NFL Conference Championships 2016

NFL Conference Championships 2016

Carolina Panthers VS Arizona Cardinals

During the Panthers undefeated run, I kept saying that I thought if they played the Cardinals they probably would have lost.  The Cardinals were and still are possibly the most complete team in the NFL.  However, after watching the Cardinals barely squeak by against the injury riddled Packers, I've seen how the Cardinals could lose this game.  On the flip side, the Panthers looked next to unbeatable in the first half of their game against the Seahawks.  And then the second half happened.  Whether they took their foot off the gas, or got too comfortable; either way, the Panthers will lose if that happens in this game.  The Cardinals have too much offensive fire-power to get behind by 31 points.  Both of these teams have some work to do after last week, but in the end, I have to go with the team that has less to fix.

Carolina Panthers win 30 - 27

Denver Broncos VS New England Patriots

What a historic game this will be.  The will more likely than not, be known as the final game that Tom Brady faced off against his nemesis Peyton Manning.  Well... actually, Eli Manning is probably more of his "nemesis", but either way it's 2 hall of fame quarterbacks facing off.  Interesting fact:  Tom Brady has only beat the Broncos in Denver twice.  Historically, he doesn't play very well there.  Luckily for the Patriots, a Brady at 80% is still better than about 25 other starting quarterbacks.  I hope for a good, close game, but something tells me that the Patriots have the upper hand in this one by a significant margin.  The Broncos posses a slightly better defense overall, but the Patriots offense looks leaps and bounds ahead of the Broncos, even without a running game.  In the end, I don't think Peyton Manning has the throwing ability left to make the clutch throws he'll have to make.

New England Patriots win 31 - 24