Championship Round, In-Depth Picks || Headlines

Edition #45

Intro

Well, as one of my favorite authors in the written-to-inbox series, John Breech, said, “It’s a happy time at CBS.” Yes, make sure to get your free trial stuff ready for this year’s Super Bowl is on CBS. We’ve been talking about the NFL a LOT the past few weeks, but remember, the offseason is 3 weeks away and for all you guys who don’t usually enjoy the NFL, we’ll get to basketball and the playoff push in no time. We’ve got a lot of headlines today as well as a good chunk of the newsletter representing the NFL, and let’s get started with Edition #45!

Headlines

Aroldis Chapman signs with the Pirates

James Paxton Signs with the Dodgers

Bucks Fire Adrian Griffin

Titans have hired Brian Callahan

Sean Desai Fired as Eagles DC

Brian Johnson not returning as Eagles OC

Angels sign Robert Stephenson

Houston Astros sign Josh Hader to record-breaking deal.

TRISTAN THOMPSON, SUSPENDED FOR VIOLATING DRUG POLICY

Championship Round Predictions

Ah, well. It’s that time. Winner goes to the Super Bowl

Loser

goes

home.

It really sucks losing at this stage. Last year was very controversial, and I think we’re going to experience the same things here this time.

LAST YEAR:

AFC Championship: Unnecessary Roughing by Bengals on a Chiefs player.

NFC Championship: The reason why every 49ers fan hates me: Brock Purdy getting injured and Eagles advancing.

This year, 2 of the 4 teams are the same as last year. Imagine if we had all 4 teams compete again. In fact, 3 of them were in the playoffs this year.

But, stop worrying about last year (Looking to you 49ers fans.). Let’s get on with this year.

The 49ers fans say, “Cry Eagles Cry.”

The 49ers fans say, “Oh that game? Well, the Eagles aren’t in now, are they?”

The Ravens fans say, “We’re just better with a healthy Lamar.”

The Chiefs fans say, “Back to back?”

The Lions fans say, “When I was your age, I watched the Lions succeed.”

The Lions fans say ctd, “Grandpa, they’re succeeding now…”

Taylor Swift fans say, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

49ers vs Lions

The Lions are winning.

I’m not biased. TRUST.

It all just falls in their favor.

Kyle Shanahan is 0-2 in the Super Bowl. With the 49ers and the Falcons. As the 49ers head coach, he’s had one appearance in the Super Bowl, and that too versus the Chiefs. He has made the NFC Championship 3 times.

Kyle Shanahan has just collapsed in the playoffs many times. Look!

Prior to the heartbreaking loss against the Rams, Shanahan had previously experienced a fourth-quarter collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV as well as the infamous 28-3 collapse against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI where he was the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator. Don’t forget the one to the Eagles last year as well.

Alright, before talking more about the 49ers, let’s talk about the Lions.

For the first time since the 1991 season, the Lions are in the NFC Championship game. If you're wondering how long ago that was, let me put it this way: George H.W. Bush was still president (for eight more days), Vanilla Ice was the most famous white rapper on the planet and Chipotle didn't even exist yet…

Well then the most famous rapper title was taken by Eminem, and he’s a Lions fan so…

What do the Lions need to do win?

If the Lions are going to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, they're going to need to figure out how to stop the pass, and they're going to need to get that figured out soon. The Lions surrendered an average of 247.9 passing yards per game during the regular season, which was the sixth-worst number in the NFL, and things haven't gotten any better in the playoffs, with Matthew Stafford (367) and Baker Mayfield (349) both putting up huge totals.

The problem is, that was Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield. This is the mini Tom Brady in Brock Purdy and if he goes off? Well, Lions fans, let’s not think about that.

STAT TO ADD: The 49ers surrendered the third-fewest points in the league this year, and they gave up the eighth-fewest yards. 

But, running the ball is another key for the Lions. They can just run all over the 49ers, as they are 3-4 in games where they allow 100+ yards. They can also make Kyle Shanahan look bad again, just like he was against the Packers as they had 100+ rushing yards too!

It feels like Gibbs could be the key to this game. The 49ers have struggled this year to stop running backs from catching passes out of the backfield -- they gave up 90 catches for 625 yards to running backs, which ranked in the bottom eight of the NFL of both categories -- and if they can't stop Gibbs, that could turn into a huge offensive spark for the Lions. 

49ers KEY TO WIN

But talking about runningbacks, the 49ers have the best one in the league! Christian McCaffery, but he will be getting the biggest test ever.

The NFL's leading rusher will be facing a Lions defense that surrendered the second-fewest rushing yards in the league this year. The Lions feel like the one team that could actually slow McCaffrey down. 

It’s probably going to come down to who makes the least mistakes. (QB)

The Lions went 4-4 this season when Goff threw at least one pick, but 10-1 when he didn't. As for the 49ers, they're not much better when Purdy is turning the ball over: They went 2-4 in games where Purdy threw at least one pick, but 11-0 when he didn't throw any interceptions. 

11-0.

Yes you read that right.

Why did I pick the Lions?

I think that Dan Campbell makes better decisions than Kyle Shanahan full stop.

Just think about the Devonta Smith call against the Eagles. Ya know, ya have a challenge flag.

The other big issue is Deebo Samuel. I guess the Purdy doubters can see if he’s really a system QB this time, because Deebo’s gonna be out. Or more like it’s not clear if he’s going to play. He injured his shoulder against the Packers.

But why is this a worry?

Because the 49ers went 0-2 in the 2 games he wasn’t playing…

I feel like this game is going to go one of two ways: Either the 49ers are going to destroy the Lions and win by double digits, or Detroit is going to get to its first Super Bowl by stealing the win in a close game. The Lions haven't won a road playoff game since 1957, and they haven't won in San Francisco since 1975, but this feels like a team of destiny. I can't pick against destiny. Lol.

Ravens vs Chiefs

This is the first time Lamar Jackson is playing in an AFC Championship. And who’s he playing it against? Of course, the same guy again. Patrick Mahomes.

And Patrick Mahomes will win it again.

We saw him last week against the Bills. Playoff Mahomes is just different. It doesn’t matter where he’s playing, either. He’ll win.

Who we’re going to see there?

Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce chugging beers with his shirt off.

But let’s go to the stats, shall we?

Not only did the Ravens give up the fewest points in the NFL this year (16.5 per game), but they also led the league in sacks with 60. The crazy thing is that the Chiefs ranked right behind them in both categories, so we have the top two defenses in football, and they'll both be going up against their biggest test of the season. 

How can the Ravens win? All they have to do is sack Mahomes. He has 0 SACKS this ENTIRE postseason and when he does have over 3 sacks, the Chiefs are 1-3…

The Ravens can do it. The Ravens have three players who have recorded at least nine sacks, and they had seven players who have recorded at least 3 sacks.

Who do the Ravens have to worry about?

Playoff Travis Kelce and Playoff Patrick Mahomes.

Over the final three games of the year, Kelce averaged just 29.3 yards per game with zero touchdowns, but since the playoffs started, he's turned into the unstoppable Kelce that we always expect to see: He's averaging 73 yards per game with two touchdowns. 

But of course, the Ravens have weapons to shut him down. They only gave up three touchdown catches all year to tight ends, which was tied for the second-lowest number in the NFL. 

Mahomes says the one place he’s ever had to use a silent count is M&T Bank Stadium. It is his 2nd away game in the postseason.

This is going to be a great game. Star kicker, QB’s, defenses, TE’s. Everything. Who wins?

Sry man but playoff Patrick Mahomes vs Patrick Mahomes is ∞x more. It’s either this or Justin Tucker making a game winning FG for the Ravens. This could go either way. (Remember, we have star kickers in this game too…)

This is Andy Reid…

This is John Harbaugh

Conclusion

We’re done with another one! We have a feature story coming to you on Friday. Stay tuned for that. My predictions are a Lions vs Chiefs SB. Just like Game #1 of the NFL season. Wanna argue with me? I certainly appreciate it. Just comment below or send me an email at sportssquare@substack.com!

SPORTS QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” - Simone Biles