Now we’re onto the best football around. From here on out, we only have teams that belong. Let’s look at the matchups:
AFC
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs
This Colts team has been a pleasant surprise this season. I didn’t think they could rebound so fast after Ryan Grigson’s disastrous tenure. Chris Ballard has done an equally good job in just one year to restock the Colts cupboard. Andrew Luck can finally stand straight up and get the ball to his weapons. Darius Leonard has led a resurgent Colts defense that can make Indy proud. There is just one major problem in their way: a loaded Kansas City offense. Patrick Maholmes will have his first playoff test, but Andy Reid is the best at getting the most out of his QB’s. In Maholmes, he has robot playing back there. Losing Kareem Hunt hurt (that’s all Hunt’s fault), but their team is explosive enough to hang points on anyone after a playoff bye. I expect the Colts to hang close, but Maholmes, Tyreek Hill, and company will pull away late.
Chiefs 31 Colts 20
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
This is Philip Rivers’ chance to exorcise his demons against the Pats. Belichick and Brady have had his number for a decade, even in San Diego, but this team is different. LA has an elite receiving core (with Hunter Henry coming back this week) plus running backs that can make plays themselves. The Patriots get home field, per usual, but this New England team isn’t your dad’s Patriots team. Gronk has not been the same Gronk all year, and Brady has looked pedestrian at times this year (see, Lions, Titans, and Steelers games). When you have the best coach in NFL history, it helps, but Anthony Lynn has his team charged (forgive the pun) for this game. The Chargers have a reliable kicker for the first time in a long time, and that makes the difference.
Chargers 24 Patriots 23
NFC
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
I don’t think there’s a team the Rams would want to see less than the Cowboys. Dallas is coming in with a lot of confidence, and that is when Dak Prescott is most dangerous. Let me lay out the worst case scenario for the Rams here: Dallas comes out and scores on the first drive, gets a quick stop on the Rams first drive, then scores again. Can you feel the panic setting in, yet? Sean McVay is a phenomenal coach, though. He can still get Jared Goff to ball out. We just don’t know if Todd Gurley is going to be fully healthy, either. Even worse, I don’t know that the Rams have faced that type of adversity as a team to this point. This is a good team, though, and if their defense can contain Dak, they’ll cause problems. The Seahawks showed the blueprint to beat LA offensively: have a mobil QB make plays on the edge and run the ball on the Rams. Dallas can do both of those things. If the Cowboys execute that game plan and let their defensive playmakers attack (Tank Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, LVE, and Byron Jones), Dallas can stay rolling.
Cowboys 30 Rams 24
Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints
The committee (of one) is admittedly pro Cowboys, but Nick Foles is just amazing at this point. There have been guys that made one postseason run (see Flacco, Joe), but Foles is a perfect fit for Doug Peterson’s offense two years running (passing/optioning?). Carson Wentz is a phenomenal QB (and will be next year when he’s healthy), but Foles just conducts it to perfection. That Week 10 game where the Saints drubbed the Eagles 48-7 seems like an eternity ago. There is just one problem, and his name is Drew Brees. The Saints are loaded all around, even though they seemed to sputter down the stretch this season. I cannot see Brees and Sean Payton letting this team come in low energy. If the Eagles win, I won’t be shocked, but I think they come up just short this game. The magic runs dry here. Even so, the Eagles fans should be proud of this team. They fought all season, made the playoffs, and clawed until the end. Long live last years champs.
Saints 35 Eagles 33
Well, there you have it. Saints-Cowboys in the NFC Championship & it’ll be Chiefs-Chargers in the AFC Championship. Can’t wait!
Divine Interception 