Sunday, January 30, 2022

NFL 2021 Conference Championship Recap

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come and gone yet again. The NFL's Final Four would be reduced two two as the champions of the AFC are the Cincinnati Bengals and the champions of the NFC are the Los Angeles Rams. How did both teams get there? That question will be answered in this week's recap post. Let's get to work!

Conference Championship Recap

Cincinnati 27, Kansas City 24 (F/OT): TW: Chiefs; CV: Bengals
Chiefs losing after going on a 21-3 lead means more than the Bengals keeping Joe Burrow clean for most of the game. Joe Burrow would play alright as he completed 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards with two touchdown passes to Ja'Marr Chase and Samaje Perine. He would get an interception in the game. Joe Mixon would go well in the ground game as he rushed for 21 carries for 88 yards with a 23-yard run being the longest in the game. Last week, the Bengals offensive line would allow nine sacks on Joe Burrow, in this game the Bengals would allow one sack. I think that was the big thing for the Bengals in this game. Patrick Mahomes was under siege a lot in this game, especially in the 2nd half. Mahomes would hit 26 of 39 passes for 275 yards with three touchdown passes but also had two passes picked off. One of the interceptions would come on a tipped pass that would land in the arms of Bengals Strong Safety Vonn Bell. Jerrick McKinnon would get some good yardage as he get 65 yards rushing on 12 carries. Clyde Edwards-Helaire would get 36 yards rushing on six carries. Turnovers kill you in the playoffs and the two turnovers killed the Chiefs. For the Bengals, their two-year turnaround ends up with a berth in the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XXIII. For the Chiefs, their high expectations season ends just short of the Super Bowl.

TW: 0-1; CV: 1-0

Next week:
Cincinnati: Super Bowl vs LA Rams
Kansas City: probably eat some BBQ or something

San Francisco 17, LA Rams 20: TW: Rams; CV: 49ers
The game was really ugly but the Rams are staying home for the Super Bowl. Jimmy Garoppolo was off and most of the throws that he made but he did the best he could. He would complete 16 of 30 passes for 232 yards with two touchdowns with an interception. Deebo Samuel would be a beast once again in this game as he rushed for 26 yards and caught four balls for 72 yards including a 44-yard touchdown. The biggest factor for me was the playcalling of Kyle Shanahan who didn't go for it on a 4th down and 1 late in the 4th quarter. Another would be a sure-fire drop that would've been an interception by Jaquiski Tartt. Matthew Stafford would play decent ball as he completed 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards with two touchdowns and had an interception. Cam Akers would rush for 48 yards on 13 carries. Cooper Kupp would have a solid game as he caught 11 balls for 142 yards with two touchdowns. The biggest factor for the Rams was the play by Cooper Kupp as he was a mismatch all game long. Some questionable decisions by Rams head coach Sean McVay would challenge a play that didn't really need to be challenged. It was on a down by contact situation and the Rams were down to their last timeout and the Rams would ultimately lose that challenge. Suffice to say, the Rams will get to host the Super Bowl. It'll be the consecutive year that an NFL team will host the Super Bowl while playing in it. For the 49ers, their season ends with a lot of questions as we've might've seen Jimmy Garoppolo's last game as a 49er. 

TW: 1-1; CV: 1-1

Next week:
San Francisco: go ride on a trolley car and watch a Warriors game.
LA Rams: Super Bowl vs Cincinnati

2021 Pick'em Records:

My record:

Week 1: 7-9
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 9-7
Week 5: 12-4
Week 6: 11-3
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 7-7
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 8-7
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 10-4
Week 14: 10-4
Week 15: 13-3
Week 16: 12-4
Week 17: 13-3
Week 18: 11-5

Total: 173-98-1

Super Wild Card Weekend: 6-0
Divisional Playoff: 0-4
Conference Championship: 1-1

Cardinal Viking's record:

Week 1: 6-10
Week 2: 12-4
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 12-2
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 8-6
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 10-5
Week 12: 9-6
Week 13: 7-7
Week 14: 9-5
Week 15: 10-6
Week 16: 11-5
Week 17: 10-6
Week 18: 8-8

Total: 167-104-1

Super Wild Card Weekend: 6-0
Divisional Playoff: 2-2
Conference Championship: 1-1

Previous Picking Records:

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1

My record: 
2012: 164-90-2
2013: 162-92-1
2014: 172-83-1
2017: 164-92
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 161-94-1
2020: 167-88-1 

For the Super Bowl LVI Pick post I'm thinking of doing it sometime next week before the Super Bowl. See you all then!
-Tom

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