0 NFL Conference Championship Picks

Coming off our mediocre success last week of each being 2-2, we are back with even more NFL picks.  Like always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.  Besides, you really wouldn’t want to listen to our advice anyways.  



NFL Conference Championship Picks

Ravens (-8) at Patriots

Marty: So while in sunny Cancun on Saturday, I walked into the “Sports Bar” at my all inclusive resort when there was 40 seconds to go in the Ravens-Broncos game.  The many Denver fans there were already celebrating.  Then somehow the miraculous happens and the Ravens get a long TD.  The Broncos fans got really quiet and never recovered just like the actual Broncos never recovered and lost in OT.  I guess Peyton choking is really greater than the potential badness of Flacco.  I mean seriously, how is Manning vs. Brady even a discussion?  Brady wins the majority of his playoff games, Manning doesn’t.  And even when Brady loses, it is usually in the Superbowl.  Saying Manning is better than Brady is like saying Pepsi is better than Coke, or Burger King is better than McDonalds, or any other country is better than Amuuuurica.  Not much to say in terms of the actual game, the Patriots are rolling and I still don’t think the Ravens are actually that good and they certainly won’t get lucky like they did last week, so I’m taking the Patriots and the points.  

Sean: Patriots. Simple as that. That offense, playing at home is so dominating with their ability to use tempo and pace to tire out other team’s defenses and the Ravens are still banged up. The Ravens looked good against the Broncos,  but even that game was decided by a ridiculous combination of a 70 yard touchdown pass and awful awful defensive coverage along with shitty conservative coaching. The Broncos should have won that game. The Ravens will not be able to sub in players quickly enough to keep up with the Patriots various schemes, even without Gronkowski. The Ravens will be hard pressed to keep pace with the Patriots and this is going to be a high scoring game. I would definitely take the over. I think it will ultimately hinge on turnovers, and the Patriots were +25 in the regular season on turnovers. The Ravens by comparison were +9, most likely due to Ray Rice never losing a  fumble in the regular season.  If the Ravens can’t force turnovers (which I don’t think they will be able to) this game is over. I don’t want them to win, but the Patriots will march into the Super Bowl for a rematch with the 49ers.


49ers (-4) at Falcons

Marty: What can you say about the Falcons? They still have looked pretty bad in the playoffs with Matty Ice as QB.  Kinda crazy how they almost blew that huge lead against the Seahawks.  So there are two possibilities:¹ Atlanta got their nerves out of the way and will show up in a big way on Sunday or Atlanta will still be the same underperforming playoff team that they have been.   Yes, some may say it is stating the obvious, but isn’t that what sports writing is?  Stating the obvious and then trying to look smart after you are “right.”  I still can’t trust the Falcons, until they show that they got it for an entire game.  On the other hand, the 49ers are a well coached machine that apparently don’t care at all about the curse of Alex Smith.  So I’m going to take the points and pick the 49ers.  

Sean: After narrowly eking out a win last week against the Seahawks at home, the 49ers come to the Georgia Dome for a spot in the Super Bowl. The Falcons have looked like a pedestrian team in their one game so far this postseason and the 49ers have looked dominant, destroying the Packers in a game that was over by halftime. Colin Kaepernick is the X factor in this game, and all season the Falcons have not been able to defend mobile quarterbacks.  I don’t hate the Falcons, but I hate Jamaal Anderson, Chris Chandler and the rest of that Dirty Bird team from the 1998 Season, when Gary Anderson missed his only field goal all year. This cost an awesome Vikings team² from going to the Super Bowl and bludgeoning John Elway and the Bronco’s. I have still not forgiven them. For that reason I am picking the 49ers. Also, I think only the 49ers could beat the Evil Empire Patriots in the Superbowl and this Atlanta team would be embarrassed.


¹ Sean says via footnote: Aren’t these the only two choices? Either Atlanta wins or Atlanta loses? 
² Marty says via footnote: that Vikings team was awesome.  They had the best offense ever.  Randall Cunningham throwing bombs to a young Randy Moss, Chris Carter being hall of famer Chris Carter, pro-bowl RB Robert, I’m too smart for football so I’m retiring early before my brain is gone, Smith and a really good 3rd WR in Jake Reed.  Best offense ever and one of the best video game football offenses you could ever use.