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NFL playoff picture 2018: Picking the Super Bowl champ

By Cody Rivera

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 25: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during warm ups prior to the National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 25: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during warm ups prior to the National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Championship Sunday

AFC Championship: Patriots at Chiefs

A meeting between the Patriots and Chiefs would be a highly anticipated rematch given the offensive shootout they engaged in at Gillette Stadium back in October. That game ended with a final score of 43-40 in favor of New England, which marked the first defeat for Mahomes as a starter in the NFL.

At Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs would probably be a slight favorite over the Patriots, and with good reason. They haven’t lost at home this season. Meanwhile, all three losses for New England have come on the road. Additionally, the Patriots haven’t won a road playoff game since 2006 when they defeated the Chargers in San Diego.

As much as my gut would urge me to get behind Kansas City at home, I believe this is the game where the unmatchable experience of Belichick and Brady would overcome the inexperience of this young Chiefs team. It would be close, but Belichick would easily out-coach Andy Reid, and the 19-year veteran Brady would make one or two more big plays than the second-year youngster Mahomes to win the game.

This might be New England’s last run, and they should go out with a bang.

Pick: New England 38, Kansas City 34

NFC Championship: Bears at Rams

This would be a fantastic way to decide the NFC champion: the league’s best offense against the league’s best defense.

We all know what Khalil Mack can do. The guy absolutely destroys quarterbacks, and he would love to get after Jared Goff and put an end to his incredible season. If anyone can slow down L.A.’s high-powered offense, it’s this Bears defense.

But ultimately, the Rams are just too good. They played Kansas City a few weeks ago in the most action-packed game of the year, allowing the Chiefs to score an incredible 51 points, and they STILL won. The Rams topped them with 54 points, capped off with a game-winning touchdown pass from Goff to Gerald Everett with under two minutes remaining.

Against Chicago’s dominant defensive group, the Rams would not score 54 points. But at this point, the Bears would be out of gas, too exhausted to contain them.

Los Angeles has been the best, most complete team in football all year long. They have a good quarterback, arguably the NFL’s most vicious running back in Todd Gurley, and they are coached extremely well by Sean McVay.

At home against Chicago, the Rams would take their rightful place as NFC champions.

Pick: Los Angeles 30, Chicago 22

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