Well, my playoff power rankings were kind of right, I guess? My top three teams made it to their final conference challenges, and I had Detroit fifth. But I would be remiss in not mentioning that I also had the Packers and Bucs with no chance at advancing, and I definitely fell for the trap that maybe the Cowboys would figure it out this year. Regardless, I think the best four teams remain, and this upcoming weekend will be fun to watch! Here are the top two matchups I’m looking for in each conference’s championship game!
AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Matchup #1: Ravens rushing defense against Isiah Pacheco.
Pacheco averaged nearly six and a half yards per carry in the divisional round against Buffalo, to a total of 97 yards. The problems in the pass-catching realm have been well-documented this year, and Pacheco’s angry running has been clutch for Kansas City. It was fitting that he was the one to ice the game last week on a tough, short, first-down run.
The Ravens have a top-level on all fronts, and while they allowed 4.4 yards per rush during the regular season, they led the league in rushing touchdowns allowed and stifled the Texans last week. Suppose they can prevent Pacheco from getting the Chiefs into manageable second and third-down situations. In that case, they can pressure Mahomes enough and keep the Chiefs offense to a mediocre output. If they can’t, Lamar Jackson will spend too much time watching from the sideline, and the Chiefs will have a great chance of winning.
Matchup #2: Ravens’ First Quarter Offense Vs. The Elite Chiefs’ Defense
Patrick Mahomes will always be integral to the Chiefs’ success, yet this year, we must all admit that their defense has carried them to the championship game. More specifically, their first-quarter scoring defense, which is third in the league. The significance here is that falling behind has been a trend for the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens in recent memory. He is just 1-3 all-time against the Chiefs, and in the three most recent matchups, the Ravens trailed by double digits at one point in the game or another.
While the Ravens handily beat the Texans last week, it was close for a while, and I think Baltimore desperately needs to avoid falling behind early in this one. I think they are the better team overall, but if they have to start pressing, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense will be ready to make them pay. The Ravens need to get on the board early and often and try to force the Chiefs to go one-dimensional on offense.
NFC Championship Game: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Matchup #1: Lions’ Interior Offensive Line vs. the San Francisco Front
The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the league, and the unit has been instrumental in the team’s success. Jared Goff has had a great season in part due to how upright he has been able to stay. However, they’ll face a monstrous task on Sunday against Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave, and co. Both players are in the top 10 in pass rush win rate for defensive tackles, and while there are better individual players, no other team has two players in the top 10. Further, the Niners also boast a fairly decent EDGE rusher named Nick Bosa.
To make matters worse, Lions’ guard Jonah Jackson is unlikely to play, and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow will be playing through injury. We all admired his heroic performance last week, but playing through a sprained knee and ankle is no joke. Against the Bucs, the Lions were awesomely creative in the running game with Penei Sewell pulling all over the place, but if the interior of the line can’t hold up, it will be a long day at the office for Goff and the rest of the Detroit backfield. For the Niners, a good push up the middle is exactly what their defense needs to help out their secondary, which has been susceptible to giving up some yards.
Matchup #2: George Kittle vs. Detroit’s Defense
Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton posted five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Detroit in the divisional round. While this is not a record-breaking stat line, Otton played all 100% of the offensive snaps and was open on many more occasions than when he was targeted. In a case that is both essential for San Francisco and a matchup problem for Detroit, George Kittle will play a pivotal role in the championship game.
On many occasions, Otton was essentially a sixth offensive lineman, but he also chipped the defensive end effectively and found plenty of open space. He was sometimes ignored by Baker Mayfield and other times, Mayfield didn’t have enough time to get him the ball. Regardless, he could have posed a much bigger threat.
Not only is George Kittle a better tight end than Otton, but with Deebo Samuel potentially out, Kittle could be an even larger part of this 49er offense. Brock Purdy loves to find Kittle over the middle of the field, and if Detroit cannot stop him, San Francisco will have an abundance of chunk plays. Kittle had just four catches against the Packers, but Detroit surrenders much more through the air, and I believe they will devote more resources to stopping Christian McCaffrey, especially if Deebo doesn’t play. A productive Kittle could spell the end of the road for the Lions, or a non-existent Kittle could prove costly for San Francisco.
Honorable Matchups (Mentions? I don’t know, bad pun, I suppose)
Honorable Matchup #1: Baltimore’s Special Teams vs. Richie James.
James has a respectable 10.0 yards per punt return average this year but has not had a very exciting year in the return department. Regardless, the Texans hung close for at least a while last week due to Steven Sims’ 67-yard punt return touchdown. Against the Chiefs, a big play like this could end their season.
Honorable Matchup #2: Aidan Hutchinson vs. Nick Bosa
The NFC Championship game boasts a whole bunch of elite talent in the trenches, and all eyes will be on the two premier EDGE rushers. Both can be game wreckers and momentum swingers, so which one wins the day?
Aidan Hutchinson had one more sack (11.5) on the year than did Nick Bosa (10.5). However, Bosa held a slight edge in QB hits, with 36 to Hutchinson’s 33. What do these stats mean? Nothing. Both players are great. It’s just a matter of which one shows up more. Also, it doesn’t fit with my matchup theme, since they aren’t on the field at the same time, but I think they both are key players in their respective team’s success.
Alright, Prediction Time!
I do believe that Baltimore is the best team in the league right now, so I am picking them to beat the Chiefs 31-27. All of the hype recently has been around the Patrick Mahomes – Josh Allen rivalry, so this weekend, we will be reminded that there is another great quarterback in the AFC, an MVP quarterback if you will, in Lamar Jackson, who would love to add a Super Bowl victory to his legacy.
I’m picking the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC to edge the Lions 27-21. The Detroit Dan Campbells will not go down easy, but their secondary won’t be able to contain Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk for an entire game. The Niners will get their offense going just enough to secure a trip to the big game.
Let me know what you think! What will you be watching for during Championship weekend? Hit me up on Twitter to let me know your picks or chat about Championship weekend. And, as always, follow the whole Bite Size Sports crew on Twitter/X, and be sure to check out our site and Youtube channel for more great sports content!
Bite-Size Sports 
Leave a comment