NFL Playoffs 2018: Schedule and Predictions for Conference Championships
We're down to four division leaders and three games left in the 2018 postseason. The divisional round produced the miracle in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What's in store for spectators in the conference championship contests?
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has been the subject of much criticism throughout the season, but he looked sharp against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite his defense allowing 42 points. Running back Leonard Fournette racked up three touchdowns, but the fourth-year signal-caller moved the chains when necessary against a quality group.
Will the New England Patriots force another quarterback into a corner leading to self-destruction in a big game?
Check out the viewing details for both conference championship games and predictions on the final scores.
Sunday, January 21
AFC Championship Game
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots: 3:05 p.m. ET, CBS, CBS All Access
NFC Championship Game
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles: 6:40 p.m. ET, Fox, Fox Sports Go
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
The Jaguars spoiled an AFC championship scenario most thought we'd see—including Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell:
I love round 2’s...we’ll have two round 2’s in back to back weeks...
Instead, we'll see the Patriots' calculated offensive attack against the No. 2 defense in the NFL that ranked second in sacks with 55 during the regular season.
Quarterback Tom Brady will have a difficult time finding his receivers with cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye in coverage. The matchup between tight end Rob Gronkowski and the Jaguars defensive backs will become a deciding factor down the stretch. Read More Here
Eagles vs. Vikings: TV Info, Preview, Predictions and More for NFC Title Clash
The Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings won heart-stopping divisional-round battles to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Both franchises are looking for their first Lombardi Trophy. They have combined for six Super Bowl appearances, but neither team has been able to finish the year on top.
That could change this year, however, as the Eagles or Vikings will be representing the NFC in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 4.
Here's a look at the television schedule for the NFC Championship Game as well as one matchup to watch, one X-factor and a pick.
Pick: Vikings 17, Eagles 16
The lesson learned from the divisional-round games on Sunday is that it isn't safe to assume anything in the NFL. That being said, it would be a bit surprising if this game is anything other than a close, low-scoring contest. A blowout win or shootout don't seem to be in the picture.
It's tough to predict a winner, but the guess here is that Thielen and Diggs get the better of Mills and Darby. Therefore, look for the Vikings to pull off another nail-biter and become the first team to play a Super Bowl in its own home stadium. Read More Here
Vikings top Saints rally with last-play stunner in 29-24 win
(Photo: The Associated Press)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings, after watching their late-third-quarter 17-point lead vanish at the hands of the indefatigable Drew Brees, went back in front of the New Orleans Saints on a field goal with 1:29 left.
Trailing by two with that much time? That was no trouble for Brees, who moved the Saints in position for the responding field goal with 25 seconds remaining.
The problem was they left just enough space for Case Keenum and the Vikings to answer with one of the NFL's all-time last-play stunners.
Keenum completed his last-ditch heave near the sideline Sunday on the game's final play to Stefon Diggs, who slithered away from the Saints for a 61-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 29-24 victory and a spot in the NFC championship game at Philadelphia.
"I don't know what the percentage was," Keenum said, "but just try to give the guy a chance."
The play the Vikings ran, believe it or not, is called "Seven Heaven." Kyle Rudolph, Jarius Wright and Diggs all ran sideline routes from the right of the formation, with Diggs the deepest with his break coming at about 25 yards. Read More Here
Jaguars at Patriots AFC Championship Game preview: Three things to know
1. Mismatch? Despite another impressive win in Pittsburgh, good luck finding anyone picking the Jags this time. One of four NFL franchises to never reach a Super Bowl, Jacksonville clearly does not have history on its side. And there's this: The Patriots are 10-1 in the playoffs against AFC South teams during the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era and 10-0 at Gillette Stadium. (The lone loss was to Peyton Manning and the Colts at the RCA Dome in the 2006 AFC Championship Game.) New England, entering its seventh consecutive AFC title game, is 5-1 at Gillette Stadium with a Super Bowl berth on the line, the defeat occurring against the Ravens during the 2012 postseason. More recently, the Pats are riding a seven-game playoff win streak at home and cruising in most cases, the average margin of victory 18.3 points.
2. Sacksonville: The Jaguars' top-ranked pass defense has been a major component of their success. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are the league's top corner tandem, and the four-man front rarely needs help generating pressure (55 sacks this season). Airtight coverage and a foreboding rush also helped create 33 takeaways in the regular season, second most in the league. The Steelers fell prey Sunday, most notably on a Ben Roethlisberger fumble that was returned 50 yards for a Jags TD.
But will this work against New England? Yes, Brady is at his most vulnerable when the pocket closes around him quickly. However he's become increasingly reliant on the short passing game and deftly uses it to his advantage. Of his 35 completions Saturday, 20 went to his running backs or tight ends, and 11 others went to slot man Danny Amendola. Brady wasn't sacked once in 53 dropbacks, and New England never turned the ball over. It could be a perfect antidote against the Jags, especially if Ramsey and Bouye are unable to affect the game while being forced to cover deep threat WRs Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan.
3. Grounded: Brady is always a focal point, but the Patriots offense has been increasingly reliant on RB Dion Lewis, who has 507 yards from scrimmage over the past four games, all New England victories. In fact, the Patriots are 8-0 when he exceeds 100 rushing/receiving yards.
However Lewis isn't nearly as vital as Fournette is to Jacksonville, the NFL's top-ranked rushing team. The Jags are 5-1 this season when their stud rookie runs for 100 yards or more, including Sunday's gutsy performance at Heinz Field. But the Jaguars lost four of five this season when they couldn't muster 100 yards, largely because inconsistent QB Blake Bortles and a relatively inexperienced receiving corps are not well equipped to carry the mail. Yet they may have to against a New England defense that's held its last three opponents to an average of 63 yards on the ground and just shut down Derrick Henry, a big back whose game resembles Fournette's.
***
Comments