SAN FRANCISO 49ERS @ ATLANTA FALCONS
This has all the makings of a terrific game. The top-seeded Falcons are looking to get to the Super Bowl for the first time since they lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIII.
The 48ers are looking to complete its climb back to the top of the NFL under the guidance of young quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The 49ers are rolling the dice that the moment will not be too big for their second-year signal caller.
It won’t be. Not by a long shot.
Kaepernick is big, he’s fast and he’s a big play waiting to happen. Plus, he also brings the element of rushing the ball. He piled up 181 yards on the ground in the NFL Divisional playoff win over the Packers. And all too frequently, he was outrunning Packers defenders for big gains.
The kid can play. And he has a defense that is lights out. This year, the 49ers gave up an average of only 17.1 points per game, third-lowest in the league. And they surrendered only 94.2 yards per game on the ground, fourth-best in the NFL.
The only thing keeping the 49ers from another run of sustained success is the play at the quarterback position. Kaepernick is talented and confident in his own right. And he has plenty of talent around him and plenty of big-play guys on a defense that can flat-out suffocate an opponent.
At the same time, the Falcons are the team that has to live up to being the number one seed in the NFC. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is good. But how good will he be against that vaunted 49ers defense? He is more than capable of turning in a great game. But I’ll have to see him do it in a game of this magnitude before I pick Atlanta to win.
This game won’t be for the weak of faint of heart. I like the 49ers to win…and move on to the Super Bowl.
SAN FRANCISCO 23, ATLANTA 17
BALTIMORE RAVENS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
All week, I have been trying to come up with a realistic scenario in which Baltimore defeats New England in Foxborough and advances to the Super Bowl.
I’m still trying.
We all know anything can happen in any given NFL game. We all know that if the Patriots turn the ball over and do not play well, the Ravens are capable of taking advantage of that.
But I don’t see it unfolding that way.
First off, Tom Brady is too experienced and too good. He is looking for his NFL-record 17th career playoff win.
Second, New England is playing at home. They are 3-0 all-time in AFC Championship games at Gillette Stadium (4-0 in AFC Championship games at home overall). Through nine home games this year, they have outscored their opponents by an average of 35.4 – 22.8 points.
Those statistics are what they are because the Patriots are so good at home. They can run their high-octane offense without any distraction. While the Ravens are tough, they’re also old. And I just don’t see them keeping up with the Patriots, especially when New England has the ball.
And when Baltimore has the ball, the Ravens will have to contend with a Patriots’ defense that has been playing better down the stretch.
There is just too much for Baltimore to overcome. The Patriots will have a great retirement party for Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis and advance to Super Bowl XLVII.
NEW ENGLAND 34, BALTIMORE 17
LMAO, good one Dane!
lol..
So Fox did you see how when Balt got the lead & the ball they did not just run , run, run, punt . No they kept passing and got two more tds. It playing to win!
To all of the so called football experts out there who picked the Ravens to lose to the Colts, Broncos and Patriots…You were saying? That also includes the Vegas odds makers.
Seems like you all have to eat a little crow or is it a large Raven? Haa Haa!
Was only a matter of a little time…
Well, it looks like the the ultra-aggressive coaching style didn’t work against the Ravens either. It comes down to two things, player execution and the “us against the world” mentality.
The Pats, much like us, simply did not make enough plays which was the difference in the game. Perhaps more important was how the Ravens were near double-digit underdogs for both games, and few people gave them a chance to win. They also suffered a tough loss last year in the post season. This provides a TON of locker room material, and then you have Ray Lewis and the guy in the wheel chair. The Ravens are playing like an inspired team, with a chip on it’s shoulder, having suffered adversities and embracing the underdog role.
We can learn a lot from them, and I hope we can walk the same path next year. Perhaps we can hold off on all the pep rallies and patting ourselves on the back until AFTER we accomplish our goal. Respect EVERY opponent. If we make the playoffs next year, I hope everyone in the media talks smack about our loss this year, goes on and on about Peyton’s playoff record, cold weather, etc, and questions our resolve as a team. THAT kind of adversity will FAR exceed any coaching style IMO.
Let me get this straight Bay…
A BS call that should have been a PI leads to a pick six…But this is Fox’s fault?
Baileygets beat deep twice, which never happens…but this is Fox’s fault?
Prater kicks the turf and not the ball giving Balt. great field possition…but this is Fox’fault?
Our pass rush is stopped cold producing less pressure than any game all season…but this is Fox’s fault?
Rahim Morre makes the bonehead play of his life and misjudges the ball…but this is Fox’s fault?
I think Fox is conservative too and I was angry they kneeled on it after the last Balt. TD but that is not what lost the game. sure you found an article from a guy who has a similar short sided opinion as you, that doesn’t make it any more true. Truth is, we had a bad game and got out executed. Does that make Balt. better than us? No, it doesn’t. We had a bad game where a number of things went wrong all at once. The Refs in that game were horrible too. Bad calls both ways.
BTW before everyone claims Bailey has lost a step and should move to safety…Bailey was in press man coverage and Smith made one hell of a juke to beat Bailey at the LOS. Normally we get pressure on a QB before they can run a route that long. Anyway, it’s fixable and Bailey is fine. He can’t catch up after a mistake like that the way he use to but he is still good enough to stay at CB.
I think Champ will retire before he moves to safety.