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NFL Conference Championship preview

The Arizona Cardinals take on Carolina, with the winner favoured to go on and take out the Super Bowl. (Photo: Greg Buch | FFSwami.com)
Roar Guru
21st January, 2016
3

Sadly for NFL fans, the season is almost over, with just three games remaining. But those three games will be absolute crackers.

The first two are the conference championship games, which will take place Monday morning Australian time, with the last being – of course – the Super Bowl.

AFC Championship game
Denver Broncos versus New England Patriots
7.05am (AEDT)

The over-hyped umpteenth meeting of two of the greatest-ever quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, in possibly their last meeting, with Manning expected to retire after this season.

Brady is at the top of his game, and his offensive pieces are finally healthy and firing – Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski combined for 17 receptions, 183 yards and two touchdowns in the divsional round win over Kansas City.

They come against a Broncos team, much like the Chiefs, that has based it success on defence, with an offence that can put up just enough points to win.

Last week the Broncos made hard work of disposing of a severely undermanned Pittsburgh team, winning with a late CJ Anderson rushing touchdown.

The key to this one is Denver’s ability to hang in there and limit mistakes on offence, keeping the ball away from the superiro Patriots offence. The Broncos have a good record against the Patriots at home, including a 30-24 win in Week 12 this season.

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Prediction: my head says New England 23-16, but my heart’s backing Denver

NFC Championship game
Carolina Panthers vs Arizona Cardinals
7.05am (AEDT)

The two best teams in the NFL through the regular season meet in what promises to be one of the best championship games in years.

Carolina have surprised many after spluttering into the playoffs last season, powering to a 15-1 record off the back of a great season by quarterback Cam Newton, running back Jonathon Stewart, tight end Greg Olson, and cornerback Josh Norman.

They are undefeated at home, including a 31-24 win over Seattle, after jumping out to a 31-0 lead at the half. A fade-out of this kind could be fatal against a Cardinals team that has probably the best all-round offence in the NFL.

Carson Palmer has had a career year, while the receiving corp of Larry Fitzgerald, Micheal Floyd and John Brown is a great mix of speed, agility and skill that will test the Panthers defence. Said defence has given up some big scores this year, most notably to the New York Giants (35 points) in Week 15.

Arizona’s ability to overcome the travel and not get off to a slow start like the Seahawks did last week is the key to this one. They had to come from behind themselves to defeat Green Bay, but if they can keep it close in the first half they will back themselves to overrun the Panthers and advance.

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Prediction: Carolina 24-23, but regardless, the winner of this game will win the Superbowl.

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