Championship Weekend Preview

And then there were four teams left. Championship Sunday is here. We have four teams that have all played in at least one Superbowl, with three of the four left standing having won at least one title. Its one team that nobody really saw being here, two that were expected and one that played above expectations. Lets not wait anymore. Here's how Championship Sunday goes down.

First up, with a 3:05 kickoff ts the AFC Championship game between the Tennessee Titans taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. Tennessee is in the AFC title game after beating the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens to reach the title game. It marks the fifth time ever for Tennessee in the AFC title game, last winning it in 1999. The Titans are now 17-20 lifetime in the playoffs. As for Kansas City, they got by the Texans to reach the AFC title game, the fifth time in team history they have done that. Kansas City is trying to erase last years memory of falling to New England in overtime. KC is now 11-19 in the playoffs. The Titans and Chiefs franchises last faced each other for a title in the 1962 American Football Legue Championship Game, played in Houston, Texas. The Chiefs, then known as the Dallas Texans, defeated the Titans, then known as the Houston Oilers, 20–17 in double overtime. Tennessee won the regular-season meeting in Week 10, 35–32.

This is going to be an interesting game. First off, you have the Titans who have been hotter than a wild fire the last few weeks. A lot of that had to do with the strength of Derek Henry, who's rushed for 182 and 195 yards respectively in each of the Titans wins in this year's playoff games. What's even more amazing is the fact that Ryan Tannehill has had low numbers. By that I mean, he has failed to throw for 100 or more yards in either playoff game. It's because Henry has been as good as he has, Tannehill hasn't had to throw all that much. When you got a run game that's working as well as the Titans use, then the pass game is not really needed. On the other side of the ball, the Titans defense has been good, but will need to improve this week. They have had trouble playing tight coverage against opposing receivers.

That's going to be a problem against this well balanced receiving core that Kansas City has.Patrick Mahomes has no problem getting the ball to the likes oif Tyreek Hill and Travice Kelce. Both guys have been so effective in this playoffs. Combine Mahomes running ability, which was on display against Houston last week, along with Damien Williams, and Kansas City has a balanced attack. The defense was able to step their game up after getting trounced early against Houston. The defense is going to have to be on its game if they want to stand even a remote chance of stopping Derek Henry.

There's no denying that Derek Henry is going to be good again this week. But he can't do it all and Tannehill won't be able to keep up with Mahomes and company. Give the Titans all the credit for getting this far and giving KC a fight, but at the end of the day, the better team will come out on top and reach the big game for the first time since the days of Hank Stram.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Titans 21

Finally, with a 6:40 kickoff, its the NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers taking on the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco got here by beating the Vikings in the divisional round, making this their 16th appearance in the NFC title game. The 49ers are looking for their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2012. San Francisco is now 31-21 lifetime in the playoffs. As for the Packers, they got here by beating the Seattle Seahawks. This marks Green Bay's 12th NFC title game appearance. Green Bay is looking for it's first Super Bowl appearance since 2010. Green Bay is 35-22 lifetime in the playoffs. The 49ers blew out the Packers the regular season week 12 meeting 37–8.

For some reason, I had felt going into the playoffs, that the Packers had been an average 13-3 team this year. That was until last week, when Rogers threw for 243 yards and Devante Adams went off for 160 yards in the receiving game. Oh and to prove how big Adams was last week, consider this. Adams had 10 cathes for 160 yards, while all other pass-catchers caught eight passes for 83 yards combined. That's how big he was against the Seahawks. They built a 21-3 lead on Seattle, before having to hold on. That's what might worry me this week. The defense leaked a little in the 2nd half against a good Seahawks team.

We know Rogers has been able to handle pressure in this type of game. Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't just yet. But with the type of year he's had, teaming up with George Kittle, they've been really good this year. They have a balanced attack which could cause problems for that Packers defense. As for their own defense, Nick Bosa has been leading the charge and have been known to put a lot of pressure on the opposing QB's.

This game is going to be a nail bitter and coming down to whoever gets the ball last. Its going to be a slugferst of a game and never count Aaron Rogers out, he''s that good. At the end of the day I feel the Niners are the better all around team.

Prediction: 49ers 30, Packers 27