On one hand you have the Patriots who have broken my heart two times in the AFC Championship and have just been an annoyingly great team for the past decade. Seriously they can't have a season where they go 8-8 and miss the playoffs? No, they are always in the friggin Super Bowl. Plus I really really don't want to see TFB and Belichick get another shot at their 4th Super Bowl to tie Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll.
But then on the other hand you have the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers rival. The team that thinks they own the AFC North even though they haven't been to a Super Bowl since 2001 and have Joe FLACCCOOOOO as their QB. A man who has claimed himself to be an ELITE QB even though this year he got beat by Charlie Batch in his home stadium. The one positive for the Ravens in my book is they have Ray Lewis, who is about to retire and it would be a pretty cool ending to see him go out like Jerome Bettis did. However that would mean Joe Flacco would win a Super Bowl. So I can't have that.
So basically lets go NFC.
Falcons 27, 49ers 24 --- ATL +4 The Falcons finally got their first playoff win with Matt Ryan as the QB last week against the Seahawks. They looked great until the fourth quarter when they blew their 20 point lead but they ended out on top which could give them a lot of momentum for this game. The Falcons have never been in this position, meaning an NFC Championship game at home, so they should be ready to play. They have also not lost to the 49ers since 2001 (sure that's only 4-0 and the Niners really haven't been great in the past 10 years but still). The Niners looked very impressive last week when they crushed the Packers as Colin Kaepernick ran wild. He is really really fast and it will be tough for the Falcons to stop him and the Niners offense. However they did seem to do a pretty good last week against the Seahawks with Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch (until the 4th quarter). If they can get off to another quick start and get a lead they might be able to stay ahead all game and win this one. They are 8-1 at home this year and the Niners are only 2-2 indoors if that means anything. Anyway, I'm going with the Falcons. I'm not to confident in it but I'll take them.
Patriots 30, Ravens 24 --- BAL +9.5 First of all, how are the Patriots a 9.5 point favorite. The Ravens have already beaten them this year and they just went to Denver and beat the number 1 seed in the AFC and last year they lost this exact game by a field goal, but probably should have won if Lee Evans could catch or at least been in overtime if Billy Cundiff could kick. How about that run-on sentence. I do think it is going to be very tough for the Ravens to get over the hump of knocking off the mighty Patriots though. The Pats are 5-1 in AFC Championships under Billy B and are 4-0 at home so this won't be an easy task. Another stat I find pretty fascinating is that since Super Bowl XXXVIII only three teams have won the AFC. Patriots 5 times, Steelers 3 times, and Colts 2 times. In 10 years there have only been three teams from the AFC, that's pretty wild. Plus Tommy F Brady is the greatest thing since sliced bread, they can run the ball now, their defense is pretty solid, Big Vince Wilfork eats people like Ray Rice for breakfast. The Patriots might crush the Ravens in this one, they really might.
The reason I'll take the Ravens to cover and stay very close is because of Ray Lewis. I know one player isn't going to win this game for the Ravens but he is the heart and soul of this team and everyone on this team wants to get Ray to a Super Bowl in his last season. Plus it's not like the Ravens haven't been in this situation before. This will be their third AFC Championship under John Harbaugh. If FLACCCOOOO doesn't make any mistakes they have a shot to win this one. I'm actually rooting for them because I really think if the Patriots get to the Super Bowl they win it.
Best case scenario though for the Patriots Ravens game is Bane shows up and blows up the field on the opening kickoff and then the NFC team is crowned the Super Bowl Champions.
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