AFC Championship- Sunday- Jaguars vs Patriots at 3:05 on CBS

Ian’s Take:

I understand the Jaguars have an elite defense which can be a difference maker. I understand that they put the beat down on the Steelers even though the final score was only decided by 3 points. I understand a combination of Fournette and Ramsey is crazy good. I still don’t believe that the Jaguars are a AFC title caliber team. Come on guys, look at the situation, it is Blake Bortles against the almighty Tom Brady.  It all will come down to Blake Bortles and Tom Brady in this one. Can Bortlers play just well enough to put up points against a solid Patriots defense who has only allowed 18.5 points per game this season putting them at 5th best in the league. To help Bortles out though, the Jaguars are going to have to stop the rushing offense of the Patriots which are averaging over 100 yards rushing this postseason and were ranked as a top 10 rushing offense in the regular season. The Jaguars have been dominant containing the rush allowing only 83 rush yards to the Steelers this past Sunday and 133 to a pure rushing offense against Buffalo. They are going to need to stop the run in order to have any chance of winning this game. The next step for the Jaguars is forcing Brady to beat you. Force Brady to figure out the complex secondary of the Jaguars and make him beat you, don’t let him breathe needs to be the mentality of the Jaguars. With that said, all the Patriots are going to need to do is be the Patriots. The Patriots are going to need to be even more cautious with the football against the Jaguars in order to have success as the Jags were second in the league in interceptions. The longer the Patriots offense can be on the field and tire out the Jags defense, the better shape Brady and company are in. They need to have a successful rushing game and take all the pressure of your future hall of famer so he can pick apart the Jags defense. The Patriots are at home for this game and are 7-2 all season at home, and 6-0 in their last 6 home games. Going into Foxborough is a challenge not a lot of veterans are cut out for, so with a very young Jaguars franchise up against the brilliant combination of Brady and Belichick, I have to give it to the Patriots.

Patriots 23-17 Jaguars

Wyatt’s Pick:

Tom Brady, quite possibly the greatest quarterback of all time, coached by possibly the best football coach of all time, at home, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now if I told you this game were happening any other year, you’d think no way the Patriots don’t win by three touchdowns. But this isn’t just any Jacksonville team; this team is built for playoff football. Not just that, but they have the tools of a team that can beat the Patriots in the postseason (as rarely as that happens). Their ability to rush the passer, against the mediocre to slightly above average offensive line the Pats have, has always been able to slow Tom Brady down. Not only that, but when the Patriots are getting pressured and eventually do make the adjustments needed, they have the coverage down field with two great corners, and the speed in the middle with Telvin Smith and Myles Jack. I do think if the Patriots exploit their mismatch with Gronk things could go south real fast for the Jags. Besides stopping the run and containing Gronk, the rest of the game is going to be up to Blake Bortles. Now Blake Bortles isn’t a great quarterback, but the way the Jaguars play in terms of running the ball and setting up the play action, he doesn’t have to do much. If Bortles doesn’t turn the ball over, I think the Jags can do enough to hold the dynasty off

Jaguars 22-18 Patriots

Riley’s Pick:

The Jaguars have the formula to beat the Patriots, with a tough, physical defense, and a well-rounded run game, while the Pats have Tom Brady. With the injury news surrounding Brady, this is a perfect scenario for the Jags to come into Foxborough, play physical defense, and come out with a gutty win. But I think Brady plays, and picks apart the Jacksonville defense for four touchdowns, while Blake Bortles finally plays like Blake Bortles.

Patriots 31-20 Jaguars

Who will be the AFC Champs?

• Jaguars (50%, 2 Votes)
• Patriots (50%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 4

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NFC Championship- Sunday- Vikings vs Eagles at 6:40 on Fox

Ian’s Take:

All the questions last week were “Will Keenum choke” and “What will Keenum do?”. Well, he showed he can embrace the moment. Keenum is going to lead a highly energized Vikings team into Philadelphia after an incredible win on the last play of the game. The Vikings are going to need to establish the passing game early and keep it going all game as the Eagles rush defence is to good to try to mess around with. All the pressure once again falls on Foles in order to keep the Eagles in this game. He had decent stats against the Falcons recording a 100.1 QBR and was able to propel the Eagles past the Falcons. The Vikings are a whole different animal though. The Vikings have allowed the second least amount of passing yards this season and rushing yards. The key for the Eagles to win this game is to force the Vikings to rush the ball. The Eagles have allowed the least amount of rushing yards all season while allowing the 17th most passing yards. If the Eagles can force Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon run the ball and get the ball out Keenum’s, the Eagles are in good shape. A factor not a lot of people are talking about is that the Vikings are a dome team. That is huge factor especially that the Eagles already have 2 wins this season at home against teams that play indoors (including the Falcons). Neither of those teams are yet to score more than 10 points in a game against them. Lastly it will all come down to turnovers for both teams. The Eagles will also have a chance if they continue the trend of a crazy amount of turnovers forced as they ranked top 4 in that category. The Vikings will need to be extra cautious with the ball and keep the Eagles defense on the field and not allow them the luxury of turnovers which the Eagles thrived off of this season. At the end of the day though the Vikings defense will be to much for Foles and a weak Eagles offense who only put up 15 points against the Falcons. I have to give it to the Vikings extremely well rounded defense, and also the fact that Keenum>Foles.

Vikings 27-20 Eagles

Wyatt’s Take:

Before the “Minnesota Miracle” that everyone saw Sunday, the Eagles grinded out a much forgotten 15-10 win against the Falcons. The Saints Vikings game, in my eyes, was an NFC Championship caliber matchup last week. Both teams well balanced, and both were flying around the field on both ends. The Eagles, on the other hand, have some holes that the Falcons didn’t do too well of a job of exploiting due to some major play calling issues and overall inconsistency. Jalen Mills played great on Julio Jones for the last play, and in spurts before that as well, but with Vikings talented OC Pat Schurmur and two top tier receivers on the outside, I don’t see them having the same issues the Falcons did. A lot of pressure is on Nick Foles to perform against the Vikings defense, and I don’t see him living up to the task.

Vikings 23-10 Eagles

Riley’s Take:

Minnesota comes into this game fresh off the miracle win in the final seconds against the Saints. Philadelphia didn’t look as good, but the defense played well enough to escape vs Atlanta. Philadelphia’s will have to run the ball with efficiency to come out with a win, because Nick Foles will not be able to throw it against the second-best pass defense in the league. On the other side, last week the Vikings threw the ball with efficiency, and will have to do that again, as the Eagles have the best run defense in the NFL. I think Case Keenum does just enough, and the Minnesota defense shuts down Philly.

Vikings 24-19 Eagles

Who will be the NFC Champs?

• Vikings (50%, 1 Votes)
• Eagles (50%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 2

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