Albany Times Union (Sunday)

MEDIA PICKS

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Our Times Union panel may be a little tired after this, our 21st season of predicting outcomes of NFL games. Not only are there two additional playoff games, which started last year, the NFL added a week to the regular season.

Instead of picking 267 or 269 games, we’re now up to 285, the last of which transpires Sunday when the Los Angeles Rams play host to the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI.

Despite the expanded season, the panel is up to the challenge. Here are the final selections for the 2021 season (point-spread records are in parenthese­s):

Times Union staff

JAMES ALLEN, sports writer: 5th year, 874-474-5, .648 (405-394-20, .507)

Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 183-100-1, .644 (150-131-3, .533)

Prediction:

We’ve got a pair of No. 4 seeds playing for the title in one of the wildest and most entertaini­ng postseason­s in NFL history. Joe Burrow has the Bengals in prime position for a magical conclusion. His offensive line scares me too much in this spot. Pick: L.A. Rams (Cincinnati +4)

PETE DOUGHERTY, sports writer: 21st year, 3,494-2,099-12, .624 (402397-20, .503)

Conference championsh­ips:

1-1 (0-2)

Season record: 175-108-1, .618 (143-138-3, .509)

Prediction:

Ah, taking the underdog is so tempting in this one. The Bengals have won three playoff games they just as easily could have lost. Joe Burrow rescued them each time, but midnight will strike this time and he will become a pumpkin. The Rams will apply too much pressure on Burrow, and teams playing a Super Bowl in their home stadium have never lost. (See last year.) Pick: L.A. Rams (—4)

BILL DOUGLAS, sports editor: 10th year, 1,722-95610, .642 (387412-20, .485)

Conference championsh­ips:

Season record: 179-104-1, .632 (138-143-3, .491)

Prediction: Time for my annual tradition of picking incorrectl­y for the Super Bowl. In an act of stubborn defiance, I will again pick against a favorite playing at home and take Cincinnati. The Bengals are enjoying one of those postseason­s that smacks of destiny. Joe Burrow has been resourcefu­l and outstandin­g. Plus, my wife’s cousin is Rich Romer, who was a member of the Bengals the last time they went to the Super Bowl. Pick: Cincinnati (+4)

DAVID JOHNSON, content editor: 2nd year, 361-189-2, .656 (289-252-12, .533)

Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 183-100-1, .644 (148-133-3, .526)

Prediction: I’ve picked against the Bengals the last two rounds and been wrong. Why stop now? I believe L.A. will have the advantage in the trenches, and that home-field advantage will play a part, as it did last year. There’s a chance Joe Burrow could lead a furious comeback to win (or even more dramatical­ly, cover), but it’s more likely the Rams’ star-studded roster plays its best when the lights are brightest. Pick: L.A . Rams (—4)

TV sports anchors

LIANA BONAVITA, WTEN (ABC-10)/WXXA (Fox-23): 9th year, 1,523889-9, .631 (402-397-20, .503)

Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 176-107-1, .621 (142-139-3, .505)

Prediction: The Bengals are right where they want to be — the young, naive underdog sporting the swaggiest chip on their shoulders. But so are the Rams — at home, their future mortgaged for “win now” stars, wearing white for whatever that’s worth (as did 14 of the past 17 Super Bowl champs). Make it 15 of 18. Pick: L.A. Rams (Cincinnati +4)

CHET DAVIS, WRGB (CBS-6): 2nd year, 357193-2, .649 (259-282-12, .479)

Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 181-102-1, .639 (134-147-3, .477)

Prediction: How can you bet against the Rams? L.A. has home-field advantage, two elite defenders in Donald and Ramsey, and the best quarterbac­k glow-up in recent memory going from Goff to Stafford. So how can the Rams lose? Joe Burreaux. The Bayou Bengal has the “it” factor that will lead Cincy to an improbable victory. Pick: Cincinnati (+4)

JESSE MacWILLIAM, Spectrum Sports (Ch. 9): 2nd year, 339-211-2, .616 (267-274-12, .494) Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 172-111-1, .607 (136-145-3, .484)

Prediction: I was really hoping to see my beloved Bills in this game, but 13 seconds changed that. And this year’s game just happens to fall on the 13th. Weird. Anyway, Matt Stafford puts L.A. ahead in a thrilling fourth quarter, and the Rams’ defense seals it with a few timely sacks. Pick: L.A . Rams (Cincinnati +4)

RODGER WYLAND, WNYT (NBC-13): 21st year, 3,357-1,953-11, .644 (398401-2, .498)

Conference championsh­ips: 1-1 (1-1)

Season record: 172-111-1, .607 (145-136-3, .516)

Prediction: There are a million reasons why I could pick the Los Angeles Rams to win this game, but there is one big reason why the Bengals will win their first Super Bowl in franchise history, and that’s quarterbac­k Joe Burrow. He’s a special player who won’t get rattled by the big moment. If Burrow gets any kind of help from his offensive line, the Bengals will win 31-24. Pick: Cincinnati (+4)

This year’s totals

Times Union staff: 720412-4, .636 (579-545-12, .515)

TV sports anchors: 701431-4, .619 (557-567-12, .496)

All-time totals

Times Union staff: 14,7628,410-50, .637 (1,625-1,571-80, .508)

TV sports anchors: 15,5279,256-50, .626 (1,591-1,605-80, .498)

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0-2 (1-1)
DOUGLAS 0-2 (1-1)
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MACWILLIAM
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DOUGHERTY
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BONAVITA
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JOHNSON
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WYLAND
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ALLEN
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DAVIS

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