FP 2016 Upset Special Challenge: It's All Over but the Shoutin' or Your Conference Championship Week Open Thread

Packers

No matter what Biggie says, even if it's backed by science, I still feel like I've got a shot at this thing. I just have to figure out a way to get weird...

In the longest of shots, give me the Bengals to finally give Marvin Lewis his first playoff win this weekend. At some point, that top 3 roster has to finally come through. Why not this year?

Originally Posted by Brian Williams

No matter what Biggie says, even if it's backed by science, I still feel like I've got a shot at this thing. I just have to figure out a way to get weird...

In the longest of shots, give me the Bengals to finally give Marvin Lewis his first playoff win this weekend. At some point, that top 3 roster has to finally come through. Why not this year?

/snickers

I want a Pats vs Falcons Superbowl. So, I'll go with No upsets

Pats v. Packers

packers

Pats should easily win again. I don't trust the Falcons, but I think Rodgers has too much to overcome, despite being the the best QB in the NFL. So in the end I am choosing NO UPSETS.

Packers

I'm digging the heavy faith in Aaron Rodgers this week. Dude has been amazing of late.

Somehow, this is the first time the Steelers and Pats have met in the playoffs since Roethlisberger's rookie year in 2004. I vividly remember the CBS camera panning the Steeler sideline prior to that game and seeing Ben's look as they were huddled up. I turned to my wife and told her the game was already over.

This is Brady's 3rd playoff game with Pittsburgh. In 2001, I remember a very similar look in his eye to the one Ben had, and had he not been knocked out of that game with an injury, it's very possible they would have lost. As it was, despite 3 INTs from my boy Kordell, it took a solid effort from Drew Bledsoe off the bench, along with a Troy Brown punt return and a Troy Brown scoop/(forward) lateral of a missed FG to Antwan Harris for the Pats to hold on and beat Pittsburgh on their way to upsetting the Rams in the "we're all Patriots " Super Bowl.

The Steelers are probably the healthiest of the 4 remaining teams, which is great to see after last year. They had trouble finishing drives last week, and Ben's been taking some heat for his play. He hasn't thrown for over 290 on the road since week 1, but with Le'Veon Bell doing Le'Veon Bell things, he hasn't had to. The Steeler defense has been playing very well, should be able to make Brady uncomfortable similar to what Houston did last week, and has the firepower in place to take advantage.

The Pats defense has been quite good at preventing teams from scoring, but let's be fair for a minute. The list of QBs the Pats have faced this year include Osweiler (twice), Fitzpatrick (twice), Goff, Kaepernick, Landry Jones, Matt Moore, Tannehill, and Siemien. Andy Dalton is the top rated QB they've faced.

The Steeler team, the city of Pittsburgh,and most importantly-- I have been looking forward to this matchup for 13 years. I'm very confident in how things are going to turn out this weekend.

Kudos to Biggie for being brace with his all upsets pick, but I've got the Falcons winning game one, and be darned sure I've got the Steelers (+5.5) winning the late game.

I'll take the Packers again

The Pats have also not allowed a running back to break 100 yards in 24 consecutive games - to include, this season David Johnson, Jay Ajayi (twice) and Bell.

Last week, the media was all over the #1 Texans defense, *never* pointing out that Houston had 6 games vs the AFC South and that they needed the Titans to blow a Week 16 game to the Jaguars just to make it into the playoffs.

The Texans kept it close last week for 2 and a half quarters, aided by the worst quarter (the second) that the Pats played all season. The Pats still covered the huge spread.

When our defense plays well, people make up excuses for why. When other defenses play well, they get fawned over.

The Steelers needed Andy Reid to mess up clock management - again - to barely beat KC. If the Steelers don't find the end zone today, they're going home.

I am not saying the Steelers cannot win, they can. What makes today great is that there are, really, no underdogs. Any of the four teams is a quality team and would be a legit Superbowl Champ.

But, unless the Pats play poorly, I don't think they lose today. If we play a solid game, I think our team is better - overall - than the Steelers are. The Steelers have two players - Brown and Bell - that are the best at their position on the field, but I think, to to bottom, we're better.

If we play well, we're going to Houston.

On a historical sidenote, this is Brady's 15th season as the Pats starter (in 2000 he didn't play as a rookie, and in 2008 he missed the season). In those 15 years, this is AFC Championship Game #11. That's just mind blowing.

Win or lose, there is no one I'd rather play this week but the Steelers. Regardless of records, the two best teams in the AFC are meeting today and that's how it should be.

The Pats clearly have a very good run defense, but I think that stat is more about game flow than anything. To their credit, no team is better at getting up on an opponent and forcing a team out of their game plan than NE. But Bell did have 150 yards from scrimmage in the first meeting, and he and Brown combined for over 250 without Ben in the lineup.

I get that I'm in the severe minority on this, but if both teams play their best tonight, I think Pittsburgh's the deeper, better team. There's a lot of talk about how poorly the Patriots played last week, but Pittsburgh didn't play all that fantastic either, and they earned a win over a very good KC team in one of the toughest stadiums in the league.

The Pats have earned their greatness over time, but Pittsburgh is certainly not a team that will be afraid of their aura, and the one huge factor is the lack of Gronk. He's the one guy Pittsburgh hasn't had an answer for. Let's also not overlook the Pittsburgh OL, which is suddenly a top 3 unit.

Kudos to the winner tonight, whomever it is, but if (when) the Steelers win tonight, it won't be because the Pats didn't play up to their potential, it will be because the better team won. Just like if NE wins, it won't be because Pittsburgh didn't play up to their potential, it will be because the better team created their own outcome.

I was wrong. I thought the Steelers would have figured out how to cover and play physical with the Patriots receivers. Clearly I was wrong. I'm an idiot. Congrats New England. Again.

We're going to Houston!

I cannot say how special a win in two weeks would be.

Atlanta is very very good. They will be hard to beat.

But, I cannot lie. I want to see Roger hand Brady the Lombardi in Houston.

The Steelers helped Atlanta out last night by showing them the exact blueprint on how to lose the Patriots. Turn the ball over, abandon the running game, bad tackling in the flats, constant zone, lack of pressure from front 4, etc,....

Adam Jones....

Just... Just....

Dummass.

The final top 3..... With her No Upsets Pick, Amy supplanted me for the Bronze.

1) Raven 10.61
2) Biggie 9.40
3) Amy 8.345

Gratz on the win Raven!