1) New England vs. Minnesota: The Pats going for their 6th Super Bowl against the long-suffering Vikings fans with the Minnesota playing the game in their home stadium.
2) New England vs. Philadelphia: Two big market teams with Philly trying to win their first ever Super Bowl. Also, it would be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX.
3) Jacksonville vs. Minnesota: The upstart Jags against the Vikings in their home stadium. Two good defenses going at it.
4) Jacksonville vs. Philadelphia: Blake Bortles vs. Nick Foles doesn't exactly get everyone all fired up.
Here we go with picks for Championship Sunday.....
Last Week's Record: 1-2-1
Overall Playoff Record: 2-4-2
Overall Regular Season Record: 131-110-15
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
AFC Championship Game
Jacksonville at New England
A Case for the Jaguars: The Jags have a very good defense that can do a lot of things to disrupt Tom Brady and frustrate the Pats offense. They can rush up the middle and inside with Malik Jackson, Calais Campbell, and Marcell Dareus. They have athletic linebackers who can cover, and they have a secondary that can matchup well with the Pats receivers. The Jags are also playing with house money like they did last week. They are the underdogs, nobody thinks they will knock off the mighty Patriots, and no one really wants them here. They will play that up all week. They have made a living off of playing great defense, creating turnovers, and limited Blake Bortles on offense. They feel like they can do that one more time to get to the Super Bowl. Also, I think Doug Marrone has done an excellent job, and I think he can hold his own in this coaching matchup. What if Tom Brady's right hand is really badly injured? Could that be the deciding factor in this game?
A Case for the Patriots: The Patriots have the experience over the Jaguars. They know what it takes to get here and they will be ready for what the Jags throw at them. You know the Jaguars defense has caught the attention of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and you know they will find a way to exploit that defense and find a weakness. The Patriots also had to deal with that ESPN story before the playoffs began, and I think you saw them use that as motivation in their 35-14 whipping of Tennessee last week. They will make Blake Bortles beat them in this game. They will take away everything else and force him to beat them, and I have a hard time thinking Blake Bortles is going into Foxboro and upsetting the Pats in the AFC Championship.
Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-9) over Jacksonville: In a rematch of the 1996 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots will be too much for Jacksonville in this game. I think the Jags will be feisty and keep it close for awhile, but Tom Brady will be too much and the Patriots will head to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in the Brady-Belichick era.
Final Score: Patriots-27 Jaguars-10
NFC Championship Game
Minnesota at Philadelphia
A Case for the Vikings: After defeating the Saints with that miracle finish, destiny and fate might be on their side. It reminds me a little of the 2012 Ravens after they beat Denver on the Rahim Moore-Jacoby Jones play. I think the Vikings have "lady luck" on their side, and I can see them getting to the Super Bowl. The fact that they are one game away from the Super Bowl, which takes place in their home stadium, is just amazing. I think that is also playing into their favor. They are on the cusp of being the first team ever to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium in the host city. Also, I like this matchup from a strategic standpoint, I like their defense going up against Nick Foles. They are a better coached team, matchup well with Philly, and the elements in Philly won't be a factor. They have that "look" of a team that is going to represent the Vikings in the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XI.
A Case for the Eagles: The Eagles pulled off the upset at home over the Falcons last week after everyone was doubting them and picking against them. You have to be careful not to overlook them once again. They are playing up the "Nobody Believes in Us" angle and it clearly worked last week. Guess what? No one believes in them once again this week as the Vikings are three point favorites in Philly. The Philly crowd will be nuts, the stadium will be electric, and they will be fired up to see if the Eagles can get to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2004. You have to like the matchup between the Eagles defense against Case Keenum, and you have to think that Doug Pederson will construct a gameplan to limit Nick Foles and run the ball repeatedly. The recipe is there for the Eagles, and you can make the case that their home crowd and their defense will be too much for the Vikings.
Prediction: Minnesota (-3) over PHILADELPHIA: This game should be low scoring and look for both defenses to play well. I think it is a back and forth game, but in the end, the Vikings will do just enough to either force a turnover or make a big play and win this game. It looks like it is their year to me.
Final Score: Vikings-23 Eagles-16
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