NFL Playoffs Conversation: Conference Championship Games

​by Eric Fulton & Julian Spivey

*This conversation had been edited for grammar and clarity.

 
JS: The NFL Playoff Divisional Series just wrapped up. On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens took care of the Houston Texans rather easily and the San Francisco 49ers struggled to put away with Green Bay Packers before finally doing so later in the game. On Sunday, the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that was close until the fourth quarter. And the Kansas City Chiefs survived the Buffalo Bills in a back-and-forth matchup that could’ve gone either way and ultimately ended with Buffalo’s most dreaded phrase: “wide right,” when Tyler Bass missed what would’ve been a game-tying 44-yard field goal. Eric, the games were much better than the Wild Card round, but which one did you think was the best?
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EF: Three of the games this weekend were close. I am picking the Chiefs over the Bills and I will put them just slightly above the 49ers over the Packers. Man, we were so close to a number seven seed playing in a conference championship game. The Chiefs/Bills game was everything we expected it to be, a five-star heavyweight fight and it was exactly that.

JS: I’m kind of glad we avoided a 7-seed in the Championship Game. I know it’s not like the Packers had a losing record but I do prefer seeing the best teams from the regular season prevail in the postseason.

JS: Who was your MVP for the Divisional Round?

EF: I am going to go with Lamar Jackson because his team played the best out of everyone. I know he only threw for 152 yards in the air, but he did back it up with 100 yards on the ground rushing and four touchdowns against an incredibly good Houston Texans defense so at least for now, he did silence his critics.

JS: Lamar Jackson is likely going to win his second MVP award in a couple of weeks and yet people still find ways to criticize him. Amazing!

JS: The AFC Championship is up first on Sunday, January 28. It will see the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. That game will be on CBS at 2 p.m. (CST). How do you see this one playing out and which team will head to the Super Bowl?

EF: I think it will be an exciting game. I am looking forward to this one. The Chiefs last week won a tough game at Buffalo. And for parts of the game, they were the better team. I do think the pressure to win this game is on Baltimore because they are at home and they are trying to get over this Hump with Lamar Jackson at quarterback. He played great last week. Now can he do it again with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line? I keep picking the Chiefs because they are the current dynasty in the NFL. To me, whoever wins this game is the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I think Kansas City will find a way to win the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ravens win it.

JS: I’m right there with you, Eric. I’ve been saying this is the most beatable Chiefs team I can remember during their dynastic run but here we are in the postseason and they’re 2-0. Baltimore is a team they’ve had success against in previous matchups - but this is a different Ravens team and a bigger stage. I have to keep riding the KC train until it derails. I’m picking the Chiefs to win.

JS: The NFC championship game has the Detroit Lions going out to the West Coast to play the San Francisco 49ers. That game is on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. (CST) on Fox. How do you see the NFC title game playing out?

EF: Well, I have gone back and forth with this pick. I love both teams. How they got to this point is incredible. Detroit's first NFC championship game since 1991. San Francisco's fourth in the last five years. Both teams have played close playoff games at this point. This one is no different. The 49ers are incredibly good, but I want the Lions to get to the Super Bowl. So, I am going with Detroit. I would be happy for the franchise and their fans.

JS: I just can’t get over the amount of talent the 49ers have at the moment. Two of the five finalists for MVP are on the team in quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. Then you have George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel catching the ball. And the 49ers with potentially one of the five best defenses in the game. I think that’s mighty hard to beat. You’re right that the Lions making the Super Bowl would be one helluva story but I don’t know if they can get past the 49ers, who have been the cream of the crop all season in the NFC. I have to pick San Francisco.