We’re down to four teams left standing, and it’s a mix of three dominant, highly-seeded teams and one underdog (Tennessee) nobody thought would be here.
I went 3-1 over the Divisional weekend to run my postseason mark to 5-3. Of my four picks, only Baltimore fell short in a postseason series that has seen the road team win all four games. My goal this week is to raise my postseason hit rate to 70%.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP (Sunday, 3:05 p, CBS)
He’s the man (photo, 600 ESPN El Paso)
(2) Kansas City 33, (6) Tennessee 20: For the first time in 40 years, the Chiefs–a team that played in two of the first four Super Bowls–will be returning to the big game. Kansas City has had its defensive issues, and the Titans have gone into Arrowhead Stadium before and won a playoff game. But the Chiefs should be able to clear the last hurdle thanks to improved defensive play and an offense that could have eliminated the Ravens if the Titans had not beaten them to it. Just as New England has changed for the worse, and Baltimore for the better, the Chiefs’ sub-par home playoff history was exorcised in the comeback win over Houston. It’s the Chiefs’ AFC title to lose.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (Sunday, 6:40 p, Fox)
Defensive stalwarts, Fred Warner (54) & Jaquiski Tartt (photo, SI)
(1)San Francisco 26, (2) Green Bay 20: Been there, not done that. The Packers got waxed in Santa Clara earlier this year, 37-8, in a nationally-televised embarrassment. Most observers then saw Green Bay as something less than a complete team. I didn’t, and the Pack proved me right. Green Bay’s pass rush is underrated, and its secondary is good. Running back Aaron Jones is an excellent young back, and then there’s a guy named Aaron Rodgers. But wait! The ‘Niners’ defense is the best squad left in the playoffs. San Francisco will have its hands full with the Pack, but a few well-timed defensive plays should turn the tide and make for an all-red Super Bowl match-up.
