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NFL followers have barely caught their breath after what many referred to as the best weekend in play-off historical past.
However now it is time for the Convention Championship video games, which is able to resolve the 2 groups that can line up at Tremendous Bowl 56 on 13 February.
Not solely have been all 4 of final week’s divisional spherical video games received on the final play, however the prime seeds in every Convention have been dumped out – the Tennessee Titans and the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
That meant a untimely finish to the season for the MVP favorite, Inexperienced Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. It was additionally the top of the highway for seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner Tom Brady and his defending champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The veteran quarterbacks at the moment are stated to be considering retirement whereas two of the brand new breed put together to battle it out within the type of Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow for the AFC title.
In the meantime, the Los Angeles Rams purpose to achieve a Tremendous Bowl being performed in their very own stadium. They only should get previous five-time winners the San Francisco 49ers.
“It is all on the road,” stated BBC pundit Jason Bell. “When it comes right down to the ultimate 4, gamers aren’t leaving something on the sector as a result of it is over after this. There isn’t any tomorrow.”
Sunday’s Convention Championship video games (away staff first, occasions in GMT)
- Cincinnati Bengals v Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (20:00)
- San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams (23:30)
Will Kansas Metropolis make it three in a row?
The Buffalo Payments are extensively thought of one of many prime two groups within the AFC Convention however the play-off draw pitted them in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs final week.
And their younger stars Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen produced a quarterback shootout which exceeded expectations, with Mahomes and the Chiefs prevailing in time beyond regulation.
Mahomes, 26, has led Kansas Metropolis to the AFC Championship recreation in all 4 seasons as a starter, with the Chiefs the primary staff to host a championship recreation 4 years working.
They’re now one win from turning into simply the fourth staff to make three straight Tremendous Bowls, having overwhelmed San Francisco two years in the past earlier than dropping to Tampa Bay final 12 months.
Tight finish Travis Kelce and large receiver Tyreek Hill have been key males throughout these runs, and trailing with 13 seconds left in opposition to the Payments, Mahomes once more turned to his most-trusted targets to get the Chiefs inside vary to make the game-tying area purpose which pressured time beyond regulation.
Mahomes then discovered Kelce for the game-winning landing to spark ecstatic scenes at Arrowhead, the place Mahomes is now 7-1 within the play-offs. Cincinnati, although, beat the Chiefs 34-31 simply 4 weeks in the past.
“As nice as Kansas Metropolis performed final week, there was a whole lot of emotion,” stated Bell. “To me, that is at all times a lure. We noticed it with the Minnesota Miracle (2017 season play-offs). The following week the Vikings simply disappeared. I am apprehensive concerning the Chiefs however hopefully, due to their expertise, it will not be a let-down.”
Can the Bengals go from worst to first?
Simply two years in the past Cincinnati completed with the worst file within the NFL, which means they’d the primary decide within the 2020 draft.
With that they chose quarterback Joe Burrow. Then with the fifth decide of the 2021 draft they selected large receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and the previous faculty team-mates picked up from the place they left off.
Chase had 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns in that Bengals win in Cincinnati on 2 January, serving to him set a brand new season file for many receiving yards by a rookie.
The pair then led the Bengals to their first play-off win in 31 years on wildcard weekend, earlier than upsetting Tennessee final week for his or her first ever away win within the post-season.
However Cincinnati’s offensive line has struggled to guard Burrow. The 25-year-old was sacked 9 occasions by the Titans, tying a play-off file, but he nonetheless managed to cause them to victory.
“Anticipate a whole lot of double protection on Ja’Marr Chase,” stated BBC pundit Osi Umenyiora. “However that’ll depart wide-open areas for (large receivers) Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, and the Bengals have a quarterback who can get these guys the soccer.”
Rams out for revenge
Final 12 months Tampa Bay turned the primary staff to play in a Tremendous Bowl in their very own stadium. This 12 months the Los Angeles Rams can emulate that feat with the NFL showpiece being staged at SoFi Stadium.
Sean McVay’s males even have dwelling benefit for the NFC Championship recreation as San Francisco knocked out Inexperienced Bay final week, however the 49ers have received their final six video games with the Rams, together with the ultimate recreation of the common season.
With San Francisco 17-0 down late within the second quarter and out of the play-off locations, the Rams had the prospect to finish their divisional rivals’ season. However the 49ers fought again to win in time beyond regulation and sneak into the post-season.
Cooper Kupp led the league for receptions, receiving yards and landing receptions after the Rams traded for quarterback Matt Stafford final 12 months. They added large receiver Odell Beckham Jr and linebacker Von Miller to their star-studded roster mid-season, and all have delivered within the play-offs.
Kupp and Beckham have three touchdowns between them and Stafford led a game-winning drive final week whereas Miller, together with Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd, put strain on Bucs quarterback Brady all through.
The Rams’ vaunted defensive trio purpose to do the identical on Sunday in opposition to San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo.
“The Rams triggered havoc final week and I see them getting after Jimmy G,” stated Bell. “They should cease the run and power him to throw into tight home windows as a result of, in case you enable him to, everybody is aware of he can do one thing that impacts the sport negatively.”
Can the 49ers hold rolling?
San Francisco have successfully been enjoying knockout soccer for 4 weeks as they needed to win their final two video games of the common season to make it into the play-offs, they usually’ve since claimed upset wins at Dallas and Inexperienced Bay.
The 49ers’ defence restricted the Packers to simply 10 factors whereas their offence leans closely on their run recreation, through Elijah Mitchell and dual-threat receiver Deebo Samuel.
Garoppolo and the 49ers failed to shut out Tremendous Bowl 54, permitting the Chiefs to combat again within the last quarter.
And though he is thrown six interceptions and simply two touchdowns within the final 4 video games, the much-maligned quarterback has managed to marshal Kyle Shanahan’s facet again to the brink of the large recreation.
“Folks would possibly say the 49ers aren’t imagined to be right here however they’ve needed to scratch and claw their means in and normally that offers you a psychological benefit,” stated Umenyiora.
“I believe Rams-Chiefs is the match-up all people needs to see. However there’s going to be just a little monkey wrench thrown in someplace. I simply do not know whether or not it will be the AFC or the NFC.”
Bell added: “The NFC recreation is a match-up for NFL purists. It is all concerning the schematics as a result of the coaches (McVay and Shanahan) know one another so properly. Let’s examine what they do, who has the higher plan.
“However I would like Rams-Chiefs. I have to see these big-arm quarterbacks (Stafford and Mahomes) go at it within the Tremendous Bowl.”
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