Participants,

Reminder that your picks for both games are to be submitted no later than 3:00pm EST on Sunday (just before kickoff of the NFC Championship game).  So far, we have had a great year with everyone complying by the rules and deadlines.  Let’s keep that trending!

We have a pair of Week 6 rematches to determine who will play in SB 55.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5) @ #1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)

Battle of the Bays!  The “old guns” will suit up for this classic game.  This is the 14th conference championship game for the GOAT (he won 9 of them, all with that team from the upper northeast US that failed miserably to make the playoffs this year) and the 1st home conference championship game for the other #12.  Welcome to Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood!  The Bucs handed the Pack their worst defeat of the season in the Week 6 game in Tampa, holding Green Bay to 10 points.

The Packers are favored by 6.5 this weekend, with 3 of those attributed to being the home team.  The forecast for kickoff is a balmy 20 degrees with a mild breeze.  Perfect tundra weather for hosting a team from Florida.  It’s been 10 years since the Packers won the Super Bowl, when they defeated the Steelers behind a solid QB performance by Aaron Rodgers.  The Buccaneers have not played in a Super Bowl since 2003 (when they beat the Raiders).

GB QB Rodgers has been surgical this season, leading the NFL in literally every efficiency stat.  TB QB Brady started slow in his new environs, but the team has been coming on strong over the last 6 weeks.

Some Things to Ponder Before Making Your Pick:

• Can anyone stop the NFL’s top-rated offense?
• Can anyone stop the NFL’s top-rated offense?
• Can anyone stop the NFL’s top-rated offense?

After 54 years, will the Super Bowl finally be played on a team’s home field?  Not.

Green Bay 34, Tampa Bay 22

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
#2 Buffalo Bills (15-3) @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

The “young guns” are taking center stage and 2 of the very best will be showcasing their aerial and ground talents.  How’s Mahomes’ compressed nerve?  More importantly, how are the nerves of those Bills fans?  The last time these 2 teams met in the AFC Championship game in 1994, the Bills clobbered the Chiefs, 30-13.  In their more recent Week 6 tilt, the visiting Chiefs beat the Bills and you gotta Bill-lieve that Buffalo wants to return the favor Sunday night.

Some Things to Ponder Before Making Your Pick:

• The Chiefs may be at full strength on offense, with 2 key players returning who missed the game last week.
• Who do the Bills target to stop or limit when the Chiefs have the ball?
• Are the Bills destined? A poor running game has spelled playoff success in the past for other teams that made it to the Super Bowl

The Bills will play their best game of the season on both offense and defense and advance to Tampa Bay in 2 weeks!  Comeback Kid makes an appointment to get fingernail implants after this game.

Buffalo 31, Kansas City 30 (as Bills rookie K Tyler kicks some Bass for the winner with 0:19 left in the game!)

HSBT UPDATE
Now that it’s getting down to serious business in the HSBT, the picks are becoming harder and harder.  Only 275 miniscule points separate the leader from the basement dweller and the fragile lead can evaporate in a hurry.  So, what is on each Participant’s mind heading into the Conference Championship games?

Historically, the leader at this juncture has gone on to capture the trophy only 8 times in 32 tries.

• Buffalo Bill – Was the solid leader a year ago at this juncture and missed the overall Bronze Chicken Wing by 66 points. And, he’s a stout Bills fan (but maybe not yet a member of the Bills Mafia).  Looking to end a 17-year drought with some spot-on picks this weekend.  The pressure starts to build.  Can he hang on to win trophy #4?
• Henrico FiveOh – Visions of a 3-peat are dancing through his head. Just 3 more good picks and he might just make it!  But will those picks be good enough?  Will he be wearing his vintage head-to-toes Bills logo wear this weekend?  Time to look in the rearview mirror and see who’s catching up!
• Pete the Terp – No need to worry about the Ravens playoff fortunes any longer, so that will free up his picks in hopes of securing his 3rd.  Has Kansas City for his Super Bowl Bonus pick, along with Buffalo Bill.  Too bad that will result in zero extra points.  He’s sporting a new street sign on his fireplace mantle – Bills Blvd.!
• 2021 Winner – All eyes will be on his picks, as Vegas has him moving into a comfortable lead after this weekend . On his way to cruising trophy #7.
• Greg the Great – Has finally worked off all the rust from the past 2 weekends and feels he is primed to head to the top spot. He’s not a big fan of Mr. Discount Double Check, so it will be interesting to see his NFC game pick.
• JTB – Had intentionally been playing off the radar last week as he prepares for the onslaught to begin this weekend. He needs it and will be chasing points.  Some doozy picks are in store for him.  Started out 6-0, and then went 0-4 last weekend (with a pair of goose-eggs).  What will this this weekend bring?
• Ben the Butler – A model of consistency this year in his return from a 2-year hiatus. This is the time to get serious, however.  The only one with the Pack winning it all.  They have looked very tough to date.  Look for at least 1 surprise pick based on his philosophy of picks so far.
• Comeback Kid – Speaking of doozy picks, it’s now or never for him as we enter the stretch run. But, as his name indicates, he is primed to score big this weekend and plans to not only close the gap, but to take a commanding lead.  He came back all the way from worst at this point to first in 1993.  Look out!

Please be sure to submit your picks no later than 3:00pm EST on Sunday.  The Commish will be updating the game scores real-time and Slack will be dominating the social media airwaves.  Also – be sure to stock up on your favorite foods for the big games.  It will be 7 hours of viewing and eating enjoyment.

Until the Conference Championship games re-cap and HSBT update is published early next week I remain,
~  The Commish