Author: Benjamin Hoffman / Source: New York Times
Colin E. Braley/Associated Press
For all the excitement created by the N.F.L.’s offensive fireworks this season, the league could be accused of being predictable. From roughly Week 5 forward, the Rams, the Saints and the Chiefs were considered favorites to get to this point.
And while it was a down season for the Patriots, relatively speaking, it will probably be several years after Tom Brady’s retirement before people stop assuming he will find a way into the A.F.C. championship game.So after all those yards and touchdowns, it comes down to the top four offenses battling to reach the Super Bowl. Four elite quarterbacks, four teams with terrific running games and four head coaches who seem more than capable of getting the most out of their players.
There will almost certainly be a great deal of scoring in both games, but the results could hinge on a key takeaway or a key pressure from one of the less-heralded defenses. And whichever teams eke out a win will meet in Atlanta two weeks later in Super Bowl LIII.
Here are our predictions for how the conference championships will sort out, both in terms of who will win and who will win against the spread.
Last week’s record against the spread: 2-2
Playoff record against the spread: 4-3-1
N.F.C.
Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints
3:05 p.m., Fox
Somehow the Week 9 showdown between Los Angeles and New Orleans did not receive the hype or the praise of the Rams’ thrilling win against Kansas City in Week 11, but it was not for a lack of excitement or importance. The teams combined for 80 points and 970 yards of offense, and the Saints ended the Rams’ undefeated start to the season.
While that result essentially decided home-field advantage for this game, and there are certainly aspects of that game that could serve as a preview for this one, the Rams’ roster gained two important additions after that day: Aqib Talib and C.J. Anderson.
First and foremost is Talib, the Pro Bowl cornerback who was among the Rams’ most prominent acquisitions last off-season. He injured his ankle in Week 3, had an operation and did not return until Week 13. Talib, 32, immediately took the team’s secondary from awful to adequate.
On top of that, Los Angeles has gotten a boost in the last three games from Anderson, a running back who never quite reached his potential in Denver, and spent this season on three teams. He appears to have found a home as a second running option alongside Todd Gurley, helping…
The post N.F.L. Playoff Predictions: Conference Championship Picks appeared first on FeedBox.