NFL Playoffs, AFC & NFC Championship Round Odds, Best Bets & Predictions

Updated: Feb 27, 2024

Some say the divisional round of the playoffs is the best weekend in football, and after watching what unfolded over the last few days, it would be hard to argue against that. The fallout will be felt during the whole lead up to the championship games. Detroit reaching their second championship game in their history, the Ravens looking dominant once again, the 49ers looking edgy but getting the job done and Patrick Mahomes reaching the AFC Championship game for the 6th consecutive year.

Analysts will be going over the action with a fine toothcomb all week and looking ahead to the future for those who fell. What next for Josh Allen and Buffalo after losing to the Chiefs again? Are the Texans here to stay with CJ Stroud and co? Will Jordan Love emulate Aaron Rodgers and become a potential Hall of fame Quarterback?

All that talk is for the offseason. For now, let’s take a look at this weekend’s championship games and who I think will make it to Super Bowl LVIII.

NFL Sunday, January 28, AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens 🆚 Kansas City Chiefs

The Ravens came into their game against the Texans well rested and with the pressure all on them as they have been tipped as potential Super Bowl winners for a while now. If there was pressure, Baltimore didn’t show it, pulling away from the Texans in the second half to record a 34-10 victory. The Ravens have been described as ‘machine-like’ and that certainly looked the case as the Texans just couldn’t live with them after the half, despite putting in a spirited effort to go into the break level. MVP in waiting Lamar Jackson had another stellar day, throwing for 152 yards and 2 TDS while adding another 100 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. In this form he is near on impossible to stop, and Houston couldn’t in this game. The Defense also didn’t give up a point after half time and they are so strong on both sides of the ball.

They are likely to be tested more this week, though, as the current Super Bowl champs head to Baltimore following another classis encounter against the Bills. There were numerous lead changes, great runs, great throws, tension and drama all thrown in which seems to be normal for a Bills-Chiefs playoff game. In the end, a missed field goal from Bills kicker Tyler Bass sealed Buffalo’s fate and ensure Mahomes would go to his 6th successive AFC championship game. For so much of this season, there have been question marks surrounding the Chiefs offense, but they woke up here. Travis Kelce came to the party with 75 yards and 2 TDs while Isiah Pacheco ran for 97 yards and a TD. You might be sick of these Chiefs, but you have to respect them. This game has a feel of the unstoppable force vs the immovable object.

Moneyline Odds: Ravens -172 Chiefs +144

Our Pick: Ravens

NFC Championship Game

San Francisco 49ers 🆚 Detroit Lions

The 49ers had the same pressure as Baltimore being the no1 seed, but they weren’t nearly as convincing. On an edgy, tense and rain swept evening in Santa Clara they just about got the job done, winning 24-21. QB Brock Purdy didn’t look comfortable all game. His final state line is solid, throwing for 252 yards and a TD but he could have been intercepted more than once and just couldn’t make any big plays. For not the first time this season, the niners leaned heavily on Christian McCaffrey, who always shows up when it matters. He recorded 98 yards and 2 TDs in this game, including the go ahead TD with 1.07 left on the clock. An interception when Jordan Love was in desperation mode iced the game but you feel San Fran will need to be far better than this if they are to win the Super Bowl, which has been the aim all season for this team. We also await the injury status on Deebo Samuel, which could be crucial.

The Detroit Lions will head to the Bay Area this Sunday after a 31-23 win over the Bucs, securing a passage to the NFC championship game for just the second time in their history. This was also a tense, up and down game until the Lions pulled away in the 4th quarter, with QB Jared Goff coming up clutch when it mattered, throwing for 287 yards and 2 TDs. The Lions have so many potent weapons on offense and play tough. Two of those weapons, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, had big days, Gibbs running for 74 yards and a TD while St. Brown posted 77 yards and a TD through the air. Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson also had a big day and it is quite a story that these gritty Lions are now on the cusp of making history.