This coming weekend is NFL conference championship weekend. The two matchups on Sunday feature the top teams and some of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. The first game includes the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady. The second game of the day includes the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen traveling to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers
The #1 seed in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers are one of the hottest offensive teams in NFL right now with the help of certain players. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is the favorite for the NFL MVP has had an amazing season with 4,299 passing yards, 51 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a 70% completion rate. One of the best wide receivers in the league, Devonte Adams has had an incredible season with 115 reception for 1,374 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns, and almost at 12 yards per catch. A big key to the success of the offense is the run game, including multiple running backs. The top running back on the Packers is Aaron Jones who has had a great season. Following his lead are Jamaal Williams, and A.J. Dillon. The Packers defensive secondary includes some star with defensive backs Jaire Alexander and Adrian Amos.
The #5 seed in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are led by one of the greatest to ever do it in the NFL, Tom Brady. This year Brady has a ton of weapons around him with receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown. Tight end Rob Gronkowski was with Brady in New England and came back this season from retirement to play again with Tom Brady. The Buccaneers have two solid running backs with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette. The Buccaneers have a really solid defense with defensive back and rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. Other stars on the defense include Devin White and Lavonte David.
Prep senior Landon Kalie spoke on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers traveling up to chilly Green Bay.
“I think Brady having played up in cold and windy Massachusetts in December and January for basically every year of his career gives him and the team a huge advantage,” he said. “I personally believe you can’t bet against Brady because of how motivated he is at all times.”
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The #1 seed in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs are led by one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was limited in practice due to a hit in the playoff game last week against the Cleveland Browns that put him in the concussion protocol. No one can see the Chiefs playing this game without Mahomes under center, especially this late in the playoffs. Other stars on the Chiefs include one of the top receivers with a ton of speed, Tyreek Hill. Hill’s speed gives the Chiefs’ offense an advantage over any team they are facing. Kansas City also has the best tight end in the league, Travis Kelce. Kelce finished the regular season 2nd in receiving yards throughout the entire league with 1,416 as a tight end. The backfield includes both Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell. The defense has Pro Bowl safety Tyraan Matthieu. The defensive line also includes studs like Chris Jones and Frank Clark.
The #2 seed in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills come into the conference championship game riding an 8-game win streak since the team’s last lost coming to the Arizona Cardinals on a Hail Mary game-winner also known as the “Hail Murray.” The Buffalo Bills have a rising star at quarterback and MVP candidate in Josh Allen. Allen has led this Bills team to the playoffs in two out of the three years he has been a starter. What makes this year’s team different for Buffalo than in the past year is having a true number one wide receiver. Stephon Diggs being traded to Buffalo last offseason was a great move. Diggs ended the regular season leading the league in receptions and receiving yards with 127 receptions and 1,535 receiving yards. Diggs has been nothing but great in the postseason. In his last game against the Baltimore Ravens, Diggs had 11 receptions for 106 yards and 1 touchdown. The Bills defense has not been the same as in recent years past, but in the playoffs the defense has stepped up and really are on a mission to prove themselves.
Cathedral Prep junior Mason Orlando explained how the Buffalo Bills can slow down the Kansas City offense.
“In order for the Bills to slow down the Chiefs from making big plays, they will need to limit Tyreek Hill to the best of their ability,” he said. “If Hill can get behind that defense, the Bills will struggle. Buffalo also needs to keep Patrick Mahomes from getting out of the pocket and creating big plays downfield.”
Predictions from Cathedral Prep senior Zach Shchouchkoff:
AFC Championship Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
“I picked the Chiefs because of the team’s experience in the postseason and with the Chiefs skill they will be able to defeat Buffalo,” Zach said.
NFC Championship Winner: Green Bay Packers
“I have the Packers winning this one just because the offensive trio the team has in Rodgers, Adams, and Jones,” Zach said. “Aaron Rodgers is also on a mission this year. In my eyes, he is the MVP of the NFL. I think Rodgers and the Packers will win the Super Bowl and then retire after this season with a Super Bowl ring in his hand.”
Both games this weekend will be great battles. With the AFC having young star quarterbacks and the NFC having star veteran quarterbacks. Any of these teams has a great chance of winning the Super Bowl this season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Green Bay Packers kick off the conference championship games Sunday at 3:05 p.m. on FOX. The Buffalo Bills vs the Kansas Chiefs with be the night game with kickoff set for 6:40 p.m. on CBS. Which teams will make it to Tampa Bay, Florida for the Super Bowl?