Championship Sunday Picks

We have arrived at Championship Sunday in the NFL. The final four teams are set. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers head to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC Championship. Josh Allen and the Bills head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs. Four really good teams, four really good QBs, and two very attractive matchups. As usual, I like to rank the best possible Super Bowl matchups before we get to Championship Sunday. Here are the possible Super Bowl matchups based on storylines and subplots ranked from 1 to 4 (1 being the best and 4 being the weakest):

1) Chiefs vs. Packers- Pat Mahomes goes up against Aaron Rodgers in a rematch of Super Bowl I, the number 1 seeds in each conference, and the two MVP candidates.

2) Chiefs vs. Buccaneers- Mahomes and the Chiefs go for back-to-back titles against Tom Brady and the Bucs. Brady goes for his seventh Super Bowl, and his first without Bill Belichick and the Patriots

3) Bills vs. Packers- Buffalo reaches its' first Super Bowl since 1993, and this matchup features superstar Aaron Rodgers going up against emerging star Josh Allen. It also features two really good and loyal fanbases.

4) Bills vs. Buccaneers- Buffalo reaches the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993 and they have to face Tom Brady, who finally left the AFC East after dominating the Bills all those years in New England. 

Last Week's Record (1-3)

Playoff Record (4-6)

Overall 2020 Record (130-129-12)

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NFC Championship Game

(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (1) Green Bay Packers

A Case for the Bucs: They have the greatest QB of all time in Tom Brady and they are playing as well as they have played all season long. They took care of business in Washington in the Wild Card round and did the same against the Saints last week. They have a lot of confidence right now, and they are rolling. You have the this team that is loaded with all star players, and now they are one win away from going to the Super Bowl. They blew the Packers out in the regular season, so they use that as motivation. It will be cold but Brady is used to that from all his days in New England, so that shouldn't be a factor. There is a real scenario that we could see Tom Brady heading to another Super Bowl on Sunday night.

A Case for the Packers: Aaron Rodgers is playing lights out this season and he continued that last week in the big Divisional Playoff win over the Rams. Plus, the Packers are at home for the first time in a NFC Championship Game since 2007. This is actually Rodgers first Championship Game at Lambeau Field as a starter. Rodgers has lost the last three NFC Title Games, and he has to be due to break through and get to another Super Bowl. This Packers team has a different vibe than last year's team that got crushed by the Niners in the NFC Championship last year. It is hard for me to think that they will blow this opportunity. It just feels like this is Rodgers and the Packers year. 

Prediction: GREEN BAY (-3) over Tampa Bay: Aaron Rodgers ends his three game losing streak in Conference Championship games, and he leads the Packers to their sixth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, and their first trip since 2010. 

Final Score: Packers-38 Bucs-24

AFC Championship Game

(2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs

A Case for the Bills: The Bills are having a dream season. Everything has clicked for them this year. Josh Allen is a MVP candidate, the Stephon Diggs trade has been a huge success, and they are well-coached with Sean McDermott. The Bills Mafia is out in full force and they are back in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993. They really didn't play their best and they still beat the Colts and the Ravens in the first two playoff games. Plus, they are the underdog and they have nothing to lose. Many people believe that Pat Mahomes will play after suffering a concussion last week, but if he doesn't, then the Bills are the favorites to win the game hands down. Also, if they lose, then it was still a remarkable season. More pressure is on the Chiefs because they are the favorites and at home. I also don't think the crowd will be much of a factor with the limited amount of fans. The Bills can go out there, play fast and loose, and give it everything they have. In a lot of ways, it feels like it is their year in the AFC.

A Case for the Chiefs: They are the best team in the NFL all year long. They are 23-1 with Pat Mahomes as their starting QB the last two seasons. If Mahomes passes the concussion protocol and plays, and everyone thinks he will, it will be hard to bet against him and the Chiefs because he really has played amazing in his whole career. He hasn't had a really bad game in a big spot in his three years as starter. I think KC's defense is underrated, and I think they matchup well with the Buffalo offense. The Chiefs defense always seems to play really well in these big games lately. They are just the better team, and at this point it is just hard to bet against them and Mahomes. 

Prediction: KANSAS CITY(-3) over Buffalo- The Bills dream season ends in the AFC Title Game as Andy Reid, Pat Mahomes, and the Chiefs go back to their second straight Super Bowl and the fourth overall appearance for the franchise.

Final Score: Chiefs-33 Bills-20