Tright here might be loads of drama on Championship Sunday however no actual upsets, whoever wins – any of the 4 remaining groups might go on to win the Tremendous Bowl. So take these predictions with an enormous grain of salt. Each workforce has an actual shot on the title.
NFC Championship Sport (San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday 3pm EST/8pm GMT)
Story of the season: The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles have established themselves as one of the best groups within the NFC, though the previous has confronted barely extra adversity. The Niners went 13-4 within the common season regardless of shedding two beginning quarterbacks to harm: first Trey Lance after which Jimmy Garoppolo. When Brock Purdy, the ultimate decide of the 2022 draft stepped in, he was even higher than the boys he changed. In the meantime, the Eagles clinched the NFC’s finest report within the common season by going 14-3 they usually might have had an much more spectacular report had Jalen Hurts not missed time on account of a shoulder harm down the stretch. Their common season success allowed them to take pleasure in a bye week earlier than demolishing the New York Giants 38-7 within the divisional spherical of the playoffs.
What the 49ers must do to win: The 49ers protection should restrict Hurts. The quarterback can hurt opposing groups each together with his legs and together with his arms, so the Niners’ stout protection, which allowed 6.4 yards per go try and an NFL-low 3.4 yards per carry throughout the common season, should work time beyond regulation to restrict the harm he can do.
What the Eagles must do to win: They should neglect about that 38-7 victory over the Giants and play like underdogs. The San Francisco protection is simply too good for this to be a blowout and it’s clear that their offense can rating regardless of who’s below middle. San Francisco would really like nothing higher than to catch them flat-footed early.
Wonderful catch by Kittle. Additionally price noting that catch ONLY occurs in at the moment’s NFL. Go catchers have zero worry going over the center nowadays… pic.twitter.com/aILMDpdzs1
— Tank Williams (@TankWilliams13) January 23, 2023
Key participant for the 49ers: George Kittle, TE. One of many causes that Purdy has been successful is that the Niners have given him a number of weapons, together with Kittle who has the capability to catch balls that simply don’t appear catchable.
Key participant for the Eagles: Jake Elliott, PK. After watching the Cowboys’ Brett Maher battle with the yips within the postseason, it’s simple {that a} dependable kicker can change the complete complexion of a workforce. Elliott made 5 area objectives within the NFC East-clinching victory over the Giants on the finish of the common season. In a decent recreation, he might be essential.
Prediction: Eagles over 49ers. The ultimate rating might be far nearer than 38-7, however the Eagles proved final weekend that they’re the extra dominant of those two groups. Count on the 49ers to offer Philadelphia all they’ll take, with the Eagles squeaking via at house by the slimmest of margins. It could come right down to the ultimate possession – and even time beyond regulation.
AFC Championship Sport (Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Sunday 6.30pm EST/11.30pm GMT)
Story of the season: The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs went 14-3 within the common season, thus incomes the all-important bye week within the AFC. Of their first postseason recreation, they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 even supposing quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his ankle throughout the recreation and missed a part of the second quarter. In the meantime, the Cincinnati Bengals, who upset the Chiefs in final 12 months’s AFC title recreation, needed to take the scenic route after going a mere 12-4 within the common season. They defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-17 at house and, much more impressively, took on the Buffalo Payments on the street and beat them 27-10.
What the Bengals must do to win: The offensive line has to show that their exceptional efficiency towards the Payments wasn’t a fluke. On Sunday, Cincinnati’s slapped-together o-line did a masterful job defending Burrow, who was solely sacked as soon as. It’s not sure whether or not both Alex Cappa or Jonah Williams will return, so their backups might must give you a repeat efficiency towards a protection that might be higher ready than the Payments.
What the Chiefs must do to win: Mahomes must be at the very least 80% of his finest. It was exceptional when Mahomes returned within the second half towards the Jaguars with a excessive ankle sprain and led the Chiefs to victory, but when he’s nonetheless hobbled it’s going to be tough to beat a Bengals workforce that has been on this place earlier than.
Key participant for the Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB. Let’s not overthink this one. Burrow had 35 touchdowns within the common season, tied for second place, and 4,475 passing yards. He’s additionally in simply his third season as a professional regardless that his playoff success makes one assume he’s been round longer. It’s fairly attainable that we’re in some way underrating Burrow.
Key participant for the Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT. If it comes right down to the Chiefs protection v the Bengals offense, Jones might find yourself being the distinction maker. Within the 2022 common season, Jones had 15 and a half sacks though, oddly sufficient, he has but to have one within the playoffs throughout his whole profession. Sunday could be the best time for his first.
Prediction: Bengals over Chiefs. If Mahomes had been wholesome, it might be tough to select towards the Chiefs at house even supposing he’s 1-3 towards Burrow’s Cincinnati in his profession, together with that memorable collapse throughout final 12 months’s AFC Championship Sport. It doesn’t look as if he might be, nonetheless, so there’s a really actual chance that his report will fall to 1-4. Both means, we may very well be seeing one of many NFL’s all-time nice rivalries blossoming in entrance of us.
