NFL ROUND THREE STRAIGHT UP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

SUNDAY

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (15-4) AT #1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (15-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Did not play each other this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: 49ers (1-0) all-time versus Eagles in post-season. Last post-season meeting 1996 NFC Wild Card round 49ers beat the Eagles 14-0.

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

49ers victims: Seahawks & Cowboys

Eagles victims: Giants

RECORDS ALL-TIME IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

49ers (7-10) and Eagles (3-4)

The AFC Championship is like the Clash of the Titans compared to the NFC. Jalen Hurts is a duel threat quarterback who is 13-1 behind center this year for the Eagles. Brock Purdy is door number three for the 49ers this season and is the last pick in the draft. Mr. Irrelevant has not lost a game in the NFL. The Eagles and 49ers have complete teams on both sides of the ball. Both have gotten here with two different styles at quarterback. Hurts can make things happen and come up with the spur of the moment big play. Purdy is more of a game manager and offense that can control the clock.

QUARTERBACK EDGE: EAGLES

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The Eagles have two super star receivers in A.J Brown, former Titan, and Devonta Brown. The 49er’s Deebo Samuel is an all-purpose weapon in the receiving and running game of the 49ers. The 49ers two-headed monster at running back can keep the chains moving with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. Eagles counter with Miles Sanders who is no slouch at running back as well the legs of their quarterback, Hurts. The 49ers have George Kittle, one of the best tight ends in the league when healthy, which he is for this game. Eagles have the better receivers. I like the 49ers fleet of mass destruction weapons more than the Eagles.

EDGE: 49ERS

DEFENSE

When it comes to defense, both teams have two solid defenses. The Eagles can get to the quarterback as this unit has the most sacks in the league. The Eagles also are known for their big plays on defense forcing the opposing team into mistakes with interceptions and forcing fumbles. The 49ers defense, all around solid, can do a lot of different things. The 49ers were the number one defense in the league all year.

EDGE: 49ERS

JUST A MAN’S OPINION: When it comes to the 49ers, I always got sick of them winning Superbowls back in the 1980’s. Everyone hates the great teams. Colin Kaepernick should not be a guy put on a pedestal. I did like the Eagles with Nick Foles beating the Tom Brady-led Patriots team in 2018 in the Superbowl which was awesome. Eagles fans can be quite annoying but very passionate. Philadelphia has Rocky. I like the thoughts of Mr. Irrelevant doing the unthinkable, winning the Superbowl. When you name your son Brock, most likely he will be a quarterback. Like when you name your daughter Candy, she most likely will be a stripper.

THE PICK

I think the 49ers can exploit the lines of Philadelphia. Picture the Red Rover game when you were kids and someone saying, “Let the 49ers come over.” The 49ers can cash in on pressure from Philadelphia’s injured riddled line. I like the 49ers chances running on Philadelphia’s defensive line as well.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (14-4) AT #1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Bengals defeated Chiefs 27-24 December 4th 2022

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Bengals (1-0) Chiefs all-time. Last meeting at last year’s AFC Championship game, Bengals won in OT 27-24

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Bengals victims: Ravens & Bills:

Chiefs victims: Jaguars

RECORDS ALL-TIME AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

Bengals (3-0) and Chiefs (4-3)

Joe Burrow has to be Patrick Mahomes’ worst nightmare.

First of all Joe Burrow is 3-0 versus Patrick Mahomes.Burrow beat Mahomes and the Chiefs last season in the AFC Championship and during the regular season of this year. The name Burrow Head was heard being talked about as the new name for the Chiefs stadium which locals call Arrowhead in Kansas City. The Bengals are a trash talking team, more on that later. Patrick Mahomes led the league in touchdown passes. Burrow was tied with Josh Allen for number two. Mahomes has a Superbowl win under his belt as Joe “Cool” Burrow is still looking for that first one. Burrow is a pure pocket passer, one of the best, while Mahomes is a dual threat quarterback that can make big plays off the fly. Burrow looks like he has not broken out in sweat behind center so far during the playoffs. While Mahomes is now gimpy with ankle issue he suffered versus the Jaguars game.

QUARTERBACK EDGE: BENGALS

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The Bengals have a trio of big targets for Joe Burrow. Ja’marr Chase may be one of the best receivers in the game right now. Bengals also have big bodies in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. The Chiefs have done fine without Tyreek Hill, who they traded to the Dolphins. The Chiefs have a committee of wide receivers, but nobody stands out compared to the Bengals weapons. The Chiefs have the best tight end in football in Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ number one weapon. How many people would like to slug Joe Mixon who punched a girl during his college days? Mixon acts like an NBA player talking trash all game long. Mixon has done well so far in post-season running the ball for the orange stripes. The Chiefs running back, Isiah Pacheco, is not being talked about enough. Pacheco is an all purpose back that can beat you in both the running game and receiving game. Could be a hobbled Mahomes’ best friend in this championship game. Pacheco has a high motor with over drive gears and could be the X-factor in this game.

EDGE: CHIEFS

DEFENSE

The Bengals defense overall is better than the Chiefs stats-wise the entire season. The Bengals can get to the quarterback which is one of their strengths. The Chiefs have a history of playing stout defense in big games such as a championship game. Can the Chiefs offensive line contain DE Trey Hendrickson, who had 2 sacks and a forced fumble versus the Ravens in round one of the playoffs? Hendrickson was quiet last week in Buffalo. Can the Bengals offensive line contain Chief stud Chris Jones?

EDGE: BENGALS

JUST A MAN’S OPINION: Both of these teams I have liked & then found myself hating like in a loathing way. The Patrick Mahomes Houdini escapes become tiresome. Joe Burrow’s clothes he wears are something out of the Big Bang Theory closet. The Bengals are a shit talking team. Who the hell is Eli Apple and what has he done in the NFL besides some cast off from one team to another? I hope the Chiefs make apple pie out this social trash talker who needs to be put in his place. Enough is enough with the Bengals being slighted. The Bengals act like just because they made it to the Superbowl last season, as they lost they should be handed the trophy. The Chiefs are becoming like the Patriots every year as it is their fifth straight AFC Championship.

THE PICK:

The Bengals look like the scariest team out of all four teams left in the post-season. It is very hard for any team to go on the road in the divisional round & then repeat that task in the championship round to take that road into the Superbowl. I think it will be hard for the Bengals to beat the Chiefs three times in about a year’s time. Patrick Mahomes is gimpy & Andy Reid will have a solid plan. Teams that talk trash usually fall hard at some point. I think the Chiefs will exploit that banged up offensive line the Bengals have, that the Bills could not do last week. Chiefs put Joe “Cool” Burrow on ice and take back their stadium name of Arrowhead as Burrow’s head crumbles like the rotten Apple gets blown up on numerous routes by the Chiefs receivers.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS