Preview: NFL Conference Championships 2018-2019
Championship Sunday is finally here and I decided to make a preview of both the AFC Championship and NFC Championship games. First, at 3:05 p.m. the New Orleans Saints host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Then, at 6:40 p.m., the New England Patriots travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints, 3:05 p.m. FOX
The Rams travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in what should be a high scoring shootout, as should the nightcap be. Coming into the NFC Championship, the Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 30-22 at home in the NFC Divisional Round. As for New Orleans, the Saints defeated the Eagles off a Marshon Lattimore game sealing interception to send themselves to the NFC Championship by a score of 20-14. This year’s NFC Championship will showcase superstars across the board, with the Saints led by Drew Brees, who is in contention for the MVP this season. Not to mention, rising stars Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas should both be problems for Los Angeles heading into this game. However, the Rams can match the Saints as they have their own stars such as Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald. Defensively, Los Angeles will look to send pressure at Drew Brees with arguably the best pass rusher in the league in Aaron Donald, who acquired 20.5 sacks this season, along with 59 combined tackles. My personal score prediction for this game is the Saints heading to Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII by defeating the Rams by a score of 38-31.
AFC Championship: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs, 6:40 p.m. CBS
Led by Tom Brady, the Patriots head into Kansas City for their league record 8th straight AFC Championship game, while Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will host their first ever AFC Championship at Arrowhead Stadium. Both teams will be playing for the Lamar Hunt trophy, which is named after the late Chiefs owner as a tribute. Moreover, while Brady may have a great deal of experience in postseason games, Patrick Mahomes has had an MVP season, and will look to take the AFC Crown away from New England. Mahomes recorded 50 touchdown passes, 5,381 passing yards, and a QBR of 113.8, which should be more than enough for the NFL’s MVP award. The 50 passing touchdowns by Mahomes has only occured twice before, as his opponent, Tom Brady, threw for 50 in his MVP 2007 season, and Peyton Manning who broke Brady’s record throwing for 55 touchdowns in 2013, which was also enough for the NFL MVP.
Coming into this game, the Patriots defeated the Chargers by a score of 41-28, and despite a somewhat close score, it was New England that dominated for most of the game with runnning back, Sony Michel rushing for three touchdowns and over 100 yards just in the first half. As for Kansas City, the Chiefs topped Indianapolis by a score of 31-13, in which wide reciever, Tyreek Hill, ran for a long touchdown to jumpstart the Chiefs offense and ultimately give them the win by a score of 31-13. Moving on, my personal score prediction for this game is the Chiefs defeating the Patriots by a score of 34-27.
