Championship Sunday Picks

With the Broncos season prematurely ending last Sunday in that debacle against the Colts, it is hard to get the juices flowing for this Sunday's AFC and NFC Championship Games. Championship Sunday is one of the best Sundays of the football calendar. Although Denver got eliminated, you still have some pretty good matchups to look forward to (Manning vs. Brady is still better than Luck vs. Brady though). I do have an interest here because back in August I had predicted 3 of the 4 teams that actually made it to this weekend's games. I had the Colts going to the Super Bowl out of the AFC, and I had Green Bay upsetting Seattle to get to the Super Bowl in the NFC. Do I stick with my Super Bowl pick of Indy-Green Bay? It is a tough call, but I will certainly be rooting for that on Sunday. Before I get to my picks, here are the four possible Super Bowl matchups in the order that I think would be the best possible games:

1) New England vs. Seattle: Brady and Belichick going for that 4th Super Bowl against the Seahawks going for the repeat.
2) New England vs. Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady in a rematch of the classic game these two teams played in November in Lambeau.
3) Indy vs. Green Bay: Rodgers and Andrew Luck in a showdown of two of the best QBs in the NFL.
4) Indy vs. Seattle: Luck tries to get his first Super Bowl against the Seahawks vaunted defense.

Now, onto the the picks for Championship Sunday.

Last Week's Record: 2-2
Overall Playoff Record: 3-5
Final Regular Season Record: 135-113-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)


NFC Championship
2-Green Bay at 1-Seattle

A Case for the Seahawks: Their defense is playing lights out again, and they could be better than they were last year. They are at home in front of the 12th Man. They absolutely dominated the Packers in Week 1 in the same building. Russell Wilson is quietly emerging as one of superstar QBs of the next decade. They are 60 minutes away from having a chance to repeat as Super Bowl Champions for the first time in over 10 years. It seems like they are just going to be too much for the Packers to handle-especially with a gimpy Aaron Rodgers going against that defense.

A Case for the Packers: Although Aaron Rodgers isn't healthy, he still played great in the 2nd half of last week's win over the Cowboys. Anytime you have Rodgers as your QB, then you have a chance. The Packers can take what they learned and what they didn't do in Week 1 and make adjustments in this game. Perhaps the Packers defense can stifle the Seahawks offense just enough to give Rodgers and that GB offense a chance to win it. Also, not many people are expecting the Packers to win the game, so you have to take that into account and they will use that as motivation.

Prediction: Green Bay (+7.5) over SEATTLE: I picked Green Bay in this exact spot in the summer, so I'll stick with it here. Plus, I hate Seattle and would love nothing more than to see the Packers end their run in Seattle.

Final Score: Packers-26 Seahawks-20

AFC Championship

A Case for the Patriots: After last Saturday's thrilling comeback win over the Ravens, do you really see them losing at home to the Colts? They have dismantled the Colts and Andrew Luck the last three times they have played them. They can pound the ball at the Colts, and there is no answer for Rob Gronkowski. Tom Brady took his game to an epic level last week, and there is no reason why he can't do it again this week. It seems that Bill Belichick really has an answer to Andrew Luck at this point in Luck's career as well.

A Case for the Colts: Many people believe that the Colts don't belong in this game, but they certainly do. They can use that as motivation. NO ONE is picking them to pull off the upset this week in Foxborough, and you know how dangerous a team can be when no one is picking them. Did I mention they have Andrew Luck? How perfect would it be for Luck to really take the QB torch by knocking off Tom Brady one week after defeating Peyton Manning?

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Indy: As much as I want to stick with the pick of the Colts going to the Super Bowl from back in August, I just can't see them beating the Pats on Sunday. This is the Pats best team since the 18-0 team in 2007, and I think the Pats will get back to another Super Bowl with Brady and Belichick. Trust me, I will be rooting for the Colts and Luck, but I don't think they can get it done.

Final Score: Patriots-33 Colts-20.