Chiefs & 49ers

by Aaron Jaffe ‘21

After one of the most bizarre and entertaining wildcard card and divisional weekends, the NFC championship is set. With all the upsets in both conferences, the top-two seeded teams heading into January will occupy both spots in the big game.

What to watch for: Green Bay has a defense that doesn’t match the Niners, but more than capable of holding up and making stops when needed. San Francisco is getting healthy on the defensive side of the ball and the run game is for real. The 49ers should be looking at this like theirs to lose. They have a stronger pass rush, secondary and linebacker group. Rodgers have obvious experience and talent over Jimmy G but over the course of this season the better quarterback was Garapollo. Other than Davante Adams, San Francisco is deeper at wideout and has the ultimate x-factor in star tight end George Kittle.

Bold Prediction: Rodgers throws for under 200 yards but gets a shot thanks to a big timely play by the Green Bay defense, but ultimately falls short.

Super Bowl Prediction: Chiefs 32 –– 49ers 30

by Ryan Duvall ‘21

After winning in their divisional round games, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers are set to play in the NFC championship. The 49ers have emerged as the favorites, as they beat Green Bay in the regular season and have home field advantage, but it should still be a fun game.

What to watch for: If the Packers want any chance of winning, they have to pressure 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo early and often. This is only Garoppolo’s second playoff game, and if Green Bay’s elite pass rush can get to him it will for sure disrupt the 49ers’ offense. On the other side of things, San Francisco’s main concern should be Packers wideout Davante Adams. Adams is always an x-factor, as he went for 160 yards and two touchdowns against a strong Seattle defense last week.

Bold Prediction: Garoppolo will silence his doubters, outplaying Aaron Rodgers and leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Garoppolo will go for 300 yards and a career five touchdown passes, with three of them going to Kendrick Bourne.

Super Bowl Prediction: Chiefs 42 –– 49ers 27

Titans & Packers 

by Adam Pfeiffer ‘20

The Titans’s surprising playoff run has been powered by star running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 377 yards in the two upset wins over the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans are 9-3 since Week 6, one of the NFL’s hottest teams, yet remain under the radar. The Chiefs, on the other hand, overcame a 24-0 deficit against the Houston Texans to win 51-31, and remain one of the best teams in the NFL, and are the clear favorite to emerge from the AFC.

What to watch for: This game will come down to Tennessee’s run game. Establishing dominance on the ground with Henry is key if Tennessee will stand a chance against the Chiefs’ high powered offense, led by reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City can score fast and often, so Tennessee must slow the tempo of the game and limit the amount of drives Mahomes has to work with.

Bold Prediction: Henry will top 250 total yards from scrimmage and score 3 touchdowns, outdueling Mahomes’s 450 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, as the Tennessee Titans will continue their Cinderella run to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Pick: Titans 24 –– Packers 16

by Jimmy Yates ‘21

As the Titans shocked the Ravens 28-12, the Titans heart and soul, Derrick Henry, rushed for 195 yards and proved he can run effectively against elite defenses. Meanwhile, the Chiefs beat the Texans 51-31, scoring seven touchdowns after falling behind 24-0. Although the Titans won the regular season matchup 35-32, the Titans cannot afford any mistakes against Kansas City’s explosive offense, or they’ll fare worse than the Texans.

What to watch for:Although the Chiefs have exceptional talent and speed at wide receiver, the young Titans cornerbacks match up well against the Chiefs. The Titans’ weak spot is the middle of the field where Travis Kelce can scorch defenses like he did against the Texans.

Bold Prediction: Patrick Mahomes will throw three touchdowns and 300+ yards. Derrick Henry will be held under 100 yards.

Super Bowl Prediction: 49ers 31 –– Chiefs 24