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NFL Playoffs Conference Championships Predictions

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NFL Playoffs Conference Championships Predictions

We have reached the 2013 NFL Playoffs Conference Championships. It’s down to four teams- two from the NFC and two from the AFC- who will battle it out for the rights to go to Super Bowl XLVIII in East Rutherford, New Jersey two weeks from Sunday. Here’s a look at the two NFL Playoffs Conference Championships games and how the teams involved got to this point, along with my predictions. Coincidentally, I am 7-1 in my predictions thus far this post season.

2013 NFL Playoffs Conference Championships – #5 San Francisco 49ers vs. #1 Seattle Seahawks

Let’s start our look at the 2013 NFL Playoffs Conference Championships with the NFC Championship Game between the fifth seeded San Francisco 49ers and the top seeded Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are the only team left in the playoffs that had to two other games to get to the Championship game. They defeated the Green Bay Packers on a very cold night in Green Bay two weeks ago by a score of 23-20 to win the Wild Card round, then last week they defeated second seeded Carolina Panthers in Charlotte by a score of 23-10. The 49ers are finally healthy and strong enough to win this game.

The Seattle Seahawks were the number one overall seed in the NFC, which meant they had the best record and get to play at home for the duration of the playoffs until the Super Bowl. They held off a late rally by the sixth seeded New Orleans Saints last weekend to win their only playoff game thus far this year 23-15 for the right to host the NFC Championship game.

These two teams are no strangers to one another. They are divisional rivals, which means they have already met twice this season, splitting the two meetings. The last time they met it was in San Francisco an the 49ers eeked out a 19-17 victory after being pummeled by the Seahawks earlier in the year in Seattle by a score of 29-3.

NFL Playoffs Conference Championships: What To Expect?

Neither team should expect anything less than the best from the other this Sunday evening in Seattle. The real difference in this game could be the raucous Seattle crowd, which could throw the 49ers off their game. The key here is for the 49ers to survive any early onslaughts by the Seahawks and to stay in the game long enough so that the fans become a non-factor. Both teams have a lot of talent, and I think this game will be one for the ages, but I like Seattle to win and head to their second Super Bowl.

2013 NFL Playoffs Conference Championships – #2 New England Patriots vs #1 Denver Broncos

Our 2013 NFL Playoffs Conference Championships review now looks at the AFC Championship Game, which features another classic battle between two of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, Tom Brady of the second seeded New England Patriots and Peyton Manning of the top seeded Denver Broncos. Both these teams earned first round playoff byes therefore last weekend was each team’s first playoff game of the year. The Patriots made it look easy against the fourth seeded Indianapolis Colts, winning in Foxboro, Massachusetts, by a score of 43-22. The Broncos had to hold off the sixth seeded San Diego Chargers to win in Denver by a score of 24-17.

Peyton Manning used to be the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, where he and Tom Brady had many meetings in the AFC Championship before, so neither quarterback is a stranger to the other one, but the teams are not quite as familiar. These two teams did meet earlier this season in Massachusetts and it appeared to be a rout by the Broncos, who took a 24-0 lead in at halftime. But, a resilient Tom Brady and his Patriots fought back in the second half to win the game in overtime, 34-31.

If that last game is any indication, this should be an instant classic. However, this NFL Playoffs Conference Championships game is in Denver, which will make a difference in the crowd, plus the Patriots are without their top tight end, Rob Gronkowski, who is out for the season. That will make the play calling a little trickier for the Patriots, and I fully expect the Broncos to come after Tom Brady early and often. Meanwhile, the Patriots’ defense is tasked with trying to outmatch the field general Peyton Manning, which is never easy. I feel that the Broncos have too many weapons, and they even proved last weekend that they have a viable running game. Therefore, I think the Broncos win NFL Playoffs Conference Championships game, albeit close, and move on to the Super Bowl.

And there it is, my preview and predictions for this Sunday’s NFL games.

Who do you think will win this weekend’s NFL Playoffs Conference Championships games? Come back next week for my preview of Super Bowl XLVIII.

About Jay Crawford

Jay is a die hard sports fan {football and college basketball being his favorites}. His favorite teams are the Carolina Panthers and Tarheels and, of course, his alma mater, the Appalachian Mountaineers. He spends his free time listening to music, especially KISS, Def Leppard, the Eagles and a lot of the newer country music, and watching comic book and action movies. The more special effects - the better.