WHAT WE LEARNED AND WHAT WE KNOW
After a season full of passing accolades, offensive stats through the roof, countless passing touchdowns, and enough scoring to have the great teams of the 90s looking prehistoric compared to this new wave of offensive minds and young quarterbacks; the age old truth of defense and running the ball wins football games still remains true.
Granite for the first time in the Super Bowl era, we have all (4) top ranked offensive teams still standing in the conference championship games. Kansas City (1st) - 35.3 ppg / LA Rams (2nd) - 32.9 ppg / New Orleans (3rd) - 31.5 ppg / New England (4th) - 27.3 ppg. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Patriots QB Tom Brady, and Rams QB Jared Goff all threw for at least (4,300) passing yards this season. While Saints QB Drew Brees, Goff, and Mahomes (50 TDs) all recorded at least (30 TDs) passing this season. Young Patrick Mahomes in his first full season as a starter for Andy Reid and the Chiefs posted (50 TDs), a feat only done by two other future Hall of Fame quarterbacks; Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Drew Brees recorded a career high (74.4%) completion percentage this season. Rams QB Jared Goff has improved his stats each year under head coach Sean McVay. Goff improved statistically in passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdown passes in each of the last (2) seasons. However; being said, defense and a strong rushing attack has been the formula for success in the postseason.
Starting Saturday where we seen the Colts come into Arrowhead stadium winners of (10) of (11) games with a red hot Andrew Luck and a revitalized offensive line get destroyed from opening kick. Luck found no consistent flow in the offense and didn't complete his first pass til midway through the second quarter. One of the worst defenses in the regular season, Kansas City, had Luck bottled up all game. He and the Colts offense went (0/9) on 3rd down in comparison to (9/14) vs Houston. Luck who had only been sacked (18) times all season was sacked (3) times Saturday and Indy could never find the running game like they did in the wild card round. They had (87) yards on just (14) carries but after trailing the whole game, Luck and the offense threw the ball (36) times and really found no success in the air or ground. The Colts didn't score their first offensive touchdown until it was (5) mins left into the 4th quarter. Meanwhile the Chiefs scored all (4) of their touchdowns from the ground in route to (180) rush yards on (33) attempts. Fifth year pro RB Damien Williams was (3rd) on the depth chart behind then Kansas City RB Kareem Hunt and RB Spencer Ware; however has started the last (3) games including Saturday rushing for (25 car / 129 yards / TD). 
Sunday's game we got a taste of more. The early game we witnessed the legendary stature of Brady/Belichick and the Patriots dynasty continue to flourish. A (35-7) lead at halftime and a final score that was not nearly as indicative as the tone of the game. Brian Flores the signal caller on defense proved to the Dolphins why he should be the right hire for their head coaching vacancy forced (4) three and outs on the Chargers, who scored on their first possession of the game then not again until the final minutes of the 3rd quarter. New England has a top (10) defense but they give up a lot of yards not points. Chargers QB Philip Rivers had to pass (51) times because the Patriots defense only allowed (19) total rushing yards. Rivers was sacked only twice, however, had pressure in his face all game which had Rivers off balance, flustered, and discombobulated. They made it as uncomfortable as it could be for the veteran QB as he and the Chargers fell to (0-8) vs Brady and company and lost their first road game after going (9-0) away from Los Angeles. Rookie RB Sony Michel ran for a New England rookie record (3 TDs). Michel had (109) yards and (3) scores in the first half alone. Rex Burkhead added another rushing TD for (4) on the ground for New England. 
The Saints used their "dome" field advantage to take care of the defending Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Going down (14-0) fresh out the gates, the Saints were on the ropes early but didn't panic. Some trickery from one of the best signal callers in the game head coach Sean Payton, an (18) play 92 yards and (11:29) mins drive on their first possession of the second half, and the second INT of the night for Saints CB Marshon Lattimore proved to be the difference. Philly with a pedestrian rushing attack only had (49) yards on the ground. New Orleans forced the game into backup QB and SB 52 MVP Nick Foles hands. Even though Alshon Jeffrey hands ultimately cost the Eagles any title repeat; New Orleans shutdown the Eagles and held them scoreless for (45) minutes. Besides that (11) minute drive the Saints dominated the clock, controlling time of possession, (2 to 1). They piled up (137) rushing yards and won the turnover battle which helped the Saints prevail to the NFC championship game.LOOKING AHEAD
THE LOSERS:
COLTS - Get a true #1 RB, another WR opposite of TY Hilton, special teams to replace kicker Vinateri if retires, continue to improve defensive line.
COWBOYS - Might as well pay Dak; just don't overpay him, Give Zeke his contract extension, cut ties with LB Sean Lee, resign Amari Cooper; core (Dak/Zeke/Coop), depth at LB and DB, veteran receiver and reliable TE.
CHARGERS - Improve coaching all around the board, continue to draft well, prepare for life after Philip Rivers.
EAGLES - $20 million reasons to keep Nick Foles, Carson Wentz health, defense aging fast, help depleted rushing attack, draft well.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
SUNDAY 3:05 PM FOX
LOUSIANA SUPERDOME
RAMS AT SAINTS
First of (2) rematches, the Saints handed then the Rams their first loss of the season (45-35) in these same friendly confines of the Superdome. A back and forth affair from two of the elite offenses in the league was on display then and will be on display now. Defense, a few wrinkles. All pro DT Sheldon Rankins, (2nd) on the team in sacks with (8) will be a no go after a torn Achilles suffered vs the Eagles. While the Rams have CB Aqib Talib who is no stranger to conference championship games. Talib is a huge part of the secondary success for Los Angeles. He led the team in tackles in the divisional round. If Aaron Donald can get pressure early and force some key turnovers and help Goff and the offense out with good field position, signs bode well for the Rams. That pressure up front is key to an easier night for their wishy washy secondary. I do not see the rust on New Orleans early like they obviously encountered Sunday. Saints WR Michael Thomas torched Rams DB Marcus Peters with (12 rec / 211 yards / TD). His (211) receiving yards was a franchise record as Thomas comes off another (12) reception game alongside (171) yards and a score. New held RB Todd Gurley in check for the most part on the ground and through the air, now the task of handling RB CJ Anderson. Anderson has reeled off (3) consecutive (100) yards games, (167, 132, 123) as he brings a different dynamic to the rushing attack. The Saints didn't see Anderson the first go around. WR Brandin Cooks made it look easy eclipsing (100) yards in their first matchup. Missing WR Cooper Kupp who made some big plays in the first matchup will be key as well as backup QB Taysum Hill and how Sean Payton incorporates him in the offense. New Orleans secondary has been their weakness all season. They rank (29th) against the pass and clearly still has holes to fix by Sunday. Whichever duo of backs, (NOLA) - Kamara/Ingram and (LAR) - Gurley/Anderson can expose the other first; that will open up the passing game which we know both teams can light it up with. Being said, Drew Brees and Sean Payton are undefeated, (6-0) in the playoffs at home, hard to see that changing now...
SAINTS 42 RAMS 35
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
SUNDAY 6:40 PM CBS
ARROWHEAD STADIUM
PATRIOTS AT CHIEFS
Another rematch, another team that suffered their first loss of the season, another Brady/Belichick AFC title game. This will be the (8th) consecutive trip to the AFC championship game and (13th) in their era and time in Foxborough. Hard to go against greatness like this. However, Patrick Mahomes seems to make his own greatness as he goes along. The stats are their but his demeanor and poise is what separates Mahomes from the rest of the young crop of QBs. The two QBs battled it out with similar numbers in week 6. Mahomes (23-36 / 352 yards / 4 TDs / 2 INTs) and Brady (24-35 / 340 yards / TD); Mahomes turnovers ended up being the difference. WR Tyreke Hill has had his way with the Patriots (7 rec / 142 yards / 3 TDs) games averages close to those numbers and leads the NFL with touchdowns of (30+) yards or more since entering the league. He and TE Travis Kelce will have to come up big once more as well as their new found rushing attack. As proven during these playoffs, running the ball is a vital piece of time management, resting defense and keeping the other prolific offense off the field. The Los Angeles Chargers made no adjustments to defending the Patriots last weekend. A zone coverage that might worked against a rookie will not be viable versus the G.O.A.T; Tom Brady. Brady picked apart a very good Chargers defense and the Chiefs know they have no time for blunders. Justin Houston and Dee Ford both had sacks vs Indy but pressure won't just do it versus New England. An opportunistic defense will help. Finding ways to get either team to turn the ball over is key. The Chiefs secondary has been vulnerable all season, while New England secondary has giving up yards in bunches however, a more experience bunch out of the two teams. Winning the field position will come from who is winning on 3rd down. RB Sony Michel coming off a career game ran for (24 car / 106 yards / 2 TDs) in their week 6 matchup. RB James White continues to be a mismatch for opposing linebackers and WR Julian Edelman ability to get open when their is no opening has paid dividends. For either team, a clean pocket will be a long game for the other. If both defenses do not show up and this end up being another shootout; seems to favor the home team and the dominant Chiefs offense. Kansas City will host their first AFC title game ever, a (52) year span. A young hip QB, newly established rushing attack, home field advantage, weapons galore on offense, experienced head coach; you know who I'm going with.....
PATRIOTS 37 CHIEFS 34
SUPER BOWL 53 PREDICTIONS
NEW ORLEANS VS NEW ENGLAND
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