Championship Game Picks

 


We’ve made it to the Conference Championship Games. There’s only one big game left in the season after this weekend, and the games Sunday will decide who plays for the right to call themselves NFL Champions in 2023. Last week I did better with picks, going 2-2. I’m 4-6 for the playoffs. If I can nail these two picks I can get back to .500 for the post-season. Let’s see if I can nail these picks.

AFC Championship Game

Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) at Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
About: It seems fitting these two teams would clash for the AFC Championship Game. It’s the sixth straight for the Chiefs, while the Ravens are looking to get there for the first time with Lamar Jackson. Jackson and the Ravens have been the best team in the AFC this season with Jackson looking like the regular season MVP. To get to the Super Bowl, they have to go through Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. It wasn’t the best season for the Chiefs, but they’ve put it together when it counted most, beating the Dolphins at home and winning Mahomes’ first road playoff game last week in Buffalo. The Chiefs are battle-tested and ready for a fight. They’ll need it. The Ravens got the top seed by beating all challengers. These teams didn’t play during the regular season, so it will be interesting to see how they match up in this one.
The Pick: I think it’s the Ravens’ time. They have a good offense and defense, and I think they slip past the Chiefs.

NFC Championship Game

Detroit Lions (12-5) at San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
About: Most expected the 49ers to be here. The team has made the NFC Championship game plenty with Kyle Shanahan, they just haven’t won the Super Bowl. Could this be the year? The Lions, meanwhile, have been a great story. They won the division and got to host a playoff game. That Wild Card win was the first playoff win for the Lions in 32 years. When they won last weekend, they won two playoff games for the first time since 1957. They are the emotional, under dog favorites. Can this Cinderella story end with a trip to the Super Bowl? Quarterback Jared Goff has been there before, and he’ll likely bring poise to a young and hungry Lions team. 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy got injured in the NFC Championship Game last year, so he’ll be looking for a good showing this season. These teams didn’t meet in the regular season, so it will be another first-time matchup in a Championship Game. The 49ers also might be without Deebo Samuel. They didn’t fare well this season when Samuel missed, putting extra pressure on Purdy and the offense.
The Pick: My heart says Lions and my head says the 49ers are a better team. Either way, both teams have a shot in this one. In the end, I’m going with my heart. I like Dan Campbell and I think the Lions can get it done. One Pride, baby!


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