The road to SuperBowl XLIX has come down to the league championship round. Who has what it takes to make it to the SuperBowl? Our AGSH NFL experts have broken it down for you!NFC North Analyst Sonja Greenfield
NFC Title Game: We saw this matchup on opening week for the NFL, and Seattle looked like it was still the Super Bowl. I see no way that Green Bay can win this game. Aaron is playing hurt, and Seattle’s defense is going to stop their game plan. Seattle’s offense isn’t the greatest, but after watching what they did last year during their run, I just don’t see it happening for Green Bay. Oh yeah, and Seattle is kind of healthy too. It’s not going to be pretty!
AFC Title Game: Now, this should go New England’s way. These two matched up earlier in the season as well, and the Colts got run over by Jonas Grey. While they had an easier than expected game against the Broncos, I still don’t think that Andrew Luck can beat the Patriots. The Colts don’t have much of a run game going right now, and New England’s defense for sure will be able to handle TY and Reggie. Hopefully we’ll at least see some interesting football.
NFC East Analyst Jason Goodson
AFC The Colts will go into Patriot country with the tough task to take down Tom Brady and the Patriots. Without question the Broncos have struggled throughout December and it was a matter of time until they were exposed. The Colts exposed the age of the Broncos and surprised the nation. The Colts will try and do the same this weekend as they play for the right to play in the Superbowl. The Patriots who have been in this position more than once, will be tough to beat at home, they will win the football game because the secondary of the Colts will not stop their lethal passing game. Oddly enough though, whoever runs the ball and controls the clock will represent the AFC in Arizona.
NFC The Packers will face the Seahawks with a daunting task of taking down the twelfth man and the Seahawks defense. The Packers will need to protect Rogers by building a fortress to keep Rogers from being disrupted. The Seahawks however, will not be apprehensive to blitz Rogers. His immobility will be the difference in this game. Seahawks win big because of the lack of Rogers mobility to escape the dominant defense of the Seahawks.
AFC Analyst Veair Green
How fitting would it be for Andrew Luck to defeat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to reach his first Super Bowl? I believe that’s going to happen and we will officially have a changing of the guards. Colts head coach Chuck Pagano will put together a great defensive game plan to stop Tom Brady, who played like crap early in the Divisional Round versus the Ravens. Only this time he will be facing a signal caller who knows how to finish string. Andrew Luck has orchestrated a few comebacks in his day and will be well prepared to face that New England defense with cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Browner likes to get his hands on receivers down the field and a few early penalties can quickly change his technique. And don’t look know but Boom Herron has given this Indy running game some spark. I predict Andrew Luck will reach his first Super Bowl by defeating the Patriots.
And believe it or not, the NFC Championship game is an easy choice. With a gimpy Aaron Rodgers facing a red hot Seahawks defense on the road versus the 12th man, this could get ugly. Even scarier for the Packers is the fact they have struggled against the run at times this season, which is bad new when they have to stop Beast Mode. Marshawn Lynch has the ability to energize the whole stadium and his team with one run. I don’t think it will be as bad a beat down as week one but Rodgers will be a sitting duck in that pocket. UH OH! Plus, Russell Wilson is finding weapons in Luke Willson and Jermaine Kearse no one thought he had. Just like Luck will knock out one of the greats, Wilson will do the same by defeating the Pack and Aaron Rodgers. By the way, can everyone stop saying Wilson is not a great quarterback because he has a great running game and defense…stop it! Give the brother some love. I believe the Seahawks win Sunday and go to back-to-back Super Bowls, setting up a Luck versus Wilson Super Bowl in Arizona.
NFC South Analyst Matt Collins
With Green Bay narrowly escaping their game with Dallas, they have the daunting task of taking on the Seahawks on their home turf. Aaron Rodgers gave a great performance especially with looming calf injury. He was a bit more stationary in the pocket, but his 316 yards and 3 TDs were impressive. There is no doubt the Seahawks defense will be out to get him, but I expect he will rise up again with another valiant effort to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2011. Will his efforts be enough is the question? I don’t think they will be. Prediction: Seattle 31 Green Bay 17 AFC Championship
This is the 4th straight appearance for the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game and the 3rd time the Colts and Patriots have played each other. This is not counting the numerous battles over the years in the regular season, but the first time Andrew Luck has been at the helm. It will have a different feel not being the Manning versus Brady battle but there is plenty of animosity between these teams. In the previous 3 appearances, the Patriots have lost the last 2 and looking for a return spot into the Super Bowl and I expect them to get it this year. Brady will outshine Luck and the Colts to prove they are again the dominant team in the AFC. Prediction: New England 28 Indianapolis 14
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