We’re now into the NFL closing 4, and by the top of this weekend we’ll know what the Tremendous Bowl LVII matchup in Arizona can be.
As ordinary, we anticipate some loopy stuff to occur when these convention championship video games kick off. So, right here we’re as soon as once more with our daring predictions: three for each the NFC and AFC title video games.
NFC Championship Recreation: 49ers at Eagles
Brock Purdy struggles mightily, throws two interceptions
Brock Purdy has performed the miraculous: gone from the final choose of the 2022 and a third-string quarterback to 7-0 because the San Francisco 49ers beginning quarterback with a 116.0 passer ranking in that span since Week 14, the very best within the NFL and the perfect passer ranking by a 49ers participant in a seven-game span since Corridor of Famer Steve Younger in 1996-97. It is outstanding. Certainly one of his most spectacular traits is his ball safety with 14 landing passes and solely two interceptions, none within the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Purdy’s excellent run will come crashing to a halt with him taking place in flames on Sunday in Philadelphia in opposition to the Eagles, the workforce that has essentially the most sacks in soccer this season, 75, together with the playoffs (the third-most in a single season in NFL historical past together with the postseason) and the second-highest stress price within the NFL (39%). The rookie had carried out effectively below stress in his first six begins, registering a 121.2 passer ranking when below stress.
Nevertheless, when going through Defensive Participant of the 12 months finalist Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys entrance, Purdy wilted as he accomplished solely three of his 11 passes when below stress for a 39.6 passer ranking. The Eagles cross rush must be much more a battle for the 49ers offensive line to comprise since it is not centered round predominantly one participant. Philadelphia has 4 gamers with double-digit sacks this season — linebacker Haason Reddick (16.0), defensive sort out Javon Hargrave (11.0), defensive finish Josh Sweat (11.0), and defensive finish Brandon Graham (11.0) — essentially the most in NFL historical past.
Comp pct
54%
27%
Go yards/att
8.3
2.2
Passer ranking
121.2
39.6
* Eagles: 2nd-highest stress price (39%) and most sacks (75) this season
When Purdy does make his eighth profession begin on Sunday, he’ll change into the he fifth rookie quarterback to begin a convention championship recreation becoming a member of Shaun King on the 1999 Buccaneers, Ben Roethlisberger on the 2004 Steelers, Joe Flacco on the 2008 Ravens, and Mark Sanchez on the 2009 Jets. These quarterbacks went a mixed 0-4 whereas throwing 4 passing touchdowns and interceptions. Purdy will run that document to 0-5 and add a pair extra interceptions to that cumulative field rating.
Jalen Hurts has 4 whole TDs, over 350 whole yards
The 49ers protection is the NFL’s greatest by way of scoring — 16.3 factors per recreation allowed — and whole yards — 300.6 whole yards per recreation allowed — however numerous what they do depends upon the NFL’s sacks chief, defensive finish Nick Bosa (18.5), creating pressures and racking up sacks. That protection can be in for a little bit of whiplash after going up in opposition to a Dallas Cowboys workforce per week in the past that performed predominantly with out their greatest working again (Tony Pollard) and a quarterback in Dak Prescott who solely had eyes for one broad receiver, CeeDee Lamb.
Their problem this week for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, considered one of three quarterbacks in NFL historical past to whole over 3,500 passing yards and over 750 speeding yards in a single season, presents a completely completely different host of issues for San Francisco’s vaunted protection as a real dual-threat. Plus, the Eagles can mitigate the 49ers prolific cross rush with the perfect offensive line in soccer.
Eagles offensive line success this season
Particular person offensive linemen have mixed for the fewest sacks (14) and the bottom stress price (3.5%) allowed this season
Heart Jason Kelce and proper sort out Lane Johnson have allowed zero sacks between the 2 of them
1st in cross block grade and third in run block grade, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus
The complete offensive line has been chosen for the Professional Bowl or chosen as alternate
Hurts and the Eagles are one of many NFL’s most multi-faceted offenses: they’ve both had over 300 passing yards or over 200 speeding yards in 5 of Jalen Hurts’ final six begins. In brief, they’ve just about been alternating beating workforce’s via the air vs. on the bottom. This week, it will seem that the air can be the transfer.
Eagles yardage in Hurts’ begins since Week 12
Week 12
137
363
Week 13
386
67
Week 14
184
253
Week 15
309
112
Week 18
207
135
Divisional spherical
148
268
One more reason Hurts may accumulate yards shortly on Sunday is as a result of he led the NFL in completion proportion (50%), passing touchdowns and passer ranking on throws of 25 or extra yards downfield this season. On the flip facet, the 49ers have been one of many league’s worst deep passing defenses rating twenty fifth or worse in the entire aforementioned classes.
Passing 25+ yards downfield this season, together with playoffs
Comp pct
41%**
50%*
TD-INT
5-2**
10-1*
Passer ranking
106.6**
125.0*
* Leads NFL; ** twenty fifth or worse in NFL
Between nice safety upfront and a inclined 49ers secondary, Jalen Hurts goes roll in opposition to the 49ers for 4 whole touchdowns and over 350 whole yards.
A.J. Brown has nothing to complain about, will get 150+ yards, TD
A.J. Brown gave the impression to be visibly upset on the Eagles sidelines within the midst of Philadelphia blowing out the New York Giants within the divisional spherical, 38-7. He solely had three catches for 22 receiving yards in run-heavy strategy that night time. Nevertheless, will probably be all smiles for Brown, whose 1,496 receiving yards this season set the Eagles’ single-season document, as he goes up in opposition to the inclined 49ers secondary talked about above
He had seven receiving landing of 25 or extra air yards this season, tied for the second-most by any participant in a season since air yards have been first tracked in 2006. He will add to that whole in an enormous method.
Most receiving TDs on throws of 25+ yards downfield since 2006
2022
Davante Adams
8
2022
A.J. Brown
7
2010
Mike Wallace
7
2007
Randy Moss
7
Along with being a subpar deep passing protection this season, the 49ers have struggled to maintain up with opposing wideouts all season alongside as they ranks twenty fifth or worse in quite a few classes whereas Jalen Hurts is a high 10 passer when throwing to receivers, together with Brown and DeVonta Smith, the primary Eagles receiver duo every over 1,000 receiving yards in the identical season in workforce historical past.
NFL rankings focusing on WRs this season
Comp pct
thirtieth
tenth
Go yards/att
twenty fifth
4th
Go TD
T-Twenty sixth
T-Sixth
Regardless of being the league’s high scoring and whole yardage protection, the 49ers have allowed their opponents’ high broad receiver to go over 100 yards in three of their final 4 video games. Brown will achieve this simply and seize a landing or two.
100-yard broad receivers vs. 49ers since Week 17
Week 17 at Raiders
Davante Adams
7-153-2
Wild-card spherical vs Seahawks
D.Okay. Metcalf
10-136-2
Divisional spherical vs Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb
10-117-0
AFC Championship Recreation: Bengals at Chiefs
Travis Kelce units postseason single-game receptions document
Everybody on Earth is aware of that when there’s a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs soccer recreation, 2022 first-team All-Professional tight finish Travis Kelce goes to catch numerous passes. He led all tight ends in catches (110), receiving yards (1,338) and receiving touchdowns (12) this season, and he is en path to turning into one of the prolific postseason pass-catchers in NFL historical past.
His 120 playoff receptions are the second-most all-time behind solely the receiving GOAT Jerry Rice (120); his 1,389 playoff receiving yards are tied for the third-most all-time with Rob Gronkowski; and his 14 receiving touchdowns are the third-most all-time, however he’ll leap into second behind solely Rice in that class with simply two extra scores.
Kelce caught 14 passes, tied for the third-most in a playoff recreation all-time and one in need of tying the single-game document, for 98 yards and two touchdowns per week in the past in Kansas Metropolis’s divisional spherical win in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Mahomes lower than 100%, he’ll have to rely much more on his safety blanket since he will not have the ability to use his scrambling magic to create as many passing lanes. Kelce finally ends up threatening the NFL’s all-time single-game catches document with 20 receptions, one in need of former Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall’s 21 that he had in opposition to the Colts in Week 14 of the 2009 season.
Ja’Marr Chase torches Okay.C. once more (10 catches, 200 yards, 2 TDs)
Just one broad receiver has dominated the Chiefs like Ja’Marr Chase: Corridor of Famer Lance Alworth. The Bengal connection of Joe Burrow to Chase has been one which Kansas Metropolis has but to gradual within the groups’ final three conferences, all Cincinnati wins. Burrow has accomplished over 80% % of his passes to his former school teammate for over 400 yards and 4 touchdowns within the Bengals’ three-game successful streak of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Joe Burrow focusing on Ja’Marr Chase vs. Chiefs
Comp/att
24/29
Passing yards
417*
Passing yards/att
14.4
Passing touchdowns
4
Passer ranking
144.0
* Most rec yards by any participant in 3-game span vs Chiefs since Lance Alworth from 1965-66
Chase’s three-game domination of the Chiefs secondary has been extra prolific than what Corridor of Famer John Stallworth may do in his greatest three-game stretch in opposition to Kansas Metropolis in addition to Corridor of Famer John Elway’s high wideout, Rod Smith, in his greatest three-game span in opposition to their AFC West rival.
Most receiving yards in 3-game span vs. Chiefs all time*
1963-1964
Lance Alworth
480
1965-1966
Lance Alworth
438
2021-2022
Ja’Marr Chase
417
1998-2000
Rod Smith
405
1982-1985
John Stallworth
400
* Together with playoffs
The Chiefs secondary allowed essentially the most passing touchdowns (33) within the league this common season and the second-highest red-zone landing price (67.3%), forward of solely the Indianapolis Colts (67.9%). Going through one of many NFL’s most suspect secondaries, the Burrow-to-Chase connection will hit in an enormous method over and again and again on Sunday.
Burrow throws successful TD with below 13 seconds left, would not give Mahomes sufficient time
Final postseason, Patrick Mahomes did what appeared not possible, marching Kansas Metropolis down the sector to tie the AFC divisional spherical matchup in opposition to the Buffalo Payments after a Josh Allen landing cross gave the Payments a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds to go. Lightning normally would not strike twice, and it will not achieve this this postseason. The sport can be tied late within the fourth quarter, simply because it has been in every of the final three Bengals-Chiefs video games, and Joe Burrow will throw a landing cross with 11 seconds left within the recreation to interrupt the tie, giving the Bengals a seven-point edge. Mahomes was in a position to get Kansas Metropolis into subject purpose vary in 13 seconds in opposition to Buffalo, however he will not have the ability to go the whole size of the sector in almost that very same period of time. Due to Joe Cool, the Bengals can be hoisting the Lamar Hunt Trophy in Arrowhead Stadium for the second straight season.