LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (DIVISIONAL) 2-2

WILD CARD RECORD: 2-4

OVERALL: 4-6 (YIKES!!!)

NUGGET: HOME TEAMS (8-2) IN THE PLAYOFFS

STRAIGHT PICK-EM

ROUND THREE PLAYOFFS (CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS)

SUNDAY FUNDAY

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (13-6) AT #1.BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-4)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Chiefs dispatched the Dolphins & Bills. The Ravens took out the Texans.

ALL-TIME AFC CONFERENCE TITLE RECORDS: Chiefs (3-3) Ravens (2-2)

QUARTERBACKS:

QB ALL-TIME RECORD IN POST SEASON PLAY: Patrick Mahomes (13-3) Lamar Jackson (2-3)

Mahomes is 3-1 all-time versus Jackson. It’s the 1st playoff match up these quarterbacks will face each other.

The Ravens last week, with ease, took the Texans out to the back of the shed and ended their magical run. Patrick Mahomes, like a worm, squirmed out of Buffalo with an emotional win and a kick that went wide right. This is an interesting match-up as they already said this is the first time two black quarterbacks are facing each other in the AFC conference championship. Even though Mahomes is half white and half black, so is it truly a black on black thing. Who cares anyway because both quarterbacks are awesome. Both of them are duel threats that can beat you with the legs and their arm. Both the Ravens and Chiefs have solid defenses. The Chiefs defense seems to get better as the year goes on. While the Ravens have maintained most of the season, they have been a lights out defensive unit. The Ravens led the league in sacks. Steve Spagnulo has been the Chiefs defensive coordinator since 2019 and Kansas City has surrendered the most rushing touchdowns to opposing teams’ quarterbacks in regular season. The Bills were able to run on the Chiefs last week and control the clock. I think the Ravens can do the same thing with Jackson using his legs. The Chiefs defense are very good defending the red zone.

I like the fact that the Ravens will get their tight end back for this game. Lamar Jackson’s security blanket, Mark Andrews, who went out with an injury in the middle of November, finds his way back to the conference championship game. Andrews will be the X-factor in this one as he played ten regular seasons games and caught one more touchdown than Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce who played 15 regular season games. Andrews will walk away with the booby prize….

Patrick Mahomes won his first playoff game on the road in Buffalo last week. Mahomes has been Superman in the playoffs. The Ravens defense is a different animal. I like the Ravens play makers better than any of what the Chiefs have all together. The Chiefs defense will be exposed with the run. I think the Ravens will get a quick lead as the Chiefs will be forced to throw the ball and keep running back Isiah Pacheco a non-factor in this game. It seems like it has been, and will be, a Lamar Jackson kind of year as it started with him negotiating his own contract. He then showed the football world as the Ravens were the best team all year and earned the number one seed in the AFC. Mahomes and the Chiefs playing two straight home games in hostile environments can drain any team.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#3.DETROIT LIONS (14-5) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-5)

HOW WE GOT HERE: The Lions slammed the Rams while cutting up the Buccaneers. The 49ers just got by the Packers.

ALL-TIME NFC CONFERENCE TITLE RECORDS: Lions (0-1), 49ers (7-11)

QUARTERBACKS

QB ALL-TIME RECORDS IN POST-SEASON PLAY: Jared Goff (5-3) Brock Purdy (3-1)

Goff vs Purdy will be the first ever match-up between these two quarterbacks.

This is the first ever NFL QB match-up that features a number one pick overall vs the last pick in the draft in post-season history. Goff was drafted number one overall by the Rams. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy was picked last by the 49ers.

If Jared Goff prevails, he will join only Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to start a Superbowl game for two different teams. That’s some interesting company.

Last week the Lions won their second playoff game in a row by outlasting the Buccaneers. The 49ers had a scare by the youngest team in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers. The Lions have won championships in the 1950’s. In the Superbowl Era, this is only the 2nd NFC Championship game for Detroit, who has never won & been to the big dance.

It was back in 1991 when Barry Sanders was creating problems for the opposing defenses in the NFL. The Lions were unable to beat the Redskins that day. For the 49ers, this is an NFL record & their 19th time as a franchise in the NFC Championship game.

This Lions and 49ers match up will be a physical affair. The Lions have a two headed monster in the running game and they like to run the ball. The 49ers run defense is 25th in the league in yards allowed per game (128.6). This 49ers unit is 28th in the league allowing (4.8) yards per carry. Lions running backs have to be licking their chops. David Montgomery and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs could have a big day on the ground.

The 49ers are the toughest team to tackle. The 49ers average (95.3) yards per game after contact is made. The Lions defense will have their hands full as they lead the league in allowing the most yards after contact (63.5). The Lions pass defense is the weakest left in the tournament. The Lions X-factor, their edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson who has 8 sacks in his last 4 games, is a guy that can make the play of the game and change the outcome.

The 49ers have lost their last two conference championship games including last season to the Eagles. The 49ers in that game had all their quarterbacks get hurt. Brock Purdy had to come back in that game to basically hand the ball off. The 49ers running back made things interesting in that game taking the entire offense on his shoulders. McCaffrey has six touchdowns in 5 playoff games that he has played in.

I don’t think history will repeat itself as Brock Purdy should hold up in this game. The 49ers knocked the rust off last week versus the Packers from the first round bye. I can see them playing a cleaner game while wanting to strike quickly and often on the score board. The Lions have won two playoff games, both at home. I think the Lions beat two teams that they are equal with, as the 49ers are different animals all together. I like this game being close, but the 49ers will end the Lions season late in the third quarter & they will put it away. The 49ers have been the best team in the NFC, and they will exploit the Lions secondary. They will contain Aidan Hutchinson to prevent him from changing the outcome of this championship.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

FROM A FAN’S PERSPECTIVE: Who wants to watch a rerun of anything Chiefs and 49ers? Even the Ravens who have won two Superbowls, as the bad taste is till in my mouth watching purple and black prevail. Enough with the Harbaugh family already, as well. I would love to see the Lions wipe the 49ers off the map. It seems like NFC North teams don’t fair well in playoff games in San Francisco. Then there’s the other match up. To see Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, Taylor Swift, and all those State Farm commercials go away would be a win in my book. Then the ultimate would be the Lions beating the Ravens in the Superbowl. Now that would be the greatest ending to this season in the NFL. Not sure the NFL has written that script.

Lions would transform the football world by winning their first ever Superbowl which is another thing the average fan should want.