NFL Playoff Predictions: Championship Weekend
And then there were four.
This may be the four most balanced teams I’ve seen in a long time. Every remaining team is less than +350 to win the Super Bowl, a stat I’m positive I’ve never seen in my life, and reasonably so. They all have legitimate x-factors that make them all contenders.
Brock Purdy has been putting on the ultimate underdog story with the support of his playmakers and historic defense, the Eagles are arguably the most talented team in football with a healthy Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and crew are made for the bright lights, and the Chiefs, well, are the Chiefs. This should be fun.
With both games being this Sunday, we are looking at roughly six straight hours of playoff football, and these two games are sure to knock our socks off. We’ve got a lot to talk about; shall we?
AFC: Cincinnati Bengals (3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1)
(Sun. 1/29, 3:30 PM EST)
Adversity struck the Chiefs during the Divisional round after Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain early against the Jaguars. Well-recognized backup Chad Henne took the reins while Mahomes was being treated, leading an impressive 98-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.
Mahomes did end up rejoining his teammates on the field, but it was visible how uncomfortable he looked with his swelling ankle. He’s been monitored during practice this week, but is ultimately expecting to play on Sunday.
While it’s good that Mahomes’ injury doesn’t seem serious and he’s a full participant in practice, the Bengals looked like the best team in the league against the Bills and are 3-0 against the Chiefs with Joe Burrow at QB.
The Bengals defense has vastly improved as this season’s wore on, and Mahomes’ ankle makes it harder for him to effectively follow the game plan that beats them. Sure he has Kelce across the middle of the field, but he’ll need to do more than that if they want to punch their ticket to Glendale.
I want the Chiefs to win; my girlfriend’s dad is a huge Chiefs fan, I helped my mom fill out a bracket back in the divisional round and picked the Chiefs to win it all, but if I wish for my article to be an honest prediction, gimme the Bengals to make a second straight trip.
Score Prediction: Bengals 31, Chiefs 30
San Francisco 49ers (2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1)
(Sun. 1/29, 6:30 PM EST)
Brock Purdy is joining good company this weekend, becoming the fifth rookie quarterback to start in an AFC/NFC Championship game. He also has a chance this weekend to become the first ever rookie quarterback to start in the Super Bowl, and I think he can do it.
While he hasn’t been necessarily lighting up box scores, he’s been a solid field general whose supporting cast has his back and work wonders on both sides of the ball. Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel will help a lot with establishing the run (as well as through the air, to be frank), and George Kittle is a tough man to cover.
Jalen Hurts also faces a tough pass rush led by Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner should be good competition for Dallas Goedert. What’s more, the 49ers have managed to surrender more than 100 rushing yards in only five games this year, including playoffs, so Hurts, Miles Sanders, and Boston Scott will have their work cut out for them in establishing their own run game.
The Eagles, on the other hand, shouldn’t be taken lightly either. Led by Haason Reddick, Philly mustered a record 70 sacks this season as well as containing the run with rookie DT Jordan Davis. Having a rookie QB starting always hints at RB help, so the Eagles will be sure to prioritize hopping on that.
It’ll also be critical for the 49ers to contain A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, who help Hurts put on a show during home games (14 TDs, 103.9 QBR). What’s interesting to note here is San Fran has been pretty stout against QBs this season, but not so much WRs.
I see this game coming down to the wire as well, and I’m gonna ride the recency-bias bus with the 49ers in what may as well be a toss-up with a winner off a late turnover.
Score Prediction: 49ers 23, Eagles 21
