Steve Penepent | @Puma585
Sunday, January 24, 2016 | BataviasBest.org
It is here, Championship Weekend! I went 3-1 last weekend only missing on the Seahawks this time but this weekend we find out who will go to Superbowl 50!
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos
This is what the Broncos wanted and frankly it is exactly what they needed to see just how good they are. Tom Brady is 2-6 all time in Mile High, but Peyton Manning still isn’t the same. Manning always has come up short in big games especially when the kickoff temperature is less than 40 degrees, he’s 0-5. New England rarely has to go on the road in the playoffs and since they have to here I think the Broncos rise to the occasion and slay the mighty Patriots because, they absolutely have to. The Broncos also have something else on their side, even though Peyton may not be quite right, he’s 3-1 in the AFC Championship in his career, 3rd-best win percentage in conference championship games since the 1970 Merger.
My Pick: Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers
The NFC Championship Game will be the Cardinals 4th road playoff game since losing at Minnesota in the 1998 Divisional round. It will be their 3rd road game at Carolina during this stretch. They lost in the Wild Card round last season and beat the Panthers in the Divisional round in 2008 on the way to the Super Bowl. The Panthers led the NFL in points, while the Cardinals were second. This will be the 12th postseason game since the merger (5th in the last 20 years) where the top two teams in scoring squared off, and the first time in NFL history where 2 Heisman Trophy winners will face each other in the playoffs. I like both teams and how they’ve played this season but this can go either way. My only concerns for both teams are can the Cardinals establish the run, and can Carolina, if out to a big lead, finish off their opponent without letting off the gas. Carolina is a great team, 15-1, and Cam Newton is the player that is built for this kind of moment. So I think he takes advantage of it.
My Pick: Carolina Panthers
So there it is, my picks to be in Superbowl 50 are the Denver Broncos & Carolina Panthers. This is where the cream rises to the top and each game will not disappoint. We will get the Pro Bowl in between the Conference Championships and the Superbowl so enjoy these games and I’ll be back with Superbowl 50 thoughts and predictions!
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