The Detroit Lions, mired in the abyss of ridicule for decades, are one small win away from their first Super Bowl appearance. The inveterate losers that they were, they simply snatched the title from the new American team.
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No offense, dear Cowboys fans, but your team hasn't earned this self-proclaimed title for a long time. Regardless of whether they win or lose their matchup against the 49ers in the National Conference finals on Sunday night, the Lions will emerge from this season as national champions.
Do you think I'm exaggerating? Not at all, otherwise supporting characters! A poll conducted by betonline.com prior to their second-round playoff victory last week found the Lions were the favorite team in 27 states.
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The 49ers finished a close second with support from seven states while the others were lost in the fog.
It's hard not to fall under the spell of a club that is in a conference final for the first time in 32 years and has suffered martyrdom, losing 17 seasons since the early 2000s.
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Their current head coach Dan Campbell knows something about this. He played tight end for the Lions in 2008, a year considered one of the worst years of professional sports infamy, when the team posted a historically ridiculous record of zero wins and 16 losses.
Here he is very close to the top of the mountain and no one can enjoy this euphoria anymore, he who first had to wade through the sewers before rising from the dead.
And the winner will be?
The Lions are undoubtedly the NFL's most relatable and inspiring story of the season, but their magical journey certainly doesn't guarantee them victory.
Realistically, the 49ers are better equipped and their defense will be the difference, with an excellent group of linebackers and a front that will force Jared Goff to make some mistakes.
The Lions' hope is that they prevail against the ground game. If they can keep carrier Christian McCaffrey at bay, Brock Purdy will have to prove that last week's difficult game in the rain was just a passing incident.
The Lions are enjoying a strong emotional surge, but the adrenaline is in danger of wearing off with Detroit's enthusiasm. It would be anything but an admission of failure if that were the case, and whatever happens, they are no longer the good old Lions.
A shock in Baltimore
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As for the American Conference Finals, I'll dare to commit the cardinal sin of betting against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Yes, the same Mahomes who is always great in the playoffs. The Chiefs quarterback can look back on 38 touchdown passes in playoff games in just five years and counting. For comparison, all of the Ravens' quarterbacks have totaled just 37 in their 28-year history.
The same Mahomes has the ability to destroy the Ravens. In four games against them, he completed 71.8% of his passes for 1,479 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. I read these numbers again, think back to my prediction and a deep desire comes over me to seek refuge in my mother's arms…
Before I change my mind, I trust that the ravens have lied to me before. They have been uncompromising against the best teams this season. Their record with Lamar Jackson as the starter is 6-3 this season against teams that had a playoff spot. Their six wins were achieved by an average margin of 25.7 points. As Mario Lemieux would say, it's something…
Defensively, the Chiefs are excellent. But the Ravens are exceptional. Their defense was the first in league history to rank first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60) and turnovers caused (31).
That's it, I'm convinced. I find…
MY PREDICTIONS
- Chiefs 23 Ravens 27 (Sunday, 3 p.m.)
- Lions 16 49ers 23 (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.)
LAST WEEK 2 out of 4 (50%)
OVERALL THIS SEASON: 179 of 282 (63.5%)
10 STORIES TO WATCH
Highlighted young roosters
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In a scenario similar to last year, the four quarterbacks in action, Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Jared Goff (Lions) and Brock Purdy (49ers), are under 30 years old. This is only the second time in two years in a row and the first time since 2003 and 2004. It is the eighth time in 54 years that the four fulcrums are not thirty years old.
Kelce close to the record
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No, Travis Kelce is not only on everyone's lips because of his romance with Taylor Swift! The Chiefs' veteran tight end has 145 receptions in 20 playoff games so far. He is just seven catches away from breaking the record of 151 held by the immortal Jerry Rice, who achieved the feat in 29 games with the 49ers and Raiders.
The return of Mark Andrews
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Speaking of star tight end, Mark Andrews will finally see his return to the game. He has long been a key part of the Ravens offense and we thought his season was over when he injured his ankle on November 16th. He attended all practices this week and scored six touchdowns in 10 games this fall.
Two excellent players
AFP
It's not every year that a conference final features two quarterbacks who won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Patrick Mahomes received the award in 2018 and 2022, his counterpart Lamar Jackson received it in 2019 and could receive it this year. This is the first time that two “MVPs” under the age of 30 will face each other in the playoffs.
The student faces the teacher
AFP
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had his first NFL job with the Eagles under Andy Reid. They played side by side for nine seasons until Harbaugh was signed by the Ravens. “There were a lot of good coaches on that team and Andy taught us so much,” Harbaugh recalled this week.
And eight for the 49ers?
AFP
If the 49ers defeat the Lions, it would be their eighth Super Bowl appearance. This would make them the fifth franchise to do so, joining the Patriots (eleven appearances), the Steelers, the Broncos and the Cowboys, who each have eight appearances. This is the Niners' 19th appearance in the conference finals, a league record.
Goff is going for a rare double
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The Lions are trying to get their first ticket to the Super Bowl in their history, and when they do, Jared Goff will join an exclusive club. In fact, he's trying to become the fifth quarterback to reach the finals with two different teams, having achieved success with the Rams. The others are Tom Brady (Patriots and Buccaneers), Peyton Manning (Colts and Broncos), Kurt Warner (Rams and Cardinals) and Craig Morton (Cowboys and Broncos).
Mahomes on fire!
AFP
Patrick Mahomes is 13-3 in his career in the playoffs, and a 14th win would tie him for third all-time with Terry Bradshaw, John Elway and Peyton Manning. Only Joe Montana (16) and Tom Brady (35) say it better. At 28 years and 133 days, Mahomes would also be the youngest quarterback to win four conference finals. Brady achieved the feat at the age of 30 years and 170 days.
A crazy sequence
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The Chiefs are on a mission to reach the Super Bowl. It would be their fourth appearance in five years, something only two other teams have achieved before them. The Patriots last achieved this in 2014 and then from 2016 to 2018. The Bills previously achieved this from 1990 to 1993.
Quite a contrast!
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While the 49ers and Chiefs have reached the conference finals in recent years, this is completely new for the Ravens and Lions. The Ravens have not finished second in Conference USA since 2013 and this will be the first home appearance in team history. The Lions haven't reached this stage of a season since January 1992.