National Post (National Edition)
Title games full of high-octane offences
This should be fun.
The conference championship teams feature big-time offences — yes, we know, the Steelers didn’t look like one in the red zone last weekend — that could turn scoreboards into tote machines.
And while this space has always preferred bruising defensive battles, there’s no denying how entertaining Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan can be when flinging the ball around the field.
Add in some terrific runners, led by Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell and New England’s LeGarrette Blount, and such All-Pro targets as Antonio Brown and Julio Jones, and bettors will be in love with the over (60 points for the NFC, 50.5 for the AFC) this week.
Indeed, it’s difficult to make the argument any of the defences will be the deciding factor in Foxborough or Atlanta.
Yes, the Patriots yielded the fewest points in the NFL this season, but the three best offences they played were Arizona, Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
The Patriots are a juggernaut with the ball. Look at how they beat Houston, the top-ranked defence in the league, in the divisional round even though Brady was not at his best.
“I think we’ve just got to learn from it,” Brady said. “It doesn’t feel great because we worked pretty hard to play a lot better than we played.”
One thing the Steelers won’t be on Sunday is intimidated by Brady and New England’s resumé. The only way to win at Gillette Stadium is to be aggressive from the opening kickoff, and Mike Tomlin’s team will be that.
Oddly, Roethlisberger has never faced the Patriots in a post-season game at New England. He’s 0-1, that defeat coming in Pittsburgh during his 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year season.
New England is a fivepoint favourite to make its seventh Super Bowl with Brady at the helm; the Patriots are 4-2 in their previous trips.
Pittsburgh, which has been to three Super Bowls with Roethlisberger, going 2-1, is the one AFC team capable of pulling off the upset. But it won’t. Patriots, 34-26
GREEN BAY (PLUS 5) AT ATLANTA
As we marvel at the talents of Rodgers, not to mention his prognosticating, and enjoy how much excitement he brings to the field, there’s one thing we can’t ignore. The Packers are too undermanned in the secondary.
Dak Prescott tore up Green Bay’s struggling and tiring defence in the second half Sunday. Cowboys receivers were so open Jerry Jones probably could have completed some passes.
That’s a recipe for failure against Ryan and all the weapons he has. Julio Jones could be a bit hobbled, which would even things up a bit. And if Rodgers gets back a somewhat effective Jordy Nelson from his rib injury ...
Sorry, Cheeseheads, can’t persuade ourselves to believe. This comes down to one unit being too bangedup and deficient. Falcons, 35-31
Last Week: Against spread (31). Straight up: (4-0) Season Totals: Against spread (128-125-8). Straight up: (163-99-2)