Championship Weekend Picks: Road warriors to roll into Super Bowl LI
The first day of the divisional round featured two one-sided affairs, but an epic battle between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys saved the weekend.
Here are the picks for the championship round, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Green Bay Packers (+5) vs. Atlanta Falcons
There are plenty of reasons to pick against the Packers in the NFC Championship game.
- Playing on the road
- League's 21st-ranked defense facing the Falcons top-ranked offense
- Receiving duo Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson may miss the game
- Atlanta just steamrolled Seattle 36-20
- Absolutely no running game
There's basically one reason to pick the Packers in the NFC Championship game:
Yep, we roll with Aaron Charles Rodgers. Packers 34, Falcons 31
Pittsburgh Steelers (+5.5) at New England Patriots
Bill Belichick is a master of taking away the best part of his opponents offense, but that's a problem when facing the wide-ranging attack of the Steelers. If Belichick opts to plug the running attack led by Le'Veon Bell, Ben Roethlisberger will pick him apart in the passing game. Should he opt to stop the passing attack, Bell will run wild. The Steelers speed-based defense is built to slow down the Patriots attack, and it's likely this game could come down to the kickers. Chris Boswell showed last week he's up for the playoff pressure, nailing six field goals in the win over Kansas City, and that will be the difference in this tightly-played affair. Steelers 27, Patriots 24
(Lines courtesy: Covers)