Wrong.
Not only did the Packers seemingly return to ass-kicking form, but it was tremendously amusing to see the fired up fans in Houston taken out of the game on the opening kickoff. There were but few real highlights or great games last weekend, but we now seem to be at a point where we're much more likely to get high quality football from here on out.
In one conference, we could be looking at yet another chapter in the Brady-Manning rivalry next weekend. In the other conference, the top two seeds that have been debated as being the best all year long are also shaping up for a showdown. And then, of course, there is the very realistic possibility that any of the four others could pull off upsets lead to continued Cinderella runs.
Considering how awful my picks were at the beginning of the year, I'm a bit shocked to see that we could end up with three of the four teams I had in the conference championship round still alive. Surely, I'll have to pick all three of those teams in an effort to look good. Right?
Wrong.
If you're looking for the picks of other so-called experts, go here. As for my own, here they are in the usual descending order of confidence:
Well, let's not mince words here: I have pretty much been convinced for most of this season that the Cards were pretty much the Super Bowl faves. Despite the off-season departures, Bruce Arians got the most of this team again week after week on both sides of the ball. Carson Palmer essentially had an MVP-caliber season. In most any other year, I'd probably be taking the Pack here, but Arizona already demolished Green Bay once in the regular season and I've got very little reason to believe they won't be able to win again—albeit less convincingly. While I do remain cautious that perhaps Aaron Rodgers has rediscovered his mojo and could be fully capable of winning four games in a row all by himself, the truth is that he'll need a lot of help. Davante Adams—who was, admittedly, a bit of a disappointment this season—sounds likely to miss the game, leaving an already shorthanded receiving corps even more so. It just seems that the Arizona offensive line is better positioned to defend their quarterback than Green Bay's is to protect its own. I don't expect nine sacks of Rodgers again, but I do think the Cardinals will end up manufacturing more points.
Denver Broncos over Pittsburgh Steelers
Carolina Panthers over Seattle Seahawks
Well this one hurts. On one side of the field we have the team I originally had going to the Super Bowl. A team with an offense that, at times, looked like the best in the league. On the other side of the field, we have a team I didn't even have making the playoffs. One that lost it's aging star quarterback to injury for a lengthy period of time after he looked nothing like the superstar of years past. On its face, the Steelers would by obvious preference. However, today we learned that Pittsburgh will be without Antonio Brown—he of who accounted for more than 50 percent of that Steelers offense. DeAngelo Williams has also been ruled out and who knows how badly Ben Roethlisberger will be hobbled by his own injuries. Considering all of that and the talent on the Broncos defense, it's all but impossible to envision a scenario in which Pittsburgh emerges victorious. Perhaps the Steelers capitalize on a weakened and regressing Manning, but again, it just does not look good for Pittsburgh.
The Panthers only lost one game this season, and yet most people still harbor some doubts about whether they're real contenders. Cam Newton is essentially going to be the league MVP this year, and with very good reason. He's proven himself as a leader, thriving even after losing perceived top target Kelvin Benjamin before the season even began. Seattle is looking to make a third consecutive Super Bowl trip this year based more on their offense than defense. Carolina's loss of two corners is admittedly concerning, especially if Marshawn Lynch is able to return for the Seahawks. The more I write this, the more I'm starting to think that maybe Seattle is the better pick here, yet I remain convinced that the Panthers are for real and they'll find whatever way they can to win this game. Carolina scored more than 30 points per game this week while allowing fewer than 20, so it's just hard for me to believe the team is going to drop off after playing a near-perfect season. I'm sure Pete Carroll has more than enough tricks up his sleeve to keep Russell Wilson moving and frustrating the Panthers defense—not to mention the potential frustration that Seattle's own defensive line could create for Newton—but Seattle's struggles against a lesser Minnesota team lead me to believe that Carolina pulls this one out. Maybe not convincingly, but a victory nonetheless.
OK, I'm sticking with one of those three teams I had making it to the next round. Tom Brady is still nursing a high ankle sprain, Rob Gronkowski is missing practice because he's banged up (maybe), and a whole host of other Pats have been limited in practice. The Chiefs aren't exactly in perfect health themselves, what with Jeremy Maclin being out. Still, this just has the feel of an upset in the making and I see the Kansas City defense and special teams making up for whatever the offense might lack.
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