Saturday, January 23, 2016

TransGriot 2015 NFL Picks-Conference Championship


I'm in Chicago for Creating Change, but the NFL 2015-16 playoffs are rolling toward Championship Sunday and who will play in Super Bowl 50.

In last week's Divisional Round went 3-1 (5-3 for the playoffs) on my picks thanks to that unbelievable play in OT by Larry Fitzgerald that followed a miracle Green Bay Hail Mary that tied the game at 20-20 and sent it to overtime.

It's Championship Sunday, and hope we get two games that match the drama of those Divisional round matchups.

AFC Championship

#2 New England Patriots (13-4) at #1 Denver Broncos (13-4) 

First up on Championship Sunday is the rematch, with much higher stakes between the Patriots and Broncos.  The regular season clash played at Sports Authority Field back on November 29 resulted in an unexpected 30-24 Denver overtime victory that knocked the Patriots from the unbeaten ranks and the Broncos eventually getting home field for this game.

This time, Brock Osweiler won't be the starting QB, Peyton Manning will be.  He led them to a come from behind 23-16 victory in their Divisional round game against the Steelers.  The Brady bunch ended the Kansas City Chiefs season with their 27-20 win at Gillette Stadium.

Should be another interesting and close game between future Hall of Fame QB's Manning and Brady, but only one will be walking away with the Lamar Hunt trophy at the end of the game and a punched ticket to Super Bowl 50.

While it's hard to beat a team twice in the same season,  Broncos will win this game.

NFC Championship

#2 Arizona Cardinals (14-3)  at #1 Carolina Panthers (16-1)

This game will be in Charlotte, and it's a game matching arguably the two best teams in the NFC and possibly the league.

Both of them had interesting Divisional round games to say the least.   The Cardinals had go to overtime to punch their first NFC conference title game ticket since 2008 after Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary throw on the last play of regulation time tied the game 20-20.  

The Panthers stormed out of the locker room and built a 31-0 halftime lead against the Seahawks, then had to hold on for dear life as the two time NFC champs mounted a furious second half comeback that fell just short.

This should be a fun game to watch, but as for who I think will be hoisting the George Halas trophy after the game, it will be the Panthers.


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