Last week: 3-1
Overall: 5-3
AFC Championship Game
New England Patriots (13-4) @ Denver Broncos (13-4)
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO., 76,125
2:05 PM CT/3:05 PM ET
CBS
Jim, Phil, Trace
Refs: Ed Hochuli; likes to be the center of attention, might wear short sleeves, proud of his artillery, yellow will be flying. He's pretty annoying
Weather:Mostly cloudy, 46 degrees at kickoff, small chance of rain or snow in the second half; Wind: ESE 5 MPH
Line: Patriots by 3
Rob Gronkowski, New England's 6'6", 265 pound all world tight end, has 40 receptions for 516 yards and 6 TDs against Denver, dating back to 2011, including six catches for 88 yards and a seven when the teams played eight weeks ago before he left the game after taking a hit to his knee. He's pretty much healthy right now, though all the players are a little banged up presently, and he'll be the difference along with Tom Brady. who will move to 12-5 against Peyton Manning in their all time series, maybe their last one, and Brady moves on to his seventh Super Bowl appearance at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Cali, where he has won four. Brady will move to 23-8 in postseason play. That's stellar. Peyton, who will drop to 12-14 in postseason play, fails to get it done once again.
Patriots 31, Broncos 24
NFC Championship Game
Arizona Cardinals (14-3) @ Carolina Panthers (16-1)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC, 73,298
5:30 PM CT/6:30 PM ET
FOX
Joe, Troy, EA
Refs: Bill Vinovich
Weather: Clear, 0% rain, 33 degrees, Wind SW 4 MPH
Line: Panthers by 3
I like Cam and the Carolina defense. I trust Cam, he's won a national championship at Auburn, and I surely trust middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and the Carolina defense. They are superb. Kuechly is one of the best players in football at 24 years old. Of course, Cam will be the MVP of the league this season at 26 years old. Bank of America Stadium will be rocking. The Carolinians love their Panthers. On the flip side, I don't trust Zona QB Carson Palmer and Coach Bruce Arians. Palmer was lucky to get by the Packers last week in the divisional round when super wide out Larry Fitzgerald bailed him out with a phenomenal catch and 65 yard run in overtime that sealed the OT win for the Cardinals. But Palmer was not impressive. I don't think he can get it done on the big stage. And I don't trust Arians either. He's famous in Alabama, or infamous depending on what side of the ledger you're on in the Iron Bowl rivalry, for the terrible call as offensive coordinator under the "Great" Mike Dubose, in which he called for a pass with the Tide icing the game away. Alabama fumbled, Auburn recovered the ball, and took it in for the winning score. Arians gags. That's his identity. Trust Cam, Luke and the Panthers to advance to Super Bowl 50, February 7th, at 5:25 PM CT/6:25 PM ET, on CBS, and do NOT trust Palmer and Arians.
Carolina 28, Arizona 17