NFL 2021 Conference Championship Picks

Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. The awe of the Divisional Weekend certainly was great for the sport and some wished that it would never end. As for me, the final game hyped me up so much that I didn't get a lot of sleep for Monday. The NFL's version of the Final Four is on as the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are all that is left and only two will make it through next Sunday. In this post, I'll do my picks for who will be representing the AFC and NFC in Super Bowl LVI. Let's get to work!

Conference Championship Picks

Cincinnati (12-7) @ Kansas City (14-5) (CBS; 3:00 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Bengals
Last week the Bengals beat the Titans and the Chiefs beat the Bills. Championship Sunday starts with an enticing matchup between two high-powered offenses with defenses that aren't that stellar but can get some stops. The two teams played in a previous game in Week 17 where they duked it out, trading blow for blow with the Bengals winning 34-31 at home. In an atmosphere like Arrowhead Stadium (yes I know its GEHA Stadium but it'll still be Arrowhead) there's nothing like it in terms of a homefield advantage. Cincinnati is a fun team to watch and they have a lot of potential to be dominant in the future. They are also a young team that embodies the confidence of their quarterback. Both teams to be on par on paper but I think the Chiefs will take out a very close game and get to their 4th Super Bowl appearance. 

San Francisco (12-7) @ LA Rams (14-5) (FOX; 6:30 pm): TW: Rams; CV: 49ers
Last week the 49ers beat the Packers and the Rams beat the Buccaneers. The NFC championship features a rivalry that features two teams that know each other very well. San Francisco does everything very well except for the quarterback position. The Rams are in general the consensus pick and the sexy team that has put in all of their chips in with the hopes to host the Super Bowl. The 49ers have had the Rams number for six straight games. Probably the reason because of that is that some of those games had Jared Goff as the Rams quarterback. That and the Rams defense couldn't handle the trickery that the 49ers have in their arsenal. Deebo Samuel provides that trickery. At this point the Rams have to realize that they have a shot to host a Super Bowl and if they don't win this game and the Super Bowl then its a bust season. A lot is riding on the Rams but I think Matthew Stafford will lead the Rams to victory. 

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

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

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 

I'll see you all after the NFC Championship game for the Conference Championship Recap post! Enjoy the games!

-Tom

NFL 2020 Conference Championship Recap

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come and gone. The final four teams that came into Sunday are now down to two as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs will play for the ultimate in North American team sports: the Super Bowl. In this post, I'll talk about the two games. Let's get to work!

Tampa Bay 31, Green Bay 26: TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
Well, it wasn't a blowout but it wasn't a win either for the Packers. Tom Brady played well enough to win as he threw for 280 yards with three touchdown passes and had three interceptions that would lead to Packers points. Leonard Fournette ran the ball with efficiency as he rushed for 55 yards with a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers threw for 346 yards with three touchdowns and had an interception in the game. His protection was broken down fairly often as Rodgers was sacked six times. Aaron Jones wouldn't get too much going in the running game as he rushed for 27 yards. Jamaal Williams rushed for 23 yards. One call during the 4th quarter really stuck out to the rest of America: Why didn't Packers head coach Matt LeFleur go for it on 4th down instead of getting the three points? You have one of the greatest quarterbacks in a generation in Aaron Rodgers and you don't give him the task to convert a first down. C'mon man. Maybe his reasoning was that maybe the defense could get a turnover as Tampa had been struggling with turnovers during the 2nd half. Either way, give confidence to your quarterback that he can do it. Doesn't really matter now. For the Packers, its another season without a Super Bowl appearance. The window is starting to close even tighter. It'll be a long year for Packerland. 

Next week:
Tampa Bay: vs Kansas City 
Green Bay: eat cheese or something

Buffalo 24, Kansas City 38: TW: Chiefs; CV: Bills
The Chiefs were down 9-0 after the 1st quarter. Kansas City would go on a 38-15 run after the 1st quarter. Josh Allen threw for 287 yards with two touchdowns but also threw an interception in the game. Once again the Buffalo Bills would have to rely on the legs of Josh Allen as he rushed for 88 yards in the game. Devin Singletary would get 17 yards in the game. Buffalo would have to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns in this one but Tyler Bass would go 4/4 in field goals but 0/1 in PAT's. Patrick Mahomes was magical once again as he threw for 325 yards with three touchdowns. Kansas City's running game was just as stellar as the team combined for 114 yards rushing. Damien Williams rushed for 52 yards with a touchdown, Mecole Hardman rushed for 50 on one carry, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for seven yards with a touchdown run. For the Bills, it caps off one of their best seasons in two decades. If they can pick up a running back early in the draft, they could be a scary team to watch next season. For the Chiefs, they move on to the Super Bowl to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Next week:
Buffalo: fix broken tables
Kansas City: vs Tampa Bay

2020 Week by Week Record: 

TW's record:

Week 1: 8-8
Week 2: 15-1
Week 3: 9-6-1
Week 4: 11-4
Week 5: 9-5
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 10-4
Week 10: 10-4
Week 11: 7-7
Week 12: 11-5
Week 13: 10-5
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 12-4
Week 16: 8-8
Week 17: 14-2
Total: 167-88-1

Cardinal Viking's record:

Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 8-7-1
Week 4: 7-8
Week 5: 8-6
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 11-3
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 9-5
Week 10: 11-3
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 9-7
Week 13: 11-4
Week 14: 11-5
Week 15: 13-3
Week 16: 9-7
Week 17: 11-5
Total: 163-92-1

Previous Picking Records:

Cardinal Viking:

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

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

Will make the Super Bowl LV post sometime late this week or early next week. See you then!

-Tom

NFL 2020 Conference Championship Picks

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us. The NFL's version of the Final Four is set as four teams come into Sunday but only two will remain to play in the biggest game of them all. Only the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and the Kansas City Chiefs remain. In this post I'll talk about my picks for the Conference Championship games. Let's get to work!

Conference Championship Picks

Tampa Bay (11-5) @ Green Bay (13-3) (FOX): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers beat the Saints and the Packers beat the Rams last week. Shocker I know. Championship Sunday starts with the NFC game with the Buccaneers and the Packers set to do battle. The Packers come into this game hosting the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2007. It'll be also the first time that Aaron Rodgers will play at home for the event. Both quarterbacks are pretty evenly well matched. What I question is how well the Packers defense can stop the multi-headed monster in the Buccaneers offense. Not just Tom Brady that they'll have to deal with but Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones, Antonio Brown and Mike Evans. Green Bay will also have to deal with the underrated Buccaneers defense that can play well when hot. Weather for the game could be interesting as it'll be typical cold temperatures and possible snow. Do I see it being a factor? Perhaps but Tom Brady has been in cold weather games as well. I hate to say it but I think not having a great defense and another clutch wide receiver will hurt the Packers in the long run. 

Buffalo (13-3) @ Kansas City (14-2) (CBS): TW: Chiefs; CV: Bills
The Bills beat the Ravens and the Chiefs beat the Browns last week. On the AFC side we got two of the future star quarterbacks in Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending champs come into this game with some luck on their side. What was originally a concussion on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, would turn out to be a pinched nerve. In other words, Mahomes is active for the game with Chad Henne ready at the wings if the need arises. For Buffalo, they're in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993. The Bills come into the game with a pretty good feeling. They don't have the pressure to get back to a Super Bowl, they can play loose and play their game. I think what will be key for both teams is how well the Chiefs defense can handle Josh Allen. Can Josh Allen find some running back help? Hard to pick against the defending champs but I caution in that they need to protect Patrick Mahomes. I'll go Chiefs. 

2020 Week by Week Record: 

TW's record:

Week 1: 8-8
Week 2: 15-1
Week 3: 9-6-1
Week 4: 11-4
Week 5: 9-5
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 10-4
Week 10: 10-4
Week 11: 7-7
Week 12: 11-5
Week 13: 10-5
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 12-4
Week 16: 8-8
Week 17: 14-2
Total: 167-88-1

Cardinal Viking's record:

Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 8-7-1
Week 4: 7-8
Week 5: 8-6
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 11-3
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 9-5
Week 10: 11-3
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 9-7
Week 13: 11-4
Week 14: 11-5
Week 15: 13-3
Week 16: 9-7
Week 17: 11-5
Total: 163-92-1

Previous Picking Records:

Cardinal Viking:

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

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

NFL 2019 Conference Championship Recap

Hello readers! Four teams came into Sunday, two came out of the carnage and will play in the big dance in less than two weeks from yesterday. The post will feature an NFL 100 spotlight on Deacon Jones and a recap of the championship games. Let's get to work!

NFL 100: A Spotlight

The game of football has had its share of menacing players. So menacing that just by looking at them, they had a certain look to them that made them scary. Deacon Jones comes to mind in this respect. On Sunday's he was a force to be reckoned with. He put fear into opposing quarterbacks like no other. He coined the term "sack" that would be later featured as a statistic. His head slaps to opposing offensive linemen was lethal in gaining an advantage.

David "Deacon" Jones was born on December 9th, 1938 in Eatonville, Florida. He lived in a four-bedroom house with a family of ten. He would attend high school at Hungerford High School where he excelled at football, baseball and basketball.

He lived in the Deep South where he witnessed acts of prejudice and racism. He was 14 years old when he witnessed white teenagers hit an elderly black woman with a watermelon. The woman would die days later. Deacon was determined to not let society dictate what he would become. He found his outlet in football to unleash his anger as a motivation.

He would attend in two full seasons in college. First, was at South Carolina State University in 1958. His scholarship was revoked after the school learned that he participated in a Civil Rights Movement protest. In 1959, he was out of school and football. One of the coaches at South Carolina State moved to Mississippi Vocational College told Deacon and a few African-American players that they could get scholarships there. He would play a final season at MVC in 1960.

Jones was overlooked by NFL scouts as there was little coverage where he played in college. He was discovered by the Rams when Jones outran some of the running back prospects that they had been scouting. Deacon Jones was drafted by the Rams in the 14th round in the 1961 NFL Draft.

His role on the team was to complement the already talented defensive line in Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy, and Rosey Griner. Together they formed "The Fearsome Foursome." The group is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive lines in NFL history.

He devastated quarterbacks with his elusiveness and speed. He stood at 6 feet, 5 inches with a 265 pound frame. He would revolutionize the position. He would coin the term "sacking the quarterback." While the sack didn't become a stat until 1982, his unofficial sack total throughout his career totaled to 173.5. While Bruce Smith was the holder in career sacks with 200.

He never won a championship in his career with the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers or Washington Redskins but his impact in defining the defensive end will never be outmatched. His head slaps would devastate offenses as it was a move that Jones learned from Muhammad Ali. If you slapped a linemen on the head, they would blink, and a second was all that Jones needed in getting an edge. Sadly the NFL outlawed head slaps years later. He is without a doubt my favorite defensive players to watch.

Conference Championship Recap

Tennessee Titans 24, Kansas City Chiefs 35: TW: Chiefs

It took them 50 years to get back to the Super Bowl but it was worth it. Ryan Tannehill was a bit more productive in the passing game as he threw for 209 yards with two touchdown passes. Derrick Henry was slowed down in the game as the runner would get 69 yards with a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes was shear magic in the game. Mahomes threw for 294 yards for three touchdowns. Mahomes would get 53 yards on eight carries. His 27-yard run for a touchdown was something to watch as he broke tackles from 5-6 Titans. Damien Williams ran the ball for 45 yards with a touchdown as well. Kansas City will play San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV on February 2nd. 

All-time series: Chiefs lead 30-24

Green Bay Packers 20, San Francisco 49ers 37: TW: 49ers

It was to be expected, perhaps I wanted it to be more competitive. Aaron Rodgers threw the ball for 326 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He would also lose a fumble on a botched snap. Aaron Jones ran the ball alright getting 51 yards with a touchdown. Jimmy Garoppolo would only throw six of eight passes for 77 yards in the game. It would be the 49ers run game that would shine the best. Raheem Mostert ran the ball for 220 yards for four touchdowns. The 2nd closest 49er was Deebo Samuel who ran for 43 yards. The 49ers will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV on February 2nd. 

All-time series: Packers lead 36-32-1

I won't be posting my Super Bowl pick this week but more than likely I will do it next week, possibly next Monday. See you all until then.

-Tom