Put Your ‘Ultra’ Against the Competition for Sunday’s NFL Playoffs | News, sports, jobs

Steve Brownlee

There are two methods to have a look at this extremely aggressive convention championship spherical within the NFL playoffs.

There have been no actual upsets within the divisional spherical this previous weekend, which is an efficient factor as a result of it left solely the highest 4 groups within the league standing.

We will have an ideal Tremendous Bowl it doesn’t matter what occurs on Sunday.

One other factor that occurred to me whereas watching the Saturday video games—I used to be busy right here on the journal in the course of the Sunday video games—is that it is not a horrible factor that I did not have the Detroit Lions nor (I will assume) the Inexperienced Bay Packers. I do not miss it a lot by not making the playoffs.

Did you count on any of that “our” Actually groups to present the Eagles or 49ers a superb combat?

Not sorry to say, even when they’d have gotten it from Minnesota in the event that they had been fortunate sufficient to be drawn first.

Simply moving into the playoffs would definitely have made for a candy story, particularly for the Lions who’ve been incomes draft picks close to the highest of the draft for practically the previous twenty years.

However I believe we’d have seen how far they needed to go to meet up with the elite league.

It would not have been higher within the AFC. Are you able to think about going to Inexperienced Bay in Kansas Metropolis or Detroit heading to Cincinnati with these groups absolutely within the particular person playoff environment?

Let’s lick our wounds from this low season and possibly one or each groups come again higher subsequent yr.

Now on this week’s picks, listed for seeding, information, sport time and community TV:

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NFC No. 2 San Francisco (15-4) at No. 1 Philadelphia (15-3), 3 p.m. on Sunday, Fox — So far as level distinction goes, they are saying these two video games are the closest they have been in a long time.

I see why. I could make what I really feel is a complete and compelling case for selecting any of those 4 groups.

So I used to be making an attempt to boil it right down to what would actually make a distinction on Sunday.

This is what I may give you – each match has staff strengths shut sufficient for me to cancel it.

Within the NFC sport, it is the defenses. San Fran has been known as time and again as the most effective protection within the NFL, after which I heard Philly is mainly good.

Even when the 49ers have a small benefit, any of them can stand up and take over the sport.

This is what’s completely different – whereas Philly has a considerably inexperienced quarterback in Jalen Hurts who’s additionally coming off a shoulder harm, San Fran has a QB with solely half a season of NFL beneath his belt and hasn’t fairly been handled as any form of caller. high quality alerts. I simply heard on Friday he solely performed a few video games on the street, too.

Regardless that Hurts is injured, I give Philly a decisive benefit right here, particularly with the standard of defenses enjoying a component.

Give Me, Eagles, 24-19.

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AFC No. 3 Cincinnati (14-4) at No. 1 Kansas Metropolis (15-3), 6:30 p.m. Sunday, CBS – This Ought to Be It “extra engaging” A sport with explosive offenses ready to be ignited, maybe harking back to final yr’s 42-36 time beyond regulation win by the Chiefs over the Payments within the divisional spherical.

After all, Sensei spoiled the sport by taking out Buffalo in snowy New York final Sunday.

That is one the place I believe the QBs are about on par, and the offensive weapons round them are sturdy as properly, sufficient for me to declare this a part of it a draw.

Cincy has the benefit with what seems to be a greater general protection, whereas KC’s Patrick Mahomes sprained his ankle.

The Chiefs get a bonus with nearly all of starters on the Bengals offensive line.

This once more appears to make the offenses equal.

Even with a nod to Sensei “Dr,” I will take the Bengals, 34-28.

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Final week – 4-0, 100%. Complete matches – 9-1, 90 p.c.

Steve Brownlee might be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His e mail tackle is sbrownlee@miningjournal.web.