Expat Smoggie
Well-known member
So here we go, down to the final four. I honestly can’t see anything but home wins in both championship games but perhaps Kansas City have the bit between their teeth after their crazy win over Buffalo last weekend? While the Baltimore Ravens will be heavily fancied KC can provide the upset if Mahomes and Kelce hold their nerve and exploit the Ravens number one defense.
However, the injury report from the KC camp doesn’t look good with several players nursing different injuries.
The biggest injury worry for KC is Isaiah Pacheco who has toe and ankle injuries— he’d be a huge loss if he couldn’t make it.
Mike Edwards is another who is suffering with concussion and with the NFLs concussion protocol being very vague I’d still expect him to play in this winner takes all event.
The Ravens meanwhile don’t really have any major injury concerns and while no one can argue that the Ravens have been the number team in the AFC and perhaps the NFL it would be foolish to suggest that they will easily get by the Chiefs.
The Chiefs who despite an aging squad
have probably one of the NFLs best head coach with Andy Reid, who has been prolific in his 11 seasons at Arrowhead.
In Reid, the Chiefs have a schemer of a coach who has a game plan perhaps to find a way to win against the NFLs stingiest defense and not forgetting the incredible QB talent of Lamar Jackson.
Jackson, who is probably one of the fastest athletes in the NFL, and operates as a second running back can be so elusive it almost becomes impossible for the opponent to stop him, so the task for the Chiefs is finding a way to hold the Ravens to field goals.
In the NFC Championship game the Lions travel to San Francisco where the Lions will be the underdog against the number 2 rated offense in the league. Actually the betting line is only a TD but you’d have to believe that for the Lions to win this one the Niners will have to turnover the ball more than three times for the upstart Lions to win.
The Niners have a reasonable healthy squad although Deebo Samuel has been struggling with a shoulder injury which may keep him to a limited role against Detroit.
The Niners probably got out of jail last week thanks to their defense which has been a focal point of their 2023 season, second to the Ravens for the fewest points allowed they cover extremely well and are incredibly strong inside the red zone.
The Lions have never been to the Superbowl so they have a lot to aim for but one wonders if the pressure will be too much for Jarrod Goff and co?
The Lions have been well coached this season under Dan Campbell who isn’t afraid to go for low percentage opportunities with the Lions attempting the second most 4th downs. Their main point of attack will come from their running attack as well as QB Jerrod Goff’s ability to make big plays but he isn’t the most mobile of QBs, so expect the Niners defense to try and flush Goff out of his comfort zone and sack him when the opportunity arrives.
However, the injury report from the KC camp doesn’t look good with several players nursing different injuries.
The biggest injury worry for KC is Isaiah Pacheco who has toe and ankle injuries— he’d be a huge loss if he couldn’t make it.
Mike Edwards is another who is suffering with concussion and with the NFLs concussion protocol being very vague I’d still expect him to play in this winner takes all event.
The Ravens meanwhile don’t really have any major injury concerns and while no one can argue that the Ravens have been the number team in the AFC and perhaps the NFL it would be foolish to suggest that they will easily get by the Chiefs.
The Chiefs who despite an aging squad
have probably one of the NFLs best head coach with Andy Reid, who has been prolific in his 11 seasons at Arrowhead.
In Reid, the Chiefs have a schemer of a coach who has a game plan perhaps to find a way to win against the NFLs stingiest defense and not forgetting the incredible QB talent of Lamar Jackson.
Jackson, who is probably one of the fastest athletes in the NFL, and operates as a second running back can be so elusive it almost becomes impossible for the opponent to stop him, so the task for the Chiefs is finding a way to hold the Ravens to field goals.
In the NFC Championship game the Lions travel to San Francisco where the Lions will be the underdog against the number 2 rated offense in the league. Actually the betting line is only a TD but you’d have to believe that for the Lions to win this one the Niners will have to turnover the ball more than three times for the upstart Lions to win.
The Niners have a reasonable healthy squad although Deebo Samuel has been struggling with a shoulder injury which may keep him to a limited role against Detroit.
The Niners probably got out of jail last week thanks to their defense which has been a focal point of their 2023 season, second to the Ravens for the fewest points allowed they cover extremely well and are incredibly strong inside the red zone.
The Lions have never been to the Superbowl so they have a lot to aim for but one wonders if the pressure will be too much for Jarrod Goff and co?
The Lions have been well coached this season under Dan Campbell who isn’t afraid to go for low percentage opportunities with the Lions attempting the second most 4th downs. Their main point of attack will come from their running attack as well as QB Jerrod Goff’s ability to make big plays but he isn’t the most mobile of QBs, so expect the Niners defense to try and flush Goff out of his comfort zone and sack him when the opportunity arrives.
