2018 NFL SEASON: CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

A 2-2 Divisional Round record pushes my playoff record to 5-3

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, 1PM FOX

RAMS AT SAINTS

Last week the Rams won their first playoff game since defeating the Seahawks in the 2004 NFC Wild Card when they were in St. Louis. There was a C.J. Anderson sighting who was part of the Broncos 2015 Super Bowl team as he rushed for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Starter Todd Gurley had 115 yards and a touchdown. The 273 rush yards was the most in Rams playoff history.

Five of the Rams first seven drives resulted in points. Los Angeles did not punt until the third quarter.

In New Orleans, the Saints rallied from down 14 points in the first quarter to advance to their third conference championship game in franchise history. All of these appearances have occurred from 2006 onward.

Drew Brees threw an interception on his first pass attempt but ended up with 301 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Michael Thomas caught 12 passes on 16 targets for 171 yards and a touchdown. Marshon Lattimore interception’s that went through Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery’s hands with 1:57 left in the game followed by Alvin Kamara’s 12-yard run on third down secured the biggest comeback in Saints post-season history. The previous deficit was 10 points in Super Bowl XLIV against the Colts.

No one should expect this to be the same game that took place in New Orleans back in Week 9 where the Saints won 45-35 and gave the Rams their first loss of the season.

At the start of the season I said the Saints would win the Super Bowl and I am sticking with that pick

SAINTS 28, RAMS 24

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP, 4:30PM CBS

CHIEFS AT PATRIOTS

It is January and for the 13th time since 2001, the Patriots are in this game. This is the sixth time since 2001 that the Patriots have gone on the road to play in the AFC Championship Game. They are 2-3 in those games with both of those wins being against the Steelers in 2001 and 2004 and the losses coming against teams led by Peyton Manning – the Colts in 2006 and Broncos in 2013 and 2015.

The Patriots made quick work of the Chargers building a 35-7 halftime lead behind 3 rushing touchdowns from Sony Michel and Super Bowl LI hero James White catching 15 passes on 17 targets for 97 yards.

The Chargers made it closer than it really was. I turned off the game when it was 41-14 so I missed what was probably going to be the last catch of tight end Antonio Gates’ career – a touchdown pass from Phillip Rivers.

The Chiefs are in unprecedented territory. This is the closest they have been to a Super Bowl appearance since they faced the Bills in the 1993 AFC Championship Game. The last time the Chiefs hosted an AFC Championship Game was… well, this is the first time that happened. In the four seasons prior to the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Chiefs played in two AFL championship games with both games on the road. Even though the 1966 Chiefs had a better record – 11-2-1 – than the 9-4-1 Bills, the game was played in Buffalo due to it was the Eastern Division’s turn to host the championship game. The alternating of championship game site from season-to-season was eliminated in the 1975 season when playoff seeding was introduced.

In 1969, the Chiefs had an 11-3 record but due to the Raiders winning the West had to go on the road in the playoffs. They ended the Jets quest for a repeat, followed by defeating Oakland in the final AFL Championship Game, and ending it by matriculating the ball down the field against the Vikings at New Orleans in Super Bowl IV.

The Chiefs exercised demons from playoff games past as they demolished the Colts 31-13 at a snowy Arrowhead last Saturday. Even though Patrick Mahomes did not throw a touchdown pass, the Chiefs rushing attack accounted for 4 touchdowns. Kansas City’s defense recorded 3 sacks. The Chiefs trio of Chris Jones, Dee Ford, and Justin Houston recorded 37.5 sacks during the regular season. So contrary to popular belief, they can play defense.

Brady has played 18 seasons in the NFL while Mahomes has started 18 games so far. This is also the largest age difference between quarterbacks in championship game history. This is also the third matchup between quarterbacks that have a 50-touchdown season: Brady did his in 2007 while Mahomes did it this season. The other times were the Brady-Peyton matchups in 2013 and 2015.

Like the Rams-Saints game, this will not be the shootout that it was in the regular season. The Patriots won that game in Foxboro 43-40 back on a Sunday night in October. The Chiefs are coming into this game hot and are on the verge of their first Super Bowl appearance in 49 years.

CHIEFS 24, PATRIOTS 17