2020–2021 Conference Championship Sunday

The final four are one win away from reaching the Super Bowl. The Conference Championship will start off with a clash for the ages between the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the future Hall of Fame quarterbacks finish their epic encounter, the AFC Championship Game will highlight the future of the NFL. Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs Kingdom is healthy and ready to faceoff against the new kid on the block, Josh Allen and the rest of his Mafia. Sunday can’t come soon enough.

Sunday, January 24, 2021

NFC Championship Game

1 Green Bay Packers vs 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

@ Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Start Time: 3:05 p.m Eastern Time on Fox

Referee: Clete Blakeman

Announcers: Joe Buck & Troy Aikman

This matchup is a true gift from a higher power. Two of the greatest quarterbacks ever collide for another Super Bowl berth. The proverbial unstoppable force versus immovable object. Aaron Rodgers will be the MVP this year. The second year climb in production the Packers have had under coach Matt LaFleur starts and ends with Aaron Rodgers. He threw for 48 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. Green Bay’s offense has been an efficient machine all year but got silenced by the Tampa Bay defense in Week 6. Brady was quiet in the game but had zero turnovers to his name. This game more than any other ever is going to come down to 4 point plays, turnovers, and relentlessness. Which team can register touchdowns. Even if they are up early, the team that kicks the field goals is going to lose the game. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense can’t afford to kick field goals against the most decorated quarterback ever. In fact the last time Brady played in a Conference Championship game he defeated the MVP at their home. The Buccaneers have more blue chip players across their roster than Green Bay’s. Even scarier for Green Bay, in their two road playoff wins, the Buccaneers have yet to register a complete game. The Tampa Bay offense carried the Buccaneers against the Washington Football Team. Against the New Orleans last week the Tampa Bay defense shut down the Saints faltering offense. Tom Brady does not have to play well to win this game. Aaron Rodgers has to be near flawless to win. The Packers defense has improved to close off the season, but it’s hard to picture them slowing down such a star studded offense. Tom Brady has torched Mike Pettine led defenses before. Adding to the difficult task, the Packers defense this year hasn’t been great at registering turnovers. Antonio Brown is going to miss the game, but the reserve whether it’s Scotty Miller or Tyler Johnson may be even more potent. Tampa Bay is playing their third straight road playoff game, but the Buccaneers are 8–2 on the road this year. The Packers are the more buttoned up team and seemed due for a win, but don’t be surprised if Tom Brady ruins another team’s Super Bowl aspirations. A true coin flip.

• Packers 31–30

AFC Championship Game

1 Kansas City Chiefs vs 2 Buffalo Bills

@Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Start Time: 5:40 p.m. Central Time on CBS

Referee: Bill Vinovich

Announcers: Jim Nantz & Tony Romo

The final game before Super Bowl 55 comes down to the young gunslingers. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are hosting their third consecutive AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are up against the best quarterback in the game. Buffalo is going to have to bait Kansas City into running the ball to slow down the amount of times Patrick Mahomes throws the football. The Bills have not put a complete game together in the playoffs. Against the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo’s defense was tested and gashed for much of the game. Against the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills only scored 10 points of offense. To reach the Super Bowl and overcome the most dynamic team in the league, Josh Allen is going to have to be near flawless. He can’t score ten points against Kansas City. Buffalo’s run game is nonexistent and the Buffalo defense is more suspect than usual. He can’t turn over the ball and allow the Chiefs offense to register extra possessions. The Chiefs defense will rise again and clamp on the Bills blossoming defense. The Bills ascension in the last couple of years has been one of the best stories in recent years, but it ends on Sunday. The Chiefs thump the Bills and advance to a second straight Super Bowl.

• Chiefs defeat Bills 36–17