Sunday, January 21, 2018

2017-18 NFL Playoffs - Championship Sunday

Upsets played havoc with my Divisional Round picks to the point where the only game I got right was the Tennessee- New England one to go 3-5 picking games in these 2017-18 NFL playoffs. 

Then again if Maurice Williams had tackled Stefon Diggs I would have gotten the Minnesota-New Orleans game right, too 

So it's onward to Championship Sunday.   Only two games that will determine which one of these final four teams gets to play at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII.

So let's get to it.

AFC Championship Game
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at  #1 New England Patriots on CBS

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The Jags shocked the world by racing out to a 21-0 lead on the Steelers in their Divisional Round clash before the Steelers woke up, narrowed the deficit to 28-14 at halftime, and putting up a fight in the second half that had the Jags hanging on for dear life to preserve the 45-42  upset win.

The Jaguars qualified for their first AFC title game since 1999 as a result.

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Meanwhile New England was methodically punching their ticket to their seventh consecutive AFC title game by beating down the Tennessee Traitors Titans 35-14 in Foxborough.

But the Jags ain't 'scurred' of the Patriots, and Jalen Ramsey is actually trash talking them online.  Also sitting in their football operations room is Tom Coughlin, who engineered two Super Bowl upsets of the Patriots, one of which ruined their bid for a perfect season. 

So if the Jags pull off the upset, you'll know one reason why including their defense which has been doubleplusgood in forcing turnovers all season. 

But unfortunately for the Jags, Blake Bortles is their quarterback and the Pats have future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. It's been a nice ride for Jacksonville, but NFL football reality is about to pimp slap them in the face.

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I can't go against the Cheatriots Patriots at home where they are 18-3 in the playoffs after last week's win.   Patriots (boo hiss) to hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the game .


.NFC Championship Game
#2Minnesota Vikings at  #1 Philadelphia Eagles on FOX

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches the game winning touchdown as time runs out during the playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, January 14, 2018.  (Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The Vikings needed a miracle play for the ages at home as time expired to get past the New Orleans Saints 29-24, advance to their first NFC Championship game since 2009 and keep their bid to become the first NFL squad ever to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium alive.

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The Eagles needed a dramatic goal line stand to preserve a 15-10 win over the Falcons at home to advance to their first NFC championship game since 2008. 

Now these two teams who have had more than their share of playoff frustration over the years battle each other for NFC supremacy at Lincoln Financial Field with a trip to Super Bowl LII on the line. 

The Vikings and Eagles have been the two best teams in the NFC all season.  The Eagles lost QB Carson Wentz fo the season in Week 14, and are having to ask Nick Foles and their defense to get them through another high stakes playoff game at home in their bid to win their first NFC crown since 2004 and their first NFL championship since 1960.

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Meanwhile Case Keenum (Go Coogs!) and the Vikings are coming off the high of stunning the Saints at home and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.   Can they beat the Eagles on the road, earn their first NFC title since 1976  and make history by becoming the first NFL team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium?

Yes they can.  I made the mistake of misunderestimating Case Keenum and should've know better after seeing him play at UH.   I won't make that mistake again

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Skol Vikings!.   Vikings to hoist the George Halas trophy for the first time since 1976 after the game 

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