AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots – 3PM ET on CBS
The big question heading into this game is whether or not Joe Flacco and Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron can take advantage of the questionable Patriots secondary. It’s also been a question all week as to whether or not it’s fair for most if not all the pressure to be on the shoulders of Flacco to win the game.
If you ask me, it’s definitely fair, especially in this game’s case.
Baltimore has had a championship caliber team for most of Flacco’s career with the Ravens and since then he simply hasn’t been able to get the team over that final hump. Sure there are other contributing factors to the Ravens not being able get over that hump but the questions surrounding Flacco will remain if he can’t bring the team to that next level.
Flacco will not have to win a shootout given his teams good defense but going toe to toe with Brady will certainly mean he will have to get his team into the 20’s.
Patriots win 24-17
NFC Championship: New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers – 6:30PM ET on FOX
In the game that was supposed to feature Green Bay against New Orleans or Aaron Rodgers against Drew Brees we see the more unlikely matchup between the Giants and 49ers or Eli Manning against Alex Smith.
Both teams have been very impressive in their road to the NFC Championship game with the Giants shutting down the Packers on the road and Alex Smith out dueling Drew Brees last weekend in maybe the most exciting game of the NFL season.
Now at this point it almost seems unfair to pick against Eli Manning in this type game.
So far this season he’s beaten Tom Brady at Foxborough and Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau. But, he hasn’t beaten Alex Smith at Candlestick.
A big reason why the 49ers where able to get that 27-20 win during week 10 was because of the pressure they were able to get on Eli Manning. Aldon Smith was a thorn in the side of Eli Manning that entire game and it’s probably going to take an even greater effort by the San Francisco pass rush on Sunday.
Giants win 28-27
Ref: ESPN.com, SI.com, USA Today (image)
