Conference Championship Weekend
We are down to the Final Four teams of the NFL season. This is Championship weekend. Two teams will meet in Houston in Super Bowl LI, while the other two teams go fishing for the summer. In my opinion, this is the best weekend of the season, even better if your team is involved. (My team, the Panthers, aren’t involved this season.)
Green Bay at Atlanta (3:05 PM EST, Fox): I expect this game to be a shootout between two very explosive, high-powered offenses. Both quarterbacks have an array of weapons to choose from. While Atlanta’s offense is more balanced, Green Bay’s is more explosive. Green Bay comes into this game banged up. Both Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams are questionable heading into this game, as is Geronimo Allison. That could present a problem for the Packers if all three WR’s are not at 100%. However, Aaron Rodgers is having a postseason for the ages. For the Falcons, only WR Quintorris Jones was limited in practice. They are much healthier, and the healthier teams usually win in the postseason, particularly if both teams are evenly matched. However, Rodgers continues his stellar play, shredding the Falcons' defense for nearly 400 yards and 5 TD's. It's not going to matter whether or not Atlanta is healthier. Plus, I have question marks about Matt Ryan in big games. (He faltered down the stretch in his previous NFC Championship Game, throwing a late pick to send San Francisco to New Orleans vs. the Ravens in the Har-bowl. Green Bay punches its ducat to Houston. Green Bay 41, Atlanta 31.
Pittsburgh at New England (6:40 PM EST, CBS): unlike the NFC Championship Game, defense will be at the front and center. Don’t get me wrong; both the Steelers and Patriots have great, Hall of Fame-caliber QB’s at the helms of their respective teams. Pittsburgh’s defense is young, athletic, and flies to the ball in an instant. They are ball hawks. Plus, they can consistently put pressure on the QB. New England’s defense is smart, well-coached, and can force takeaways at key times. As for the offenses, the Steelers have an explosive offense that is well-balanced, led by the new Killer B’s (Brown, Bell, and Ben). Add a fourth member: Chris Boswell. He could be the difference. The Patriots have a battering ram (LeGarrette Blount) and a gazelle (Dion James). They have Martellus Bennett at TE. They have Julian Edelman at WR who seems to get open on every play, no matter how well he’s covered. In this game though, the defenses will step up. Pittsburgh’s is younger and hungrier, and will force Brady to have a pedestrian game. Pittsburgh gets to Brady enough to force a couple of turnovers, and that will be enough to punch their ducat to Houston. Pittsburgh 20, New England 17.
