The NFL Roundup 2018: Conference Championships

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There really is a special air that surrounds Championship Sunday in the NFL and it’s there for good reason. After all, today’s set of games are quite the big deal since every participant is a mere sixty minutes away from potentially playing in the Super Bowl and losing here is simply not an option. But sadly, someone has to lose, which means that these teams will likely give us their all when they take the field, which is why some believe the Conference Championships are better than the Super Bowl itself in some cases because every man involved today, knows what’s at stake. But, before these for teams square off for a shot at glory, let’s take a moment and preview what to expect from the AFC and NFC Championships.

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American Football Conference Championship
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, MA
3:05 p.m. EST – CBS

THE BUZZ
I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. Because normally the buzz surrounding the AFC Championship revolves around the New England Patriots and their winning ways, but all of that has changed this year thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Because the Jaguars are in essence, the Cinderella Story of the 2017 NFL Season since they are a team that was barely in the Super Bowl discussion back in the offseason, but they wowed the football world all season long with some stunning victories and considering the fact that they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, in a shootout, I think it’s safe to say that everyone is starting to believe that the Jaguars may have a legitimate shot at beating Tom Brady in Foxboro.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
So, let’s discuss the million-dollar question, is there a way for Jacksonville to beat the Patriots? The answer is a resounding yes, provided of course the Jaguars execute on a few key things. First and foremost, they cannot turn over the ball on offense. New England feasts upon mistakes, so Blake Bortles has to make smart throws all game long. Plus, the Jags need to wear the Pats defense down, so a heavy dose of the run game will help them do that. As for the Jacksonville D, well we all know they’re amazing against the pass, and get to the QB with ease, but their one glaring weakness is their ability to stop the run, which means that New England is likely going to make that a focus of their offensive game plan. But, if Jacksonville can shore up that interior and keep the Pats from pounding the rock and execute when it comes to everything else we’ve discussed here, then there’s a fair chance they’ll pull of the upset. But, if they falter, or lose their heads in the slightest, then this Cinderella Story will come to a heartbreaking end. 

National Football Conference Championship
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
6:40 p.m. EST – FOX

THE BUZZ
I made mention earlier of the fact that some football fans firmly believe that the Conference Championship games are better than the Super Bowl and I think it’s matchups like this one that allow for that kind of mantra to exist. Because this game is shaping up to be a knockdown, drag it out brawl to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII and really, you couldn’t ask for a better set of teams to appear in a Championship game. After all, they both feature fantastic defenses that know how to adjust on the fly to seal off opposing offenses, and they both feature a pair of plucky quarterbacks that have beaten the odds time and time again and with so much to prove to both their fanbases and the football world, I expect this game to thrill us all when all is said and done.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
Sometimes it’s difficult to analyze precisely what will give a team an edge when both squads are as evenly matched as the two taking the field for the NFC Championship today, but once in a while, something obvious presents itself and in this case, the key to this game, is minimizing mistakes. Because really, when both of these teams fail to execute their game plan, they’ve either suffered a loss or come close to one and for proof, look no further than their last respective games. Philadelphia let Atlanta score ten points on them by playing loose on defense before tightening up in the second half to ensure their victory and oddly enough, mistakes both hurt and helped Minnesota in their thrilling victory over New Orleans. Which means that the first team to slip up in this particular game will pay the price dearly and if they cannot recover from their gaffe, they’ll spend the rest of the offseason playing a painful game of ‘what if?’