🏈🏈 NFL 2022-23 Playoffs NFC & AFC Championship Games Preview 🏈🏈

               

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Well, here we go. Championship Game weekend, with three of the four exact same teams that we saw play at this point last season. In fact, the AFC Championship is a rematch of last year's AFC title game, and will be played in the same venue. As for the NFC, the 49ers will be making their third appearance in four years in the NFC title game, while the Eagles were one of the preseason favorites, and enjoyed a dream season.

So it's all the truly quality teams who reached this point. And the thing is, there is not a mismatch here, at least looking at the teams as they get ready for these games. I could see any of these teams playing extremely well and winning, which is simply not the case in many seasons. Sometimes, you just feel like there is a team that is so clearly superior to their opponents, that you just figure that they will win, and perhaps easily. Then again, I had assumed that of Kansas City last season, and look what happened in that one.

It truly feels like any of these four teams could get hot and win the whole thing, and bring the Lombardi Trophy home with them. But only two of these teams will advance to the Super Bowl this weekend, while the other two will not have survived, and will face the unwelcome prospect of an off-season filled with questions. High stakes indeed.

Let's take a look at the games to be played this weekend:

AFC Championship Game

  Cincinnati Bengals

at 

Kansas City Chiefs

 

This is a rematch of last year's AFC title game. If you remember, the Bengals overcame an 18-point Chiefs lead, and on the road at Arrowhead, to come back and stun KC. Then, they themselves would suffer a tough defeat to the Rams in the Super Bowl.

That makes this game very intriguing. The Chiefs have every incentive to win, and exact a measure of revenge against Cincy. Meanwhile, the Bengals sure seem like a team on a mission, and that mission is not just to get back, but to win the Super Bowl.

The Bengals have now won 10 games in a row, a franchise best record. Joe Burrow looks like one of the great quarterbacks of this era, and he obviously adds some danger to the Cincinnati offense. And their defense is one of the league's best, and has gotten better as the season has worn on. They have kept opponents to well under 20 points in each of their last four games, including two playoff wins, and another "winner takes all" divisional showdown in the regular season finale. They not only beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead last season, but beat them a few weeks ago, in early December, as well. Their confidence has to be soaring to new heights at this point. 

However, the Chiefs have become the new steady force in the AFC, taking over for the New England Patriots dynasty. KC has qualified for a fifth straight AFC title game, which ranks among the very best such streaks for any team in NFL history, becoming only the third franchise to achieve that feat. Patrick Mahomes is probably the best quarterback in the league, and the Chiefs offense is, once again, probably the best in the entire league. Finally, they are extremely well coached. Andy Reid is easily one of the most successful coaches in the history of the NFL. He is currently tied with legendary Tom Landry for the second most playoff wins earned by a head coach, so this will be a chance to push him to sole possession of number two all-time. A win would also allow him to get to his fourth Super Bowl as a head coach. 

Just an amazing showdown, with so much at stake. And the thing is, these two teams feel like they are fairly evenly matched heading into this one. The Bengals are possibly playing better than any team in the league, and they seem to be one of the few teams that matches up well against the Chiefs. Yet, you cannot look past KC, one of the most explosive teams in the history of the league, especially when they play at Arrowhead Stadium.

It could go either way. But my pick in this one will be a win for the hometown team.

My pick: Kansas City

    

NFC Championship Game

San Francisco 49ers 

at

Philadelphia Eagles

      

After starting off the season as early preseason favorites, and then storming off to a very impressive 9-0 start, and then seemingly cruising to the number one seed and home field advantage when they stood at 13-1, the Eagles looked a bit shaky towards the end of the season. They dropped two straight games, and then needed a win in the regular season finale against the G-Men in order to secure the top spot.

But they got it. And then they took advantage of it like few teams have. They rested and refocused, and then showed just how good and ready they were by blowing out the Giants last week, 38-7. In the process, they looked like the same complete team that appeared to be the best in the league earlier this season. They enjoy home field advantage in this game, which can be huge, and they also enter with a seemingly head full of steam.

The 49ers, meanwhile, got off to a shaky start. They had all sorts of problems early on, and could not seem to get healthy. At 3-4, they hardly looked like a team that was meeting the lofty expectations that many people had.

Then, San Francisco simply went on a tear. They got healthier and better, and added running back Christian McCaffrey, who has remained a force. Their defense is ranked as the best in the league, and their offense can be explosive, with loads of talent. In short, many people see this as the best and most complete team in the league. Plus, they have plenty of playoff experience, as this will be their third NFC title game appearance in four seasons. And remember, they played in the Super Bowl just a few years ago.

That makes this a big showdown. Both teams look capable of playing well and possibly winning. It is difficult to know for sure who will emerge victorious in this one. 

Still, I have to make a pick, right? And right now, the 49ers look like they just might be the hottest team in the league. Again, they seem to get better week after week. It remains to be seen how they will adjust when they have to play on the road in this one, but I suspect that they will have just enough here to eke out a win against the favored Eagles. 

So my pick in this one is for the road team.

My pick: San Francisco