NFL Conference Championship Predictions

Last week's record: 3-1 (Correct: Rams, Patriots, Saints Incorrect: Colts)
Overall record: 4-4

New Orleans Saints over Los Angeles Rams: Both of these offenses have lost a bit of explosiveness since their Week 9 shootout that ended with the Rams being handed their first loss of the season. With splash plays likely to be less prominent this time around, this game should come down to the quarterbacks, defenses and coaching staffs-all of which lean in favor of the Saints. Drew Brees tends to be an efficient, clock-draining machine at the Superdome, Sean Payton has a gift for coming up with varied gameplans that confuse vulnerable defenses and even with the loss of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a torn Achilles, they have the personnel upfront to slow down the prolific rushing attack that the Rams need to establish in order to make Jared Goff comfortable as a passer.    

New England Patriots over Kansas City Chiefs: The 2018 Chiefs defied their tragic recent history with a strong, gusty performance in a 31-13 victory over the Colts last weekend. However, this game is a whole different beast as they have to square off against the NFL's boogeyman that just won't die- no matter "grim" things look prior to the start of the playoffs. Despite being tasked with entering a notoriously loud stadium that's hosting the most important game in its 47-year history during a season where they've played uncharacteristically ugly football away from Foxboro (their 3-5 road record is their worst since 2009), the Patriots still have the edge in this matchup. Patrick Mahomes and co. have the dynamism and creativity to score every time they have the ball, but the shakiness of their defense and Andy Reid's perpetual clock management misfortune is going to make it very difficult for them to take out a battle-tested veteran team that has delivered on this stage far more times than they've faltered. The Patriots won a shootout at Gillette Stadium when these two teams met in the regular season and unless Tom Brady puts up the type of inefficient, multi-INT dud you seldom see from him (especially during this time of year), I expect them to do the exact same thing at Arrowhead on Sunday night.