Looking for a one-stop primer for NFL Championship Sunday — complete with point spread, television and satellite radio broadcast information and informed predictions?
Look no further. Touchdown Wire has you covered.
The AFC Championship Game promises to provide new blood in Super Bowl LIV, which is slated for Sunday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox. The Titans made their only Super Bowl appearance 20 years ago, while the Chiefs last appeared in the big game 50 years ago.
The NFC Championship Game offers a matchup of two teams familiar with Super Bowl appearances and postseason success. The Green Bay Packers will have to be at their best to topple a San Francisco 49ers team that beat them 37-8 in Week 12. Conversely, the 49ers probably want to get out to a big lead and apply pressure to Aaron Rodgers.
Let’s explore the matchups. Without further ado, here are your NFL conference championship game previews for Sunday, Jan. 19:
AFC Championship Game: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Titans 9-7, 2-0; Chiefs 12-4, 1-0
Line: Chiefs by 7½
Satellite radio: Titans feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 830), Chiefs feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 815)
Titans’ keys: Tennessee must try and jump out to a big lead early. Kansas City erased a 24-point deficit in a quarter of play in their divisional round win over the Texans. But the Titans have an ace in the hole when leading: RB Derrick Henry, who is 6-3 and 247 pounds. In Week 10, Henry thrashed the Chiefs on the ground for 188 yards and two TDs on 22 attempts.
Chiefs’ keys: Don’t fall for the play-action passing game. The Titans are going to get their yards on the ground, but what Kansas City can’t afford to do is give up big passing plays that are set up by the run. In Week 10 (a 35-32 Titans win over the Chiefs), QB Ryan Tannehill connected on a play-action pass of 52 yards that set up Tennessee’s first score (also a play-action pass). Chiefs CBs Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland will have to stay disciplined, especially without the help of now-injured S Juan Thornhill on the back end.
Matchup to watch: Titans DE Jeffery Simmons vs. Chiefs LG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Simmons seems to be the defensive difference-maker for Tennessee despite only netting two combined tackles against the Chiefs in Week 10. Duvernay-Tardif has been the clear weak link in Kansas City’s offensive interior. This looks to be the key battle in the trenches to watch in both the running game and the passing game.
Who wins? The Chiefs want to reach their first Super Bowl in 50 years, taking out another team that beat them during the season. Chiefs 37, Titans 24
— Charles Goldman
NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Packers 13-3, 1-0; 49ers 13-3, 1-0
Line: 49ers by 7½
Satellite radio: Packers feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 811), 49ers feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 827)
Packers’ keys: The Packers have to get RB Aaron Jones and the run game going. The 49ers got an early lead in Week 12 and forced Green Bay to get one-dimensional. The result was Packers QB Aaron Rodgers spending most of the night under duress. Newly signed do-everything RB Tyler Ervin will add a wrinkle of speed that could help attack the edges of a vulnerable 49ers run defense. On defense, the Packers need to slow the 49ers’ run game. That starts up front with DE Za’Darius Smith and DL Kenny Clark. LB Blake Martinez is key in the middle as well in stopping the run and helping slow San Francisco TE George Kittle.
49ers’ keys: QB Jimmy Garoppolo had 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the divisional round against the Vikings. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to get away with such limited production from their quarterback. However, if RBs Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert go for nearly 5 yards per carry again, the 49ers will roll. On defense, they need a repeat of their Week 12 performance versus Green Bay when they had five sacks. DE Dee Ford is a game-changer in the pass rush and didn’t play in Week 12.
Matchup to watch: Packers LT David Bakhtiari vs. 49ers DE Nick Bosa. Bosa is the driving force behind the 49ers’ terrific pass rush. If Bakhtiari can win most of his snaps against Bosa, it’ll eliminate some of the danger of San Francisco’s defensive front.
Who wins? The 49ers’ multifaceted offensive attack combined with a healthy defense should be enough. 49ers 31, Packers 27
—Kyle Madson
Lines by BetMGM.com
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