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ESPN staff
Championship Round (schedule) for the 2022 NFL season featuring two great games. Our NFL Nation reporters offer the most important keys and bold predictions for each contest.
In addition, ESPN Stats & Information provides an important metric and Betting nugget, and ours Soccer Strength Stats (FPI) go inside the numbers with game projection. Matt Bowen picks a match to watch in both games, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about running. Finally, Seth Walder and Eric Moody predicted the final score and selected a winner for each game (also, see select). Plenty here for what is expected to be an enjoyable weekend of knockout football.
Consider the conference championship, which features Jalen hurts compare to Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes compare to Joe Burrow. Who will come forward? LVII Super Cup?
Note: New feature for this season’s knockouts, each team will Guaranteed ownership if the match has to be overtime.
Jump to a match:
SF-FIT | CIN-KC
3 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: PHI -2.5 (46)
What to watch for: This game is said to have two of the best defenses in the NFL. Philadelphia leads the league in pass defense (179.8 yards allowed per game) and clearances (70) in the regular season, while the Niners lead in interceptions (20) and stand second on hasty defense (79.0 yards allowed per game). But enter Niners run again Christian McCaffrey (scored one goal in eight consecutive games) and Eagles midfielder Jalen hurts (332.5 yards of passes per game and 7 touches in the top 10 defenses this season). There are very few holes on either list. Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said: “That’s what the NFC Championship Game should be. “It’s going to be all right, and it’s going to be tight.” — Tim McManus
Bold Predictions: The 49ers’ record of 27 consecutive games without allowing an athlete to dash 70 yards on the ground (including knockouts) will come to an end because of Injury. The Niners have struggled with mobile quarterbacks in previous seasons but haven’t had much this season, which is why they’re fifth in the NFL in yards per quarterback run (3 ,4). Hurts presented an even bigger challenge, placing fourth among quarterbacks in dash yards (760) and first in hasty touchdowns (13). He ran 82 yards and scored in Week 2 last season against San Francisco, and with the Niners focused on slowing down deep pass play, he could deliver a similar performance on the ground. –Nick Wagoner
Statistics to know: San Francisco relied heavily on pre-shoot movement to support the rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, using it on 73% of his dropouts, including knockouts. Purdy excelled there, placing fourth in QBR (80.0) and first in yards per attempt (9.2) among passers with at least 100 attempts in regular games. and after the season. But that formula will be tested by the Eagles’ pass defense, which has allowed the lowest QBR (33.2) and third lowest yard on each attempt (6.3) of the previous tournament. opposing midfielders when playing with a preemptive motion.
Bowen’s Game Plan Keys: edge press machine Haason Reddick had 17.5 bags in his first season with the Eagles, including 1.5 in the last week group stage win surpass the Giants. With Reddick’s agility in the first step and his ability to bend and cut corners, Philadelphia can plan more one-on-one while also using stunts to wrap him in. His 27.6% rush win rate ranks second in the NFL to Dallas’ Micah Parsons this season. Read more at ESPN+.
Things to know to run: Referee John Hussey’s regular team threw at least a third flag in 2022, including two for a rough foul on a passer and 24 flags for offensive organization, both lowest. in the NFL. That’s good news for both the 49ers and the Eagles, who are called up to take the second and third most attacking penalties in the league in the regular season, respectively. — Seifert
Nugget betting: Purdy is leading 6-1 by the margin as the starting midfielder, all favorites. It ties into the record fifth-longest favorite to start any quarterback’s career since the 1970 merger (including knockouts). And San Francisco has gone through five consecutive playoffs, the longest run of any team. Read more at ESPN+.
Moody’s Picks: Eagles 27, 49ers 24
Walder’s picks: Eagles 24, 49ers 16
FPI prediction: PHI, 65.3% (average 4.5 points)
Matchup must read: Inside the transaction that sent McCaffrey to the 49ers … How Johnson found his happiness after nearly quitting the game … Niners ready to go legal with Omenihu … Brown says he’s not a ‘diva’, but he wants the ball … Has Purdy recalibrated the 49ers’ future midfield plans? … Are the Eagles back to their best?
6:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: KC -1.5 (47)
What to watch for: During the regular season, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the NFL in QBR (73.0) when thrown from the pocket. And that is where he will likely have to do most of his work against the Bengali considering a high ankle sprain he is suffering within the division and his performance against the Bengal team in week 13. In the most recent game between these teams, Mahomes had one of his best QBRs (79.6) from the inside of the bag and one of his worst QBRs (14.0) from outside the bag. The Bengals are on a 10-game winning streak and both teams are 11-0 when they score their first goal of the season. — Adam Teicher
Bold Predictions: Team Bengal will score more touches in the red area than the Captain. The Bengals rank fifth in efficiency in the red zone when attacking and ninth in defense in the regular season. While Kansas City’s attack scored many touches from inside the 20-yard line (second), their red zone defense was among the worst in the league (31st) in the regular season. . The team that can finish the batting with touchdowns has a chance to win the Lamar Hunt Trophy and advance to the Super Bowl. — Baby Ben
Statistics to know: Each defense can be full of fast-paced matches. Cincinnati midfielder Joe Burrow (19) and Mahomes (18) ranked first and second for touchdowns when thrown under 2.5 seconds, including knockouts. And the Chiefs’ ability to catch the ball behind is also outstanding, especially with Mahomes’ quick throws. Kansas City has produced more yards after catch than any team this season (2,908) and has the third-highest average per catch of any offense (6.3). Overall, yards after catching accounted for 53% of the Captain’s yards received, the second-highest percentage in the league. But Cincinnati’s defence was sixth in terms of production restriction after catching the ball, keeping pass catchers at just 4.7 yards after each catch.
Bowen’s Game Plan Keys: Cincinnati needs a plan dedicated to the tight end of Chiefs Travis Kelce. corner kick Bamboo Flowers He’s the typical head-to-head defender in a tight game with a sloppy look, but he’s been recovering from a hamstring injury. We can see safety Dax Hill or Bell Vonn within the man’s coverage, but defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could also jam defenders and reroute Kelce along a scripted line in seeming area and then sink into the abyss. Read more at ESPN+.
Things to know to run: The crew in the regular season by referee Ron Torbert averaged 12 flags per game, fifth least in the league. It threw 33 flags for defensive pass interference, illegal contact and defensive organization, the NFL’s third-lowest total. That should be noted for the respective defenses when they try to slow Mahomes and Burrows. — Seifert
Nugget betting: Kansas City is leading 7-11 this season, and those 11 ATS losses are the most for any team heading into the grand finals in the Super Bowl era. The captain has also lost 2-11 in AFC matches this season and 0-4 ATS with over six days of rest. Meanwhile, Cincinnati are leading 21-5 by a margin in their past 26 games, including knockouts, and their 13-5 ATS record this season is the second best. at the NFL. Read more at ESPN+.
Moody’s Picks: Bengals 27, Chief 20
Walder’s picks: Leader 31, Bengals 30
FPI prediction: KC, 65.5% (average 4.6 points)
Matchup must read: Bengals confident for title game at ‘Burrowhead’ … Mahomes says he’s ‘ready to go’ for AFC title game … Bengals CV Cappa injury, Williams not training … Kelce has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest TEs of all time … QB Battle Unlocked Mahomes
