Conference Championship 2013 Game Predictions

It’s going to be a battle today in the NFL, with four teams vying for two spots in the biggest Sunday in sports, the Super Bowl. Last year’s Championship Sunday was one of the greatest of all time, with both the AFC and NFC games going down to the wire, two mistakes leading to two team’s doom. For those two, it’s redemption time. For one, it’s time for a repeat trip to the Big Game. And for one, it’s time to erase their “choker” reputation. Who will pull it off? Let’s predict!

NFC Championship: 49ers vs Falcons

Two high-powered offenses go at it in the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon on Fox. The Niners ran away from the Packers (literally) last week, as Collin Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards and two money TDs. Add Frank Gore and Randy Moss (trying to win his first Super Bowl) to the mix and you have a potent attack. Atlanta’s offense has been their M.O. all year, and Matt Ryan keyed a miracle last drive against Seattle with less than a minute remaining last week. Tony Gonzalez is looking for his first Super Bowl appearance, and Roddy White and Julio Jones will be a combination to look out for. Let’s break down the two teams:

• Passing: Slight (very slight) edge to Atlanta. Matt Ryan has shed his choker reputation for the moment, but if he loses this game it’ll be about him not being able to win a Super Bowl. I think he comes to play with a big game. Kaepernick can make the throws, but he will not be as big an impact in the passing game. Edge: Ryan
  
• Rushing: Huge edge to San Fran. Collin Kaepernick will go off and Frank Gore will chip in 80 yards. Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers will do their best, but no other team left has the advantage of a running QB complimenting a power lead back. Edge: Niners
• Receivers: Edge to Atlanta. Julio Jones and Roddy White will be targeting and needed more than Moss and Crabtree, and Crabtree will be a huge question mark with the allegations of sexual assault brought upon him this week that will be deeply on his mind. Jones and White, I’ll take that combo any day. Edge: Falcons
• O-Line: Edge to the Niners. Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Anthony Davis and Alex Boone are the key guys on the line and they give Kaepernick enough time to pretty much do whatever he wants back there. I don’t see anything changing Sunday. Edge: Niners
• Defense: Major edge to San Fran. The Niners have the third-ranked D in the NFL. The Falcons? A lowly 24th. Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, and Patrick Willis are the guys to watch in this one; they rarely miss their tackles and that’s a major positive when you’re going against such explosive wideouts. Edge: Niners
  
• Special Teams: Special teams was the downfall for San Fran last year; some key fumbles ruined their chances at a Super Bowl berth. But this year they’ve got a healthy Ted Ginn Jr. and a money kicking corps of David Akers and Andy Lee. Look out for Atlanta on the return game, but San Fran has the edge. Edge: Niners
• Coaching: Niners all the way. I do not trust Mike Smith, ever. Harbaugh took the biggest risk of the season replacing Alex Smith with Kaepernick and it’s payed off. I go with proven success. Edge: Niners
• The Prediction: Kaepernick runs for over 100 yards again and the Niners defense shuts the Falcons down in what will not be as close a game as people are calling. Pick: Niners beat Falcons 23-3

AFC Championship: Ravens vs Patriots

This is an exact rematch of last year’s AFC title game, which the Patriots won when Billy Cundiff of the Ravens missed a field goal that would’ve tied it for them in the waning seconds. This year, the main storyline heading into this one is of course Ray Lewis. The legendary linebacker will either be playing his last game, or going to the Super Bowl to cap off a miracle last ride. The Pats hope to repeat last year’s AFC title game win and head to another Super Bowl. Let’s breakdown:

• Passing: I will not waste time on this one. Need to go with the best QB in the clutch. Edge: Patriots
  
• Rushing: The Patriots have shown they have many weapons in the rushing attack (Shane Vereen had a breakout game last Sunday, Ridley is consistent), but Ray Rice gives the Ravens the edge. Edge: Ravens
• Receivers: The Ravens have the edge with wideouts. Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are stepping up at the right time to help out Joe Flacco. Boldin’s game vs Denver was the best of his career in my opinion. New England has the most money wideout in Wes Welker, and he’ll have an impact, but I don’t see Brandon Lloyd having nearly the game he had last week even though he is one of my personal favorites in the NFL for how hard he worked to finally play in the playoffs. Look out for Torrey Smith to stretch out that secondary of New England.  Edge: Ravens
• O-Line: Slight edge to New England. Nate Solder has impressed me with how he has handled the immense amount of pressure that comes with being a lineman for Tom Brady. And Logan Mankins has led the group to ensure that their QB stays upright; Brady has only been sacked 27 times this year. Ray Rice gets good holes to run through, but Flacco doesn’t take advantage as much as Brady does. Edge: Patriots
• Defense: Whether you want to talk secondary, defensive line or linebackers, Baltimore has the edge. I’ve got an x-factor for you: Paul Kruger. He is the Ravens’ best pass-rusher and will make a big play or two in this one. Vince Wilfork will have something to say Sunday night, but for now the edge goes to the Ravens. Edge: Ravens
• Special Teams: Rookie Justin Tucker will not make the mistake Cundiff did (mainly because he won’t be in that spot, but we’ll get to that in a minute), and I see Jacoby Jones possibly getting a long kick return against the Pats shaky cover team. Jones is lightning fast and gives Baltimore the edge; but Stephen Gostkowski is money in the kicking game as well.  Edge: Ravens
• Coaching: Again, wasting no time. Belechick will outcoach anybody, and he hasn’t lost a Conference Championship Game since the last game he coached poorly, 2006. He’ll outcoach Harbaugh. Edge: Patriots
• The Prediction: There’s two people you never count out in the Playoffs: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The only legitimate reason they’re hated, after all, is for their success. I think Baltimore had a better team last time these two faced off in the title game, and they lost even then. Patriots head to the Super Bowl again, and Ray Lewis’s ride ends in Foxboro. Pick: 17-10 Patriots

Enjoy the games everybody!

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