Conference Championship Sunday

AFC Championship Game:
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots

I'm going to be honest with you.  I don't really care who wins this game.  I would prefer the Denver Broncos win over the Patriots for selfish reasons.  I would want to set up the clash of two old AFC West rivals in the Super Bowl.  In Jersey, in February on the biggest stage of them all.  I have rooted for the Patriots in almost every Super Bowl they have played in.  The Bears in 84' being the exception.  I have traded for Tom Brady in my keeper league 4 separate times.  Lead me to the title in 07' behind that incredible year in the aftermath of Spygate.

I think this is going to be a high scoring affair.  I'll take the Broncos 39-33.  Basically because of home field and the elevation.

Glad this game comes first.  It's the appetizer.  The shrimp cocktail to the main event.  I don't think I'm alone in my opinion.  I also think that regardless of who wins this game, the AFC representative (Broncos or Patriots) lose to whoever the NFC representative is (Seahawks or 49ers).  Which leads us to the main event.

NFC Championship Game:
Seattle Seahawks vs. the San Francisco 49ers

Game is a toss up.  Either team could win.  I don't care how crappy San Francisco has been in their last two visits to Seattle.  San Francisco is on a roll.  I expect a close game.  Probably going to go down to whoever has the ball last.

It had to be this way.  This is the best rivalry going in the NFL.  Keep your Steelers vs. Ravens or your Peyton Manning et. al. vs. the Patriots.  The Seahawks vs. 9ers is it.  These two teams are mirror images of each other.  Defensive teams that can pound the rock and have mobile QBs that can beat you in or out of the pocket.  Perhaps we should break this down by position.

QB: Wilson vs. Kaepernick
Advantage: San Francisco
I don't know what is wrong with Russell Wilson.  He is clearly not as sharp or playing as well as he was 5 weeks ago.  Is he having marital problems?  Is he not getting enough sleep?  All I know is that he has not been hitting the throws that he was earlier in the season.  He's doing enough to win.  Barely.  Kaep has been godawful in Seattle.  I expect him to be better.  He knows what to expect.  These two teams know each other inside and out.  There will be very little surprises.
RB: Frank Gore vs. Marshawn Lynch
Advantage: Seattle
Beast Mode has been incredible vs. San Fran in Seattle.  I expect this trend to continue.
Wide Receivers: Crabtree, Boldin, Davis et al. vs. Tate, Baldwin, Miller et. al.
Advantage: 9ers
Percy Harvin's absence will be a huge blow to the Seahawks.  His presence on the field changes the way defenses scheme for the hawks.  You have to account for Harvin when he is on the field.  I understand that he wasn't there for the last two games that the Seahawks played when the 9ers were in Seattle.  It's a game of inches.  And Harvin's presence is worth about a half a foot, at least.
Defense:
Advantage: Seahawks
Legion of Boom & the 12th Man are the difference.
Special Teams:
Advantage: Push
Coaching: Pete Carroll vs. Jim Harbaugh
Advantage: Push
Intangibles: San Fran's momentum vs. the 12th Man
Advantage: Seahawks
I understand that many of the talking heads and analysts are picking the 49ers to win this game and the Super Bowl.  There's only one problem with that.  Seattle's 12th Man.  It is so freaking loud in that stadium.  I went to a game a couple of years ago.  Sat in the endzone.  Way up.  My head hurt for 3 hours after the game!  The noise affects you physically.  You can't think.  I can only imagine what it's like on the field trying to communicate with your teammates with 70,000 people screaming at the top of their lungs for the better part of 3 hours.  Seattle is damn near impossible to beat at home.  But if Seahawks turn in the same kind of game that they did against the Saints, they will lose.

My mom is from San Francisco.  Most of my family roots for the 9ers.  I barely talked to her this week.  It has literally divided my family.  I chose when I was five.  And I don't regret any of it.

The Verdict:
Taking all things into consideration, I expect a battle in Seattle.  I think it is going to be a knockdown, drag out, backyard brawl, from beginning to end.  It may come down to whoever has the ball last.  I think this is the premier game in the NFL this season.  The Super Bowl will pale in consideration compared to this match up.  I fully expect whoever advances from this game to win the Super Bowl.  Defense and the running game being the difference.

The crowd will make its presence felt.  That in my eyes is the difference.  I think the Seahawks pull the game out in the 4th quarter, 20-17.  In a game for the ages.  Would not surprise me in the least if the 9ers found a way to win this game.  They are that good.  I respect them.  If they found a way to win at Green Bay, at Carolina, and at Seattle, what should stop them from winning in Jersey?

At the beginning of the season my preseason Super Bowl pick was Seattle over Denver.  I see no reason to back off that pick at this point.  Home field is the difference in both games.  I wanted the Seahawks to face the 9ers in the NFC Championship Game because I feel that they were the best team outside of Seattle.  That's why I want Denver in the Super Bowl.  Because I think they are the best team in the AFC.  I don't want the team we have the best shot at beating, I simply want the best team period.  The Seahawks have to overcome so much to get respect.  And I want them to beat the best to get that trophy.  Teams with championship pedigree.  All the teams left have that.

I believe that Russell Wilson will get it together.  I believe the 12th Man will make the most noise in any game, in any stadium, in any time, in all of history, tomorrow.  It is going to be off the charts.  Bury the needle at 140.0.  I believe the Seahawks will advance to Super Bowl XLVIII and win it.  Or I will be very sad.  Very, very sad.

Enjoy the games!
Go Hawks!