NFL Conference Championship Preview: Likeliest Showdowns
By Erik Lambert
Dec 15, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs with the ball against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The playoff picture continues to get clearer. Based on current records and level of play, which NFL teams will be playing in their conference title games?
NFC: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
After a tough start to the season it looks like the Green Bay Packers have found their groove. Aaron Rodgers is playing more efficiently that any quarterback in the NFL and he’s getting some help from an opportunistic defense led by a solid pass rush of Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. Unless a key injury occurs at some point it’s hard seeing anybody stopping them in the NFC North save maybe for the Detroit Lions.
Their opponent would undoubtedly be the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, they still have Tony Romo for a quarterback but facts are facts. The team is 6-1 with six-straight wins. Their offense is playing an at elite level from Romo to Demarco Murray and Dez Bryant and Rod Marinelli has the defense playing inspired. They’ve beaten Seattle in Seattle, beat down New Orleans and had a stirring comeback against St. Louis. They’re playing like a winning team.
Biggest threat to this matchup: Philadelphia Eagles
AFC: Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
How fitting. A rematch of the very first game of the 2014 NFL season. One more time Andrew Luck goes against Peyton Manning, this time with everything on the line. Indeed there haven’t been two hotter teams in the AFC than the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Luck and the Colts are fresh off a three-game stretch where they beat the red hot Ravens, cooled off the pesky Texans and now delivered an emphatic shutout of Cincinnati. They have offense and in spite of everything from injuries to suspensions, defense too.
The same goes for the Broncos. Their thumping of San Francisco on Sunday Night was only further validation they have a more complete team than the 13-3 squad that reached the Super Bowl last season. Manning still is himself but he has something he didn’t before, which is a defense. Denver boasts the 6th overall unit in the league, rank 3rd against the run and have 3rd best pass rush with 21 sacks. The intricacies of this matchup would run deep from the “passing of the torch” angle to the master schooling the student one last time.
Biggest threat to this matchup: Baltimore Ravens