The penultimate round of the 2019 NFL playoffs has arrived! The conference championship games kick off early Sunday afternoon and we will get to figure out who will be participating in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Georgia. Sunday opens with the NFC Championship Game, featuring the New Orleans Saints hosting the Los Angeles Rams at 12:05 p.m. PT on FOX. That is followed by the AFC Championship Game, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the New England Patriots at 3:40 p.m. PT on CBS.
We get a pair of matchups featuring young guns vs. the aging veterans. Tom Brady travels to face Patrick Mahomes, while Jared Goff travels to face Drew Brees. Media has to be licking their lips at any of the Super Bowl matchups. Sure, Tom Brady and the Patriots are rather played out, but Brady vs. Brees or Goff brings plenty of narrative to spin. But any of the four potential Super Bowl matchups will be interesting.
The Saints are a field goal favorite against the Rams in a rematch of a Week 9 shootout. The Saints won that one 45-35. I don’t think we see nearly that kind of shootout this time around. It’s not an easy pick, but I think the Saints end up covering and this game goes under the 56.5 point total. The Rams run defense is a mess, so look for plenty of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. And considering the Rams rushing success last week, I think they focus on the ground as well. That should keep the score down to a certain extent.
The afternoon features the Chiefs as a field goal favorite over the Patriots. I don’t like going with chalk after last week’s chalk performances, but I’m laying the points with Kansas City. The Chiefs are scoring over 32 points a game at home, while the Patriots are giving up six more points per game on the road than they are at home. New England is not nearly as good on the road, and it’s going to show in this one. That being said, I’ll take the over with these two dynamic offenses. It will be really cold in Kansas City, but with no real wind issues expected, I don’t think the offenses will be slowed down.
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
When: Sunday, January 20, 12:05 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers
Radio: Rams Radio Network| Saints Radio Network
Online Streaming: FOXSportsGo
Odds: Saints -3, 56.5
Rams blog: Turf Show Times
Saints blog: Canal Street Chronicles
New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
When: Sunday, January 20, 3:40 p.m. PT
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson, Jay Feely, Gene Steratore
Radio: Patriots Radio Network | Chiefs Radio Network
Online Streaming: CBS Sports
Odds: Chiefs -3, 56
Patriots blog: Pats Pulpit
Chiefs blog: Arrowhead Pride