Cookie Icer
Championship Sunday is right around the Corner! I've already made my picks on other threads, but time to make my selections on in the NFL thread!
49ERS over Falcons- Even though I'm taking the 49ers over Atlanta, I'm actually surprised by how overwhelming everyone is on the 49ers side in this one. I thought there were enough stats to justify the Falcons having a legitimate chance in this game. The Falcons are strong at home, the 49ers haven't been able to win more than 2 games in a row all season, AND they haven't won a road playoff game since 1989! But enough of playing Devil's advocate, despite these stats, why am I picking San Francisco? Two words, Colin Kaepernick, the Falcons have a very sub-par defense. 21st in rushing yards allowed, 23rd in passing yards allowed. And against similar running QB's like Cam Newton, the Falcons have struggled. Cam racked up over 700 total yards in two games against the Falcons and has a 1-1 record against them this season, almost 2-0. And last week Russell Wilson had an effective 60 yards and a TD on 7 rushes, and Seattle nearly bounced back from a 20-0 deficit to win that one. I don't see the 49ers falling that far behind, and if Justin Smith, the anchor of the 49ers defense can remain healthy and effective during the course of this game, I see San Francisco taking it.
FINAL SCORE: 34-26
RAVENS over Patriots- Is the loss of Gronkowski a devastating loss to the Patriots in this game... no. Will it effect the Patriots offensive output? I think it will. Brady will still have a good game and it will be very close, but the Ravens know how to take on Brady and the Patriots. Last year they should have won that game in Foxboro, this year they got a little redemption with a 31-30 home win, but that win won't matter if they fail to win in THIS rematch. But another thing that will favor heavily in this game? The improvement of Joe Flacco. Since changing Offensive Coordinators a few weeks back Flacco has become a more dangerous QB. And with the win against Denver last Saturday he became the QB with the most road playoff victories in NFL history! The Patriots, while ranking 9th in the league in points allowed, still have one of the worst secondaries. 29th in the league in passing yards given up. Same hard hitting Ravens defense that is known to give Brady fits in the past, with an improved Flacco going against a not so good secondary, this year it will be the Ravens that come out on top.
FINAL SCORE: 30-28
Won't dispute the issue of the Niners. I think Colin is going to eat them alive for over 150 yards with his feet. They go heavy in the box, he'll tear them up with Moss and Crabtree. The reason that the Hawks came back? Atlanta went to that stupid prevent game, rather than playing to win.
I think the Pats are going to take the Ravens. While their secondary is not the greatest, remember that they do lead the league in takeaways, and they don't have Champ Bailey in the secondary.
Aqib Taleb is a beast. We'll have to see. Plus, I think you're going to see a lot of quick passes from Brady.