NFL Playoff Predictions: We weigh in on which NFL teams are going to advance to the Super Bowl.
A.F.C.: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
3:05 p.m., CBS | Line: Chiefs -7 | Total: 53
The AFC Championship features two teams that met previously this season in a game that came down to the wire. The Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans in November and the two battled until Ryan Tannehill found Adam Humphries for a game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds remaining to give the Titans a hard-fought 35-32 victory.
This game marked the return of Patrick Mahomes in his first game back from the knee injury that forced him to miss time this season. Mahomes was great in his return, throwing for 446 yards and three touchdowns. It was a combination of having to settle for four field goals and the inability to slow down Derrick Henry that led to the Chiefs defeat. Henry averaged 8.2 yards per carry as he punished the Chiefs defense for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
The Titans are the type of team that typically gives the Chiefs problems because of their dynamic run game. Derrick Henry will probably see 25+ touches this game and his success will likely mean that the Chiefs explosive offense will be sidelined more than usual.
The Chiefs defense has improved recently as they have held their last five opponents to an average of 88 rushing yards per game. While this isn’t likely to continue this weekend, I do expect them to improve on the 225 yards that they allowed the Titans in their previous matchup. The Chiefs will capitalize on their opportunities in this one with touchdowns instead of field goals. Home field advantage is also in the Chiefs’ favor this time around and playing in Arrowhead will give them enough of an advantage to pull out a close victory.
Chiefs 34 – Titans 30
N.F.C.: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
6:40 p.m., Fox | Line: 49ers -7.5 | Total: 45
The NFC Championship game will also feature two teams that previously met this season. Now with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Green Bay Packers will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. The Packers will be hoping for a different outcome this go around, as they were completely dominated in the first game, ultimately losing by a final score of 37-8. In that matchup, the 49ers stingy defense held Aaron Rodgers to just 104 passing yards, his lowest total of the season and they were also able to sack him five times.
Since then, the Packers have won six straight games while the 49ers have dropped two of their last six. The Packers have been leaning heavily on the trio of Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and Davante Adams. These three actually accounted for all four touchdowns in the Packers playoff win over the Seahawks.
The 49ers, on the other hand, have an offense that features a superstar tight end in George Kittle along with a bevy of other guys that contribute. They have three running backs that all had over 500 rushing yards in the regular season and, aside from Kittle, Deebo Samuel led the team with only 57 catches. They spread the wealth and roll with whoever is hot and provides the best matchup. This strategy clearly works for them, as they finished the regular season ranked second in rushing, trailing only the Baltimore Ravens.
I expect more of the same this game, meaning that the Packers will likely try to feed the ball to their two best playmakers in Jones and Adams. They will likely have some success but the lack of additional playmakers and the solid 49ers defense will hamper their ability to put points on the board. It has been a problem throughout the season, as their Divisional Round victory over the Seahawks was the first time they scored at least 24 points since December 1st.
The 49ers will establish their running game and spread the ball to multiple receiving options as usual. This will get them over that 24 point mark (which they have done 13 times this season) and earn them a closer victory than last meeting.
49ers 30 – Packers 20
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