, and receiving. They should’ve put him in on defense, he was so energized.
Now granted the Steelers defense is holding teams below five yards a play. They looked superb in keeping Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hell in check. And they hit hard. Pittsburgh has been playing high echelon ball through the whole latter half of the season. Le’Veon Bell alone has established himself as a major force on the ground. Antonio Brown has demonstrated, as he did against KC, that he’ll still make crucial plays even if you shut him down. Moreover, Big Ben is no stranger to the big stage. He was born on it. He’ll retire on it. Say what you will (and I know there’s a lot to say) but Ben Roethlisberger is a winner. He’s not necessarily a good person, but that’s an article for another time. The point is, if the Big Three can get rumbling, they’ve got a hell of a chance at winning this game.
