2020 Conference Predix: Brady vs Rodgers, Allen vs Mahomes

Courtesy of Harry Scull, Jr.

Written by Sam DeCoste

This is for the Super Bowl. 

It's Championship Weekend in the NFL, with 2 tickets to Super Bowl LV on the line. Four teams remain, each spearheaded by an MVP quarterback, and studded with dynamic receivers, and backed by prolific defenses. In the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off with the Green Bay Packers in a battle between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, and the Buffalo Bills will challenge the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC as Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes duel for the second time in their young NFL careers. The stage is set for a pair of rematches from Week 6 of the regular season, and for an exciting photo finish to the postseason. 

Last week, I finished at 3-1. I did not expect a hapless performance from Drew Brees in what could have been his final career game, or a Bucs win. But otherwise, the Packers, Bills, and Chiefs booked their spots in the championship round, as I foretold in my Divisional Predix. There are only 3 games remaining on the postseason slate, and we anticipate a fantastic, thrilling conclusion to the NFL playoffs with the games on tap. 

Who's going to the Super Bowl? I'll tell you right now, down below. Enjoy the football!

Here are my records from this season:

Record last week: 3-1

Regular season record: 163-92-1 (63.6% accuracy)

Regular and postseason record: 169-96-1

Buccaneers @ Packers

For the first time ever, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will do battle in the NFL playoffs. Fans should expect a blockbuster showdown between two legends of the game, but Packers fans will hope for a more competitive showing from their team.

The last time these squads fared, the Packers fell 38-10 in their most humiliating loss of the season. Aaron Rodgers completed 46 percent of his passes for 160 yards and 2 interceptions, the Packers offense totaled just 201 yards, and they allowed the Bucs to score 38 unanswered points. It is similarly concerning for Green Bay that the Bucs defense stood on its head against the Saints last week, but it should be noted that Drew Brees was battling broken ribs and collapsed lungs. Rodgers is healthy, and playing at the peak of his game at 37 years old. His arm strength will not be compromised, and he is poised for another standout performance. 

Green Bay's playoff win last week over the Rams may have been the most impressive win of the weekend, for the bravado and swagger the Packers exuded in their dominant performance. Against the number one ranked defense in the NFL, Rodgers completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns. Davante Adams caught 9 balls, but the role players of Green Bay's offense stepped up and created separation as well. Even if Adams is not scorching his man for 150-plus yards and 3 touchdowns, the Packers offense proved last week they can spread the ball out and still dominate. That is scary for the rest of the league. The running game can be a welcome change of pace for the Packers offense is utilized properly, and open up the Bucs defense as well. Aaron Jones could be the game's most decisive X-factor if he finds room to roam at the line of scrimmage and at the second level.

The Buccaneers are looking to become the first team in Super Bowl history to play the championship game at their home stadium. With 43 year old Tom Brady playing at the height of his powers, the Bucs can go toe-to-toe with the NFL's leading offense in points scored. Mike Evans has become Brady's favorite target, and he has spread the ball out to the tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate. But Antonio Brown will not be on the field for the NFC Championship, which could be a deadly blow for the offense. Brown's emergence and integration into the regular offense opened up the flood gates for this team, and guided their ascension to where they are now. The Bucs have the offensive personnel to accommodate for Brown's absence, but they will not be at full strength when they go to the air raid attack in frigid and snowy weather in Green Bay. 

The Bucs defense can turn the tide as they did in Week 6 against the Packers with a flurry of turnovers, and if they can neutralize the Rodgers and the offense again. But Tampa's hopes of returning to the Super Bowl may hinge on capturing lightning in a bottle. The Packers hit rock bottom in Week 6, and they have only dramatically improved since then. Rodgers and the Packers are on a collision course, and they will punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. 

Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Packers 34

Bills @ Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes has been cleared from concussion protocol and will suit up on Sunday after exiting the Divisional Round against the Browns in the third quarter. The reigning Super Bowl MVP will give the Chiefs offense the boost they need to win, but the toe injury he battled a week ago is nothing to underestimate. Mahomes labored in between plays against the Browns, and could still be hampered in the AFC Championship. As long as his injuries do not gravely affect his throwing motion, the Chiefs offense should move along without missing a beat. The supporting cast is too fast and explosive to be contained, even if Chad Henne was starting this week. Tyreek Hill has the home-run speed to end the game in a moment's notice, and Travis Kelce will be impossible to contain for Buffalo's defense. 

If the Chiefs choose, they can also turn to the run and exploit Buffalo's bend-don't-break defense. Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 161 yards in their Week 6 win over the Bills in Week 6, and the running game could stretch the Bills defense out too thin. Edwards-Helaire is questionable to play in the AFC Championship, but Le'Veon Bell can fit in seamlessly to assume the same role if they decide to burn the Bills on the ground once again. 

As dynamic as the Chiefs offense has been, the Bills defense will feel confident they can fluster them. Against the high-flying Ravens led by Lamar Jackson, the Bills held the reigning MVP to 196 total yards, and kept the Ravens to just 3 points. The secondary led by Tre'Davious White and Jordan Poyer is outstanding, and the front seven has flashed improvement down the stretch of the season. The Bills defense will not be burned for 245 rushing yards again. This one is likelier to turn into a track meet, with Mahomes and Allen leading the charge. 

The stage is set for Josh Allen to take the next step in his development, and cement himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the game. A breakout performance in the AFC Championship, and the prospect of booking a spot in the Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills would send shockwaves across the NFL. He has the arm to match his counterpart in red, and the supporting cast to boot. Stefon Diggs in just his first season as a Bill is in lockstep with his quarterback, and has tallied 234 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in Buffalo's first two playoff contests. Diggs and Cole Beasley finished the season as All-Pros at the receiver position, and the speed of John Brown and Gabriel Davis can burn any secondary as third and fourth options. Wile the Bills amassed just 32 rushing yards against the Ravens, the fourth fewest total ever totaled by a team which won a playoff game, the Bills were hardly stifled on the ground. Allen has been so spectacular in the regular season that the Bills offensive coaching staff has steered away from the run, and they have let their franchise quarterback throw the ball all over the yard. 

This rivalry could become a defining matchup of the decade to come in the NFL, and this game should live up to the hype. As strong as the Chiefs are, and as much as their championship pedigree has shined all season long, this is the year of Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The time is now for the Bills, and they will upset the champs for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Bills 33, Chiefs 30