Sunday 24 January 2016 19:11, UK
It's the AFC and NFC Championship games this Sunday so we've asked Richard Graves of Sky Sports News HQ to make his predictions...
For the 17th time in this great rivalry, two quarterbacks who are sure to finish up in the Hall of Fame go head-to-head. In nine of the last 14 Super Bowls, it's been either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning representing the AFC - one of them will go on to play in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Manning is second all time in NFL post season history in passing yards (7,022), completions (619) and attempts (792). Second in all three categories to the man who leads the New England Patriots this weekend, Tom Brady. Brady has 22 post season wins, 4 Super Bowl successes, on three occasions named Super Bowl MVP and his 55 post season touchdown passes are an NFL record.
In every sense this is a clash of two giants of the game and yet there's an underlying feeling that this game is there for the taking for the New England Patriots.
That sense comes from a widespread belief that Manning is a quarterback in decline. A player who's losing both the arm strength and accuracy that made him such a formidable opponent for so many years.
It's an argument which appears to be born out by the simple fact that Brady has thrown more touchdown passes this season at Denver's Sports Authority Field than Manning (3-1). Yet, in critical drives this season, Peyton Manning has found a way to get the job done for Denver. Think of the opening game this season against the Chiefs, the final game of the regular season against the Chargers or last weekend against the Steelers.
Say what you like about Manning's apparently diminishing powers, his experience is invaluable and it's allied with the NFL's number 1 ranked defense. A unit which time and time again this season has come up big for the Broncos in clutch situations. A unit which led the league with 52 sacks in the regular season and a unit which will need to come up big on Sunday if Denver are to beat the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are the reigning Super Bowl champions. They're offense ranks 6th overall and 3rd in scoring with 29 points per game. They now have influential wide receiver, Julian Edelman fit again, finishing with 100 receiving yards on his return from a broken foot last weekend. The man every defender fears is tight end Rob Gronkowski. His eight career post season touchdowns is an NFL record for his position.
Denver fans will point to their regular season encounter - an overtime win over the Patriots in Denver - and they'll see New England's injury ravaged offensive line as a potential weakness to be exploited. However, the glaring difference between these two teams is the points they have scored - the Broncos score on average seven points per game fewer than New England.
All time, Peyton Manning holds a 2-1 lead in AFC Championship games over Tom Brady but in all encounters, Brady has an 11-5 advantage. Even in the rarefied air of Mile High it's tough to envisage any outcome other than a Patriots win.
Pick: New England Patriots
No doubt, due to the main participants involved, the AFC Championship game will occupy many of the headlines in the build up to this weekends championship games but this could well prove to be the more entertaining contest.
The Arizona Cardinals and their number 1 ranked offense travel to Carolina to face the Panthers and their top scoring offense. This is only the Cardinals second NFC championship game in franchise history. Their last came in 2008 where they went on to lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Head coach Bruce Arians is demanding more from their offensive line though. In their last two games Arizona have rushed for just 67 yards. Arians says the reason is, "getting their ass kicked up front!" He's well aware that must change when they head to Charlotte this Sunday.
The Carolina Panthers have won plaudits for the play of their quarterback, Cam Newton and for an offense which leads the league in scoring, averaging over 30 points per game in the regular season - all of this without a recognised number 1 receiver. However, their defense has been outstanding as well. This unit ranks sixth overall, sixth in points allowed (19.3 per game), first in turnovers (39) and first in turnover differential (+20). Statistics which were highlighted in a dominant 1st half performance last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. A performance which included two interceptions - one of which was returned for a touchdown - and resulted in a 31-0 lead at half time.
If there is a concern, it's because on several occasions this season, the Panthers have been gashed through the air and allowed big leads to slip. That's what happened last weekend as the Seahawks rallied to within a score of Carolina and that's what happened in New York against the Giants.
That is what will give Arizona confidence, knowing they have a wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald who's recorded three post season games with at least 150 receiving yards - the most such games by any player in the Super Bowl era. He also has 10 touchdowns in eight playoff games and is part of an offense which finished the season second behind New Orleans for most passing yards. However, they haven't faced a defensive threat like linebacker Luke Kuechly this season. In his NFL career he's recorded 13 interceptions - the most by any LB in that period - and it was he who took one to the house last weekend, putting Carolina 13-0 up against Seattle.
If Arizona can avoid turnovers, this will be a tight contest but Carolina have only lost one game all season. They have the best record in the NFL this year and they have home field advantage.
Pick: Carolina Panthers
