And then there were four. Both the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games are intriguing for a variety of reasons, most notably because you could make a case for any of the four remaining teams winning it all. The immediate futures of the four franchises that were downed this past weekend all look bright, and each of those teams could enter next September as favorites to win their divisions.
2013 NFL power rankings: Conference Championships
The eliminated
8. Houston Texans: The Texans proved to be who many analysts and fans thought they were, and that’s a team that crumbled in the latter stages of the regular season and one that was never truly capable of winning a Super Bowl this winter. Houston will again be viewed as contenders starting in August, but I can’t help but believe that they have serious gaps to fill if they are to advance past the second round of the postseason tournament. It’s also time for everybody to admit that their pass defense was the most overrated in these playoffs.
7. Green Bay Packers: One of these years, the Packers are going to avoid a boatload of crippling injuries and steamroll to a 15-1 regular season record and a Super Bowl title. They undeniably have glaring holes on both sides of the football, but Aaron Rodgers will, barring an unforeseen disaster, again be the best quarterback in football next August. I feel very confident saying Green Bay will be back next January.
6. Denver Broncos: I admit that I’m a big fan of the future Hall of Fame QB, but I also believe that certain people are being extremely harsh on Peyton Manning. Yes, he made the biggest mistake of the game and thus was partially responsible for Denver being ousted from the playoffs. That doesn’t erase the fact that he never should have had to take the field in the first place. The secondary of the Broncos completely collapsed when it mattered most, and that, not Manning, is why Denver is out.
5. Seattle Seahawks: While they suffered a heartbreaking defeat, one has to assume that it’s only onward and upward for the Seahawks. The fact that Russell Wilson will likely only get better should frighten every NFC defense, and Marshawn Lynch should again be a force next season. At this point, Seattle will be a sexy pick to win it all next winter. Who could have imagined that five months ago?
The remaining
4. Baltimore Ravens: All of the credit in the world goes out to Baltimore after an emotional comeback. Joe Flacco quieted a lot of critics, and you know that Ray Lewis will do all he can to have the Ravens as motivated as possible for the upcoming AFC Championship Game rematch at Gillette Stadium. The problem here is that I believe New England is actually better now than the Pats were a year ago at this time. That is why I can’t rate Baltimore any higher.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Alex who? Colin Kaepernick had been somewhere between good and very good throughout the campaign, but he had a breakthrough performance against Green Bay, the type of game that launches the career of a play-maker. I was most impressed with the way he rallied back from what could have been a disastrous start. San Francisco has more than just a “game manager” at QB this January, and that’s why plenty of people will be picking them to beat Atlanta.
2 Atlanta Falcons: They did it. It wasn’t pretty, and they nearly blew a big lead at home, but this Falcons squad has finally won a playoff game. It’s possible, all things considered, that Matty Ice and company having to pull off such a dramatic rally could be what the Falcons need to push them to that next level. Critics can doubt Atlanta all they want. The Falcons are now four quarters away from playing in the Super Bowl.
1. New England Patriots: Gronk or no Gronk, the Pats are the best team in football and kings of NFL power rankings heading into Championship Sunday. Those who are only concentrating on the Ravens playing for the soon-to-be-retired Lewis should remember that Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots are trying to put two Super Bowl losses behind them once and for all. The scariest thing for New England haters?
There’s no Eli Manning to stop the Patriots this time around.
