NFL Conference Championship Game
Sports
Only four teams remain in the playoffs of the 2022 NFL season as we head into the conference championship rounds.
The Eagles will be facing the 49ers for the NFC Championship after the Eagles just shut down the New York Giants 38 – 7, and the 49ers after winning a pretty close game against the Dallas Cowboys. These two teams face off against each other next Sunday January 29th at 3 pm EST.
The Bengals will be facing the Chiefs after beating the Bills on Sunday, the Bengals are looking to return to the Super Bowl for the second straight AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.
Kansas City defeated Jacksonville on Saturday to start the Divisional Round despite Patrick Mahomes injuring his right ankle on their Saturday game against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What to Expect in the NFC Championship Game
This is how it should be. We have two NFC-dominant teams with a trip to the Superbowl at stake. The 49ers and the Eagles haven’t played each other this season, so it’s an even playing field for both of these teams.
Philadelphia has the advantage of a more experienced quarterback in Jalen Hurts. And the 49ers are on their third-string quarterback Brock Purdy (Mr. Irrelevant 2022 draft), friendly quarterback system Kyle Shanahan, and many of the 49ers’ offensive threats – tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Christian on the run McCaffrey among them – makes San Francisco offense very strong, even with a rookie quarterback.
There’s a remote possibility quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could also be ready for the NFC Championship Game, but Purdy helped the 49ers get this far after the veteran collapsed with a broken foot in Week 13.
Purdy didn’t have to contend with a defense like Philadelphia, however, which kept teams to a minimum of 5.5 net passing yards and 3,057 passing yards during the regular season.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ defense allowed 6.4 yards per pass and just 3.4 yards for a lead, and the Eagles had 20 interceptions to 17.
In a game this close, this game could boil down to experience, and while the 49ers were later than the Eagles in the Super Bowl, Hurts’ relative experience versus Purdy’s could make all the difference.
What To Expect in the AFC Championship Game
These two teams met a year ago in the overtime thriller in which Cincinnati scored 18 points and made it to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years. Including the Bengals’ 27-24 win in Week 13, these two teams have played three times since the start of the 2021 season, with Cincinnati winning by three points each time.
Patrick Mahomes, who is 1-3 in his career against the Bengals, has a sprained ankle (confirmed by MRI). Even with limited mobility, he had 22 of 30 pass attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Jaguars in the second half of Saturday’s divisional round and said he expects to play the Bengals.
In a December matchup between Cincinnati and Kansas City, the Bengals’ defense held Mahomes to 16 completions on 27 attempts (223 yards and a touchdown pass), his few hits this season.
Meanwhile, Burrow went on 25 of 31 attempts for 286 yards, two pass Touchdowns and one rushing TD. The quarterback beat Mahomes three straight games. Burrow got a big push in the game with a 106-yard dash to Samaje Perine.
Against the Bills in the divisional round, Joe Mixon was a Bengals hot man with 105 yards and a touchdown.
But we also need to remind ourselves of the Cincinnati defense that kept the Bills to just 10 points and 8 yards in the first quarter.
Two great matchups for this upcoming Sunday, which team will get their spot to play in this years superbowl?
