2022 NFC & AFC Championship pregame thread

[ScottishPatriots]

Can see the Eagles winning a comfortable 24-14 type of game, other game is harder to call.

Got to love the Eagles defensive line pressuring Purdy into a big mistake especially if they can get up early, Eagles offensive line should be able to get some run game going then a guy like Hurts moving and scrambling and being able to make a couple of big plays downfield is exactly the type of thing that breaks elite defenses in the modern NFL.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Iggles v Bengals.

 

[Patsfan1958]

Cincy over the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

 

[Pape]

49ers D is pretty good... only nfc defense this year to let up less than 300 points, including the divisional playoff game... Its also pretty opportunistic, creating 30 turnovers in the regular season, + 2 more vs the gints... Gotta say though, there were a few times that Dallas made Purdy look, and throw, like an unprepared rookie...

Philly, however, looks like a very complete team... good offense, solid defense...

Tough game to call, could see it going either way


cheefs and the bengals? all depends on how vulnerable mahomes is with that ankle... most likely the bengals win, but it wouldn't shock me if KC pulled one out of their ass again...

 

[Real fan 02]

To me it looks like the 49ers Lombardi to lose.

9ners secondary is the weak link of thier D.. problem is the front 7 is so dominant.. however they will be facing a different beast in hurts,and that high powered offense.. they won't be able to tee off like they did on dak and lesser QBs.. or hurts will gash them!

 

[Real fan 02]

Cincy over the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

I was thinking Joe Brady over eagles in superbowl

 

[venecol]

49ers allowed 77.7 rushing ypg (#2) and gave up only 76 yds to the Cowboys (#9 rushing offense). It'll be interesting to see how they do against the #5 PHI rushing offense (147.6 ypg).

PHI is #16 in rushing D (121.6 ypg) going up against 49ers' #8 rushing O (138.8 ypg).

I'm not sure this will be anything other than a low scoring 3 point game.

 

[Guts]

49ers allowed 77.7 rushing ypg (#2) and gave up only 76 yds to the Cowboys (#9 rushing offense). It'll be interesting to see how they do against the #5 PHI rushing offense (147.6 ypg).

PHI is #16 in rushing D (121.6 ypg) going up against 49ers' #8 rushing O (138.8 ypg).

I'm not sure this will be anything other than a low scoring 3 point game.

I'm interested in seeing how Purdy does on the road too. Road playoff games are a different animal and those Philly fans be crazy. Eating horsepoop and stuff

 

[Guts]

cheefs and the bengals? all depends on how vulnerable mahomes is with that ankle... most likely the bengals win, but it wouldn't shock me if KC pulled one out of their ass again...

All signs point to a Bungles win, but like you I have this eerie feeling the Chefs get lucky

 

[venecol]

All signs point to a Bungles win, but like you I have this eerie feeling the Chefs get lucky

I'm starting to understand how the 31 other fan bases felt when the Pats were in the SB every other year: Not the Chefs again!

Mahomes will play regardless of the high ankle sprain. Couldn't have been that bad from his reactions on the sidelines and fact he came back to play. I guess not all high ankle sprains are the same.

 

[Guts]

I'm starting to understand how the 31 other fan bases felt when the Pats were in the SB every other year: Not the Chefs again!

Mahomes will play regardless of the high ankle sprain. Couldn't have been that bad from his reactions on the sidelines and fact he came back to play. I guess not all high ankle sprains are the same.

Nah man if it were another team that had the same success as KC I wouldn't be hating other than the Jets or Indy at least for me

He's fine he ran like nothing just being a Big Ben

 

[Hyped]

My thoughts:

1.) Power ranking, I have it as:

Eagles (most complete OL/DL in the NFL), Chiefs (Best remaining QB, although I am impressed with Burrow), Niners (best overall D remaining), and Bengals (weak OL, quick release QB, best WR tandem, imaginative defensive coordinator).

2.) My rooting interests:

Bengals - Never won anything.


Eagles - Won once and we would get to see fans eat horse poop again.
Niners - 5 Lombardis and counting...although I like the Purdy story.
Chiefs - 2 Lombardis and I just don't like their fans...especially Jackson Mahomes.

3.) Niners @ Eagles:

I am in agreement that Purdy isn't airing it out much this game. I would look for timely passes to Kittle and hitting Samuel on the quick plays/some hand offs...and leaning heavily on CMC and Mitchell. But I could see some surprise passes to Aikyu and Jennings for key conversions. I don't see the Niner offense putting up more than 24 points MAX and that is probably with the D giving them a short field at least once. The game will be the Niner D vs. Hurts & Co. I think they manage to shut down the rushing offense....and keep Hurts within the pocket. Not sure they can completely stop Brown, Smith, and Goedert all day. I think Philly will score enough to win because they just have too many weapons to defend...even the little guys like Gainwell and Scott. I am thinking a relatively low scoring game like Eagles 24-19 with a back breaking turnover by the Niners....

3.) Bengals @ Chiefs:

If the Bengals double/triple up Kelce all day....I think I love their chances. Mahomes will make plays with his arm from the pocket regardless...but I'd try to flush him out of the pocket because it won't be as dangerous as it usually is...just move him around and make him throw to anyone but Kelce, IMO. I expect Pacheo and McKinnon to rip off some good runs though...and still expect the Chiefs to score 24-27 anyway. The Bengal offense is facing a weaker defense than the Bills D though....and I think their OL will hold up...basically it is just blocking Chris Jones...and letting your skill players make plays (Mixon, Higgins, and Chase)....Burrow was hitting Hurst yesterday and Irwin on some key throws...I like that. I can see this being a Cincinnati win..28-27...coming down to a McPherson figgie @ Arrowhead....

 

[doesntmatter1]

This year's final four are all worthy champions. I like the niners but Purdy might turn into a pumpkin at some point. How long can he go undefeated?

 

[Grogan14]

Smart money is on Cincy.
Burrow is by far the best qb of the 4 teams,with Mahomes hobbled.
Cincy has a better defense than KC.
This game might not even be close.
Philly/SF is dead even to me.
Both D's are great,but SF's is better.
Nick Bosa will have a monster game. He's savvy enough not to overpursue Hurts.
Obviously Philly has the advantage at qb but I'm not sure they have the advantage on offense. McCaff,Deebo and Kittle are all Swiss Army knives of the highest caliber- how the hell do you cover all 3 combined with Shanahan's brilliance.
SF is the more physical team as well, not that Philly is soft by any means.
I think SF wins a close game.
But no way I'm betting against Cincy vs. anyone

Eagles are by far the best remaining team. Strong at virtually every position with good depth. When healthy they have been virtually unbeatable
Hope the bengals win but Eagles are very deep both sides of line

 

[Pape]

This year's final four are all worthy champions. I like the niners but Purdy might turn into a pumpkin at some point. How long can he go undefeated?

Im sure phillys DC & staff are watching film of all 7 of his games...

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Hoping for
Bengals>Chiefs
Niners>Eagles
Bengals>Niners

Just for a little historical role reversal, Cincy beats the Niners on a TD pass to Higgins with 34 seconds left.

That will settle all the family business for us and others:
- no dynasty for Mahomes or the Chiefs
- payback to the Eagles and their insufferable fans
- old time Bengals fans get their revenge for SB 16 & 22 losses to the 9ers.

 

[p8ryts]

Cincy over the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

Kiss of death. I'm on board for Cincy. I can't believe the job their patchwork O line did on the Bills. NFL gave every possible advantage to the Bills and they couldn't cash the check. At the end of the year they seemed marginally better than the Pats and Dolphins. If the Jets get any semblance of a QB next year it's going to be a good Division.

 

[venecol]

What happened to all the conspiracy theories about the NFL setting things up for the Bills? Come out and own it, I've got the receipts.

 

[p8ryts]

What happened to all the conspiracy theories about the NFL setting things up for the Bills? Come out and own it, I've got the receipts.

NFL tried their hardest, Forgot to get Burrow on board.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

If the mahomes injury is as bad as most think then they are losing this game. I think it will be bengals vs eagles in the SB.