NFL Picks: AFC/NFC Championship Games

[maasman]

NE over DEN
NO over SF
NYG over GB
BAL over HOU

I hope the opposite of all these happen.

I was only wrong about one of them.

WHAT NOW

Deep, deep sadness. It was like the packers didn't even show up. They did not deserve to win that game, not even close. I almost joined some of the crowd in booing them.

[safariguy5]

Still cannot pick against my Niners. Also, it's a home game so that should help.

Pats over the Ravens.

[Serbia]

49'ers and Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Go Blue, Go Brady, Go Pats.

[Bleed_Green]

49er's over the Giants hands down.. defense will keep the rushes in check like they have been and I expecting smith to be all over manning in this game taking away from the offense..

Pats over the ravens... I think it will be a good game but Brady will be himself and make some key plays in the 4th..

Pats... 49ers in the Super Bowl and with a 49er's victory again if the defense plays there game... and D-Line puts pressure on Brady so he does not have 20 seconds to make a decision... secondary will be clutch to take it home as well

[pimpdave]

http://deadspin.com/5878005/undercover- ... ndays-game

[Crazyirishman]

im going ravens and 49ers, we'll have the harbaugh-bowl

[whitestazn88]

http://deadspin.com/5878005/undercover-cops-will-be-wearing-giants-jerseys-at-sundays-game

Wow, those cops are douches. Not for stopping the harassment, but for 1)not being big enough fans of the team in their city which is in the NFC championship game to say no to having to wear a nyg jersey, and because 2)all undercover cops are asses, except for when they're doing cool stuff like in law and order: svu

[jay_a2j]

RAVENS


&


GIANTS

[pancakemix]

RAVENS


&


GIANTS

Opposite.

[safariguy5]

http://deadspin.com/5878005/undercover-cops-will-be-wearing-giants-jerseys-at-sundays-game

Wow, those cops are douches. Not for stopping the harassment, but for 1)not being big enough fans of the team in their city which is in the NFC championship game to say no to having to wear a nyg jersey, and because 2)all undercover cops are asses, except for when they're doing cool stuff like in law and order: svu

Wouldn't wearing Raiders Jerseys be better for finding harassment??

[oVo]

What do you mean None of those results were shocking?
Pre-game, nobody believed that NYG could beat the Packers!

I wasn't surprised by the the Giants outcome, they've basically already survived a bunch of must win games and all facets of their game are working well. The ability to get a good rush with just four guys creates a problem for everyone and Manning has been sensational at crunch time.

Are you REALLY comparing Tim Tebow to Cam Newton?

There is no comparison between these QBs and the seasons they just had, but I do believe both of these teams should have some confidence in the future with these guys. Tom Brady was drafted 199 by the Patriots and none of the six QBs who were selected before him are starters now and Brady's done ok... and NO I'm not comparing either of those guys to Tom either.

In further support of my position that the best teams didn't win...

Last time the Giants went to the Super Bowl, the Cowboys should have beaten them.
Last time the Saints went to the Super Bowl, the Vikings should have beaten them,
and the Cardinals should have beaten the Steelers in their Super Bowl...
but didn't get it done.

[oVo]

San Francisco 49ers are probably my favorite team remaining in the playoffs.
The Saints should have won that game, but the Niners hung tough and finished it strong. Giving credit where it is due that defense hit hard and gave New Orleans hell all game long. It started early with the Saints driving for the first touchdown of the game. Pierre Thomas was crunched at the SF 2 yard line, resulting in a fumble and knocking him out of the game. It took the Saints all four quarters to recover from 5 turnovers and a 17 point deficit, but after getting their first lead of the game the Niners responded. Both defenses looked out of gas at that point as there were 4 lead changes in the final 4 minutes but Alex Smith stepped up his game and the Niners prevailed. What a finish eh?

Maybe the Packers were the better team, but the Giants did to them what they've done to everyone in recent weeks. Consistent defense with good QB pressure and plenty of offense when they need it most.

I'll be pulling for the Niners in a very hard hitting defensive battle, but expect the Giants to win this one. Both these defenses are beasts. The Niners are the top take away team, but I don't anticipate a heap of turnovers this time and feel Eli Manning will be the difference.
Alex Smith needs another good game for them to reach the Super Bowl.

The Texans should have bumped off the Ravens last week in Baltimore, but some dumb plays cost 'em. The Patriots actually showed some defense against the Broncos and I doubt Baltimore can score enough points to win the AFC Championship this week.

I'd love to see this Harbaugh coached Niners team advance to the Super Bowl because I believe they can win it, but I'm expecting a Giants/Patriots Super Bowl XLII rematch.

[ViperOverLord]

I think we'll see a Giants/Pats rematch. But I'm rooting for a Harbaugh Bowl.

The games could go either way though. My Giants pick is based on them getting great pressure with the front four and Alex Smith not handling the pressure and Gore getting stuffed. It's hard to discount the Raven d, Ray Rice, Flacco and recent Pats playoff flops either.

[oVo]

Even though I've picked the Giants & Patriots to advance to Indianapolis,
I think anything is possible with these teams.

Brady might roll against the Ravens OR their defense may shut him down
and both NY and San Fran have the defensive ability to dominate a game
OR
both offenses could roll with their running games with Eli & Alex tossing
some timely balls to balance out their attacks.

The NFC Championship matches two very similar teams while the AFC
is a dominant Offense & Defense facing off. Last weekend it was the
defenses that had the biggest impact on the outcomes and that might
just be the theme again with today's games.

I hope Ted Ginn is good to go today.

[oVo]

Oh man! It was right there... first the defended TD catch
and then the Field Goal attempt to force OT.
DAYUM!
I do believe the Ravens should have used that last time out
to give Cundiff a chance to catch his breath.
Patriots 23 - Ravens 20 FINAL

Giants 20 - Niners 17 in OT
Awesome game all around, ground down to an absolute draw after 4 Quarters
and won by special team play in the end.

[Rodion]

That makes me 5-5 in the playoffs. Going for the positive 6-5 now!

Patriots win their 4th Super Bowl like it was supposed to happen 4 years ago!

[oVo]

Both Conference Championships were nail biters that could have gone the other way. The Ravens were so close to taking it all in regulation and a rookie from SMU saves the Pats' season. Neither of those games could have been any tighter... even in the box scores.

Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL, but his brother is getting even better results. I think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will be disappointed by the Giants again in another very tight Super Bowl, as Eli earns his second Championship ring in Indianapolis.

I'm wondering if either of these Super Bowl contenders can be picked as favorites. Both teams have quarterbacks that can be called "Captain Clutch" and I can't imagine any point spread.

[safariguy5]

I just can't bet against Brady. Both defenses are coming on strong I think and I think Brady has the better receiver/TE combos than Eli does. Pats win it.

[strike wolf]

I kind of feel like neither team fully showed up in the Ravens-Pats games. The Pats offense was there early but seemed to come and go but the same seemd to be true for the Ravens defense and the Ravens offense the only word that could describe their first three drives other than bad was predictable. Run up the middle, try to pass, desperation pass and repeat. It wasn't until they got the interception (that wasn't called back) that their offense showed any signs of life or creativity. Frankly, if I was Flacco I would have been falling asleep in that game early on. either way, Pats deserved to win in a game that i don't think either team played to their fullest.

I stick to my earlier prediction that the Giants will win the Super Bowl but if there was ever a team that had motivation to beat the Giants this year it's the Patriots.

As far as the Giants-49ers game. It was really well played on both sides and if the ball hadn't been so slick the 49ers probably would have won (no fumbled punt return and probably an interception or two). Really great game.

[jay_a2j]

GIANTS




FOR THE WIN!

[oVo]

If there was ever a team that had motivation to beat the Giants this year it's the Patriots.

Absolutely.

I do think both these Conference Championships were all about defense
and I give them the credit for the offensive struggles.

Flacco's final drive capped by that near TD for the win was terrific
and it took a great defensive play to save the Pat's lead.

Hard to believe the Niners failed to convert any 3rd downs the entire game
and there was a big difference in the way the Giants returned all kicks...
getting to the ground quick and not fighting for extra yards.

[Crazyirishman]

It's going to be an interesting rematch in the years Fluker-Bowl

[ViperOverLord]

I think we'll see a Giants/Pats rematch. But I'm rooting for a Harbaugh Bowl.

The games could go either way though. My Giants pick is based on them getting great pressure with the front four and Alex Smith not handling the pressure and Gore getting stuffed. It's hard to discount the Raven d, Ray Rice, Flacco and recent Pats playoff flops either.

It's hard for me to take credit when the losing teams both had bonehead plays that cost them the games.

[strike wolf]

Here's a semi-on topic question: Let's say that Eli and the Giants beat Brady and the Patriots again but at some later point Brady and the Patriots defeat Eli and the Giants in the super bowl and through the course of their careers both QBs finish with 4 super bowl rings. Who goes down in history as the better quarter back? Eli who's 2-1 in head to head match ups vs Brady? Or Brady who at least at this point has had more all around success?

[Rodion]

Here's a semi-on topic question: Let's say that Eli and the Giants beat Brady and the Patriots again but at some later point Brady and the Patriots defeat Eli and the Giants in the super bowl and through the course of their careers both QBs finish with 4 super bowl rings. Who goes down in history as the better quarter back? Eli who's 2-1 in head to head match ups vs Brady? Or Brady who at least at this point has had more all around success?

That depends on how Eli is getting his other 2 Super Bowls and how many other achievements he'll have over the course of his career.

Is Eli ever going to have an MVP season?
Will Eli be "just along for the ride" in the Super Bowl campaigns that are won primarily due to a great Giants D# (much like Big Ben won his rings)?