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| Sunday's meeting could be the final playoff installment of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. |
The AFC Championship will feature what could more than likely be the final playoff installment of Bill Belichick/Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. In fact, the main storyline in Denver could revolve around this possibly being Peyton Manning's final season, meaning a win could give him one last chance to win a second-career Super Bowl. The storyline for New England is a little different. With a win, the team would set a record for Super Bowl appearances (nine) and Super Bowl appearances by either a coach or a quarterback (seven for both Belichick and Brady). Additionally, should New England win this year's Super Bowl, Brady's five Super Bowl rings would stand alone as football's ultimate champion.
The NFC Championship storyline takes a much different shape. It features the (relatively) young Cam Newton leading a Carolina team that surprised the league with a 15-1 record. On the other side of the field is Carson Palmer, a great quarterback in his own right, but one that at the age of 36 has never made a Super Bowl appearance. For Newton, this could be the start of something special. For Palmer, it would be more of a John Elway-esque opportunity to earn a title late in his career.
Here are our picks for the games.
Austen's Eight-Point Pick
New England over @Denver
Austen: I had to grab this game before Stally nabbed it. The Patriots are the more balanced team than the Broncos, who have one of the least efficient offenses in the entire NFL this season while Peyton Manning is under center. The Patriots defense is second in the NFL in sacks and is going to give Peyton fits all day. Jamie Collins is suiting up for this matchup and is the Pats most versatile and dangerous defensive player. He is going to make numerous big plays in this game to help the damn Patriots to yet another Super Bowl.
The Broncos only hope is that Chris Harris is a lot healthier than he appears and is able to shut down Julian Edelman. I think Edelman and Gronk make enough big plays for this offense to keep them ahead the entire game in a surprisingly low-scoring affair.
Stally: I don't want to seem like an over-confident fan, but if the Patriots lose this game, I'd be vastly disappointed. Not just because my favorite team missed an opportunity to make a record ninth Super Bowl appearance, but because New England is better than Denver and should win this game.
The Broncos shouldn't have beat the Patriots earlier in the season, and needed an illegitimate offensive pass interference penalty on Rob Gronkowski to stall a Pats drive, turn momentum, and climb back in the game. And, they shouldn't have won last week against an undermanned Steelers team. If Fitzgerald Toussaint had just run downhill for a first down in the fourth quarter, instead of cutting into a defender and fumbling, this game would be Pittsburgh at New England.
Denver's defense is very good, and that will give it a chance to win. But, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the league, so it would be very surprising to see him make many costly mistakes. If the Broncos do win, it will because they put together a better game plan, not because they have the better team, and the odds of Bill Belichick getting outcoached in such a big game seems quite unlikely.
SCORE: New England 27, Denver 17
Stally's Eight-Point Pick
@Carolina over Arizona
Stally: I've been stuck in Charlotte for almost a week, so I joked with Austen that I was going to take my "hometown team." The Panthers have the X-factor in Cam Newton. Just when you think the defense has done everything right, Newton busts out a 20-yard run on 3rd-and-long and moves the chains.
Arizona's opportunity comes from its balance. It has the most complete team in the league when you factor in, run and pass offense and defense, but it doesn't boast the dominant flashiness of Carolina. Seattle fell down 31-0 and couldn't make enough of a run to recover to beat the Panthers last week. While no team should be expected to over come that deficit, the Cardinals can learn from it. They need to contain the Panthers (and their fans) early and allow themselves to play to their strengths and win the game in the fourth quarter.
I don't think that will happen though. Look for the the Panthers to come out with the fire early and manage to ride that to a nail biting win.
SCORE: Carolina 23, Arizona 20
Austen: As much as it hurts to pick against our fellow Trojan, Carson Palmer, I have to agree with Stally here. Do not let the gaudy numbers fool you, Palmer had a horrible day last week against the Packers. Carolina is worlds better than the Packers on the defensive side of the ball, so Palmer is going to have to really pick up his game and find that magic he had in the middle of the regular season.
Stally: I don't want to seem like an over-confident fan, but if the Patriots lose this game, I'd be vastly disappointed. Not just because my favorite team missed an opportunity to make a record ninth Super Bowl appearance, but because New England is better than Denver and should win this game.
The Broncos shouldn't have beat the Patriots earlier in the season, and needed an illegitimate offensive pass interference penalty on Rob Gronkowski to stall a Pats drive, turn momentum, and climb back in the game. And, they shouldn't have won last week against an undermanned Steelers team. If Fitzgerald Toussaint had just run downhill for a first down in the fourth quarter, instead of cutting into a defender and fumbling, this game would be Pittsburgh at New England.
Denver's defense is very good, and that will give it a chance to win. But, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the league, so it would be very surprising to see him make many costly mistakes. If the Broncos do win, it will because they put together a better game plan, not because they have the better team, and the odds of Bill Belichick getting outcoached in such a big game seems quite unlikely.
SCORE: New England 27, Denver 17
Stally's Eight-Point Pick
@Carolina over Arizona
Stally: I've been stuck in Charlotte for almost a week, so I joked with Austen that I was going to take my "hometown team." The Panthers have the X-factor in Cam Newton. Just when you think the defense has done everything right, Newton busts out a 20-yard run on 3rd-and-long and moves the chains.
Arizona's opportunity comes from its balance. It has the most complete team in the league when you factor in, run and pass offense and defense, but it doesn't boast the dominant flashiness of Carolina. Seattle fell down 31-0 and couldn't make enough of a run to recover to beat the Panthers last week. While no team should be expected to over come that deficit, the Cardinals can learn from it. They need to contain the Panthers (and their fans) early and allow themselves to play to their strengths and win the game in the fourth quarter.
I don't think that will happen though. Look for the the Panthers to come out with the fire early and manage to ride that to a nail biting win.
SCORE: Carolina 23, Arizona 20
Austen: As much as it hurts to pick against our fellow Trojan, Carson Palmer, I have to agree with Stally here. Do not let the gaudy numbers fool you, Palmer had a horrible day last week against the Packers. Carolina is worlds better than the Packers on the defensive side of the ball, so Palmer is going to have to really pick up his game and find that magic he had in the middle of the regular season.
This is the game to watch today because no matter what Stally says, these are the two best teams left in the playoffs. Both teams have explosive offenses and both have top-five defenses. This is the matchup we have waiting to see all season long. The Panthers have been the best team in the league all year, so I cannot bet against them at home.
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