NFL Conference Championship Sunday

Finally after four teams long journey, they're just one win away from the SuperBowl.  If you're a fan of football in general, you really can't deny that these are undoubtedly going to be two of the best Championship games in recent memory.  Obviously, if you're a fan of a certain team and they didn't make it this far you'll be less interested, but you can't deny that this year the four best teams really do remain.  Believe it or not, that's actually a very rare occurrence in the NFL.  

Think about last years playoffs.  Denver (the #1 seed in the AFC) was out in their first playoff game and the #4 seeded Ravens ended up winning it all.  Was Baltimore the best team in the NFL that year?  I don't think so.  I think they got hot at the right time and ended the year strong.  Think about the year before that.  Green Bay went 15 - 1 and lost to the 9-7 Giants in the first round of the playoffs who eventually went on to win the Superbowl.  The year before that Green Bay got in on a wild card spot and ended up winning the Superbowl.  I could go on, but I won't because my hands are starting to cramp up.

Yes, I know that the 49ers were a wild card team, but you have to understand that they're a different team than any of those other teams I just talked about.  First of all, it's pretty rare to go 12-4 and not win your division.  Secondly, can you name 1 other division winner this year who is an all around better team than the Niners?  Me neither.

The main point I'm trying to get across is the following:
Watch the games this Sunday.  On to the picks:

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks


The general rule of picking playoff games is that you always go with who's hot at the moment, not who was hot during the season.  The 49ers are playing some of their best football right now in the playoffs which is a recipe for another Superbowl appearance and only one thing stands in the way of that.  Unfortunately for them that thing standing in the way is the Seattle Seahawks.  I could talk about the previous two games these teams faced each other this season, but in the playoffs, you throw all previous meetings aside.  Its a new game and anything can happen.  The 49ers are going to need to stop Lynch if they want to win this game.  He's burned them several times before and they're going to pull out all the stops to make sure that doesn't happen again.  That means a lot of 7 men in the box which also means a lot of 1 on 1 coverage on the outside.  I know what Seattle's defense can do against the 49ers at home, so this is going to come down to Russell Wilson against the Niners defense.  I think he wont have the best game of his career, but I think he'll make enough plays with his arm and legs for the Seahawks to win a close one at home and head to New York for the Superbowl.
Seahawks 27 - 24

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Manning and Brady square off in what may be their last playoff game they ever play against each other.  This is a career making game for either quarterback.  Years from now, when we're thinking about who the possible best quarterback of all time was, this game will surely come up.  To be honest, the stakes couldn't be higher.  Did you know Tom Brady only has a losing record with one team in the NFL.  Guess who that team is.  That's right, The Denver Broncos.  The Broncos are 6 point favorites at home, (which I think is ridiculous by the way) so they should be able to escape Brady and the Pats with an easy win right?  Not so fast.  Brady has won 11 out of 14 games against Manning and has the best running game he's had in a long time.  On the flip side, Manning has the most weapons at receiver he's had in well.... ever.  This will be a close game and could go either way, so I have to go with Manning taking over and winning a close one.
Broncos 42 - 38