The conference championship round of the 2017 NFL playoffs gets going early Sunday afternoon! We will figure out the Super Bowl 51 participants this weekend, and we will get a pair of strong quarterbacks no matter how today’s games finish/. Sunday opens with the NFC Championship Game, featuring the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Green Bay Packers at 12:05 p.m. PT on FOX. That will be followed by the AFC Championship, featuring the New England Patriots hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at 3:40 p.m. PT on CBS.
We get four great quarterbacks going at it with Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan squaring off, followed by Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tom Brady. Obviously the quarterbacks don’t directly face each other, but the matchups provide plenty of buzz. And with these four quarterbacks still playing, we’ll have plenty of buzz for Super Bowl 51.
I figure the Packers-Falcons game will be the more entertaining offensive spectacle. The over/under is set at 61 points, which is kind of crazy for an NFL game. That is a college type of total, but the Falcons and Packers are heavy on the offense. It should make for a fun game. I am picking the Falcons to win this game, but I think it is close, and the Packers cover. I would not be surprised if the Packers win, but I’ll stick with my Falcons pick.
On the other side we get a solid rivalry matchup between the Patriots and Steelers. The Patriots are a six-point favorite and the over/under is set at 50 point. Normally that would be pretty high, but it is overshadowed by the Packers-Falcons game. I picked the Steelers and I’ll stick with them in what will be a tough matchup in Foxboro. The Steelers will have their “killer Bs” ready to go, and I think they spring the upset.
Packers vs. Falcons
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
When: Sunday, January 21, 12:05 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Radio: Packers Radio Network | Falcons Radio Network
Online Streaming: FOXSportsGo
Odds: Falcons -6, 61
Packers blog: Acme Packing Company
Falcons blog: The Falcoholic
Steelers vs. Patriots
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
When: Sunday, January 21, 3:40 p.m. PT
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
Radio: Steelers Radio Network| Patriots Radio Network
Online Streaming: CBS Sports
Odds: Patriots -6, 50
Steelers blog: Behind The Steel Curtain
Patriots blog: Pats Pulpit