We’re entering the last NFL Sunday before the Super Bowl. It’s exciting, yet also sad in a way. Both of the No. 1 seeds — Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers — have made it to Championship Sunday, and will face off against the challengers — Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, both No. 3 seeds in their respective conferences.
Patrick Mahomes was victorious in his first-ever road playoff start in Buffalo, while the Lions have now won three in a row, including a victory over their former quarterback Matthew Stafford in Super Wild Card Weekend.
The NFL script writers foretold in their color scheme that the 49ers and Ravens will be facing off in Super Bowl LVIII. Are they correct? Let’s discuss who I’m taking against the spread. As always, thanks to the CBS Sports Research Team for making me sound smart.
All NFL odds via SportsLine consensus odds.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (-4)
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Here we go. Lamar Jackson has won each of his past four starts by 14+ points, while Mahomes has lost four starts by 14+ points in his entire career. Everyone views this matchup as Lamar vs. Mahomes, but I really look at it from the other side. This is the Ravens defense vs. the Chiefs defense.
The Ravens were the first team ever to lead/co-lead the league in scoring defense, sacks and takeaways. The Ravens and Chiefs rank No. 1 and No. 2 in scoring defense, making this the first conference championship game between the top-two scoring defenses since 2004.
I was dumb enough to doubt Mahomes against the Buffalo Bills, but he, Isiah Pacheco and Travis Kelce ended up victorious. Mahomes is actually the first quarterback ever with zero sacks and zero turnovers in three straight playoff starts. Baltimore’s defense provides a much different test than the Buffalo defense, however, and the Ravens are statistically a better offense. So yes, I’m going…
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Author : Jordan Dajani
Publish date : 2024-01-27 23:58:11
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