NFL Conference Championships Predictions 2017
Will Matt Ryan or Aaron Rodgers win the MVP battle in the NFC Championship game?
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay at Atlanta: This game is truly the toss up of the decade. No quarterback in the history of the league has been arguably hotter than Aaron Rodgers is right now. Rodgers, being the leader of the team, has emitted his improved play to the whole offense. Receivers Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, and even Geronimo Allison are playing like true pros out there. The Packers’ West Coast offense has teams fearing the pass, so when the Packers do run it with Ty Montgomery, it is almost always effective against defenses schemed against the pass. The Green Bay offense is the best in the league right now with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. However, Atlanta has the second best offense. The Falcons have the best offensive roster as a whole, with their bench receivers burning the Seattle secondary last week. Matt Ryan is making a case to be MVP, and the Falcons possess the best runningback duo in the league in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Couple that roster with genius offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and it is also unstoppable. The Falcons are going against an injury-plagued Green Bay defense, so Matt Ryan should light it up on Sunday. However, the mere fact that Aaron Rodgers is on the other team will make it a game to remember. Also, this will be the last Falcons game played in the Georgia Dome, so fans will be loud. This game will be won by whichever team has the football the last.
?Prediction: Atlanta over Green Bay 41-38 (OT)
Can Tom Brady throw his way to the Super Bowl?
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh at New England: This game is very similar to the NFC Championship, except for the fact that these two teams have legitimate defenses. On one hand, the Patriots have been excellent all season, which is expected with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. However, the Steelers are the second hottest team in the league, besides Green Bay, of course. Pittsburgh has won nine straight games, with their offense firing on all cylinders, but mainly because of the fact that their defense has really settled in. Over the nine-game winning streak, the Steelers defense has only allowed 16.5 points per game. However, the unit will face a tall task in the Patriots offense with the Patriots offense, which has averaged 30.3 points per game with Tom Brady as quarterback, who will ultimately pull this win out at the end.
Prediction: New England over Pittsburgh: 31-28
