NFL Conference Championship Games 2024: Important Matches, Predictions and Highlights.
This Sunday, the contenders for Super Bowl LVIII will be revealed, and the outcome may depend on four key variables.
There are only three games left in the NFL season, and Sunday’s slate of games promises to be exciting. The veteran Baltimore Ravens, a regular contender with a track record of postseason setbacks, take on the perennially successful Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. The Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, are in the playoffs for the sixth straight year, while the Ravens are playing in their first AFC title game since 2012.
The San Francisco 49ers host the Detroit Lions in the NFC, setting up a scene similar to the AFC contest. The Lions, who haven’t made it this far since 1991, will face San Francisco, who is making its fourth appearance in the conference final game in the last five seasons.
Let’s interestingly examine each matchup’s specifics.
Baltimore Ravens (14-5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (13-6)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET CBS Moneyline on Sunday: Chiefs (+160) vs. Ravens (-200)
Dispersion: BAL -3.5 (-118) | KC +3.5 (-110)
Overall: 44.5— Above (-110) | Below (-110)
Patrick Mahomes against the Ravens front four is a crucial matchup for the Chiefs when they control the ball.
The Ravens, who rank 25th in blitzing %, are not as inclined as the Chiefs to apply additional pressure. In spite of this, Mahomes faces a test against the Ravens, who own the league high in sacks. Although there will be pressure, the Ravens must defeat Mahomes in the end.
Lamar Jackson against the Chiefs’ blitzes is a crucial matchup when the Ravens have the ball.
The Chiefs’ potent blitzing defense will be tested by Lamar Jackson, the outstanding quarterback for the Ravens. How well Jackson can withstand pressure and prolong plays in opposition to the Chiefs’ scheme will be a key factor in determining the result.
San Francisco 49ers (13-5) vs. Detroit Lions (14-5)
TV and time: 6:30 p.m. ET On Sunday, Fox
Moneyline: 49ers -376 | Lions +285
Dispersion: SF -7.5 (-1110) | DET +7.5 (-188)
Overall: 51.5 — Above (-110) | Below (-110)
Patrick Mahomes versus the Ravens front four is a crucial game when the Chiefs have the ball.
The Ravens, in contrast to the Chiefs (who we discuss below), prefer not to apply additional pressure. Baltimore, which is ranked 25th in the NFL, only blitzes 21.9% of the time under coordinator Mike Macdonald.\
When the Lions have the ball, a crucial matchup is: running through tackles
Leading backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions are excellent at getting yards after contact. But the 49ers have a strong tackling defense, which makes their clash in the NFC title game crucial.
When the 49ers have the ball, the protection of San Francisco vs. Detroit’s pressure packages is a crucial matchup.
The 49ers’ defensive strategies will be tested by the pressure-loving Lions. The blitzes of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn may have an impact, particularly considering the Lions’ reputation for applying pressure to quarterbacks. The Lions could win this game and advance in their season.NFL Conference Championship Games 2024: Important Matchups to See, Odds, and Television
Sunday will see the announcement of Super Bowl LVIII opponents. These four variables could affect the results.
The NFL season is down to just three games remaining. We’ll watch two of them on Sunday.
The AFC title game pits experienced players against up-and-coming players. The Baltimore Ravens have been playoff underdogs for a long time despite being strong competitors. With Baltimore making it to its first AFC title game since 2012, this season seems different.
On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs are in their sixth consecutive season as the conference’s representative in three of the last four Super Bowls. As someone who has advanced to this stage every year since the beginning of his career, Patrick Mahomes knows nothing else.
The San Francisco 49ers host the Detroit Lions in the NFC, in a scenario that resembles the early game in certain ways.
The Lions haven’t advanced this far since 1991, the only other Super Bowl era season they have reached this stage of. San Francisco is participating in the conference title game for the fourth time in five seasons.
Who then leaves and who returns home? Let’s examine each matchup’s specifics.
Baltimore Ravens (14-5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (13-6)
Time/TV: 3 p.m. Eastern Time CBS Moneyline on Sunday: Chiefs (+160) vs. Ravens (-200)
Dispersion: BAL -3.5 (-118) | KC +3.5 (-110)
Overall: 44.5 — Above (-110) | Below (-110)
Patrick Mahomes versus the Ravens front four is a crucial game when the Chiefs have the ball.
The Ravens, in contrast to the Chiefs (who we discuss below), prefer not to apply additional pressure. Baltimore, which is ranked 25th in the NFL, only blitzes 21.9% of the time under coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Surprisingly, the Ravens rank 23rd in pressure rate (19.5%), yet they lead the league in sack total (60). In other words, Baltimore completes the task when it returns home.
Mahomes may make this challenging.
This season, the Chiefs quarterback has been under pressure 152 times, which is second most in the league behind Washington Commanders’ Sam Howell. Nevertheless, he has only been sacked 27 times for a 4.2% sack rate, which is second-best in the NFL only behind the Buffalo Bills.
The pressure will probably be on Baltimore. But the Ravens had to play against one of the most adept at eluding sacks in the end.
A crucial game between the Chiefs’ blitzes and Lamar Jackson when the Ravens control the ball
With another fantastic season in which he accumulated 4,499 total yards and 29 touchdowns, Jackson is the likely MVP. Jackson is a huge task for Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs.
But blitzing might hold the key for Spagnuolo. This season, Jackson’s throw time per dropback was 2.7 seconds. Only Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears took longer, at 2.8.
The outcome of the game may depend on Jackson’s ability and willingness to keep the ball and extend the play against Kansas City’s game plan. The Chiefs are seventh (32.9%) in terms of blitz rate but second in terms of pressure rate (27.8%) and sack total (57).
Kansas City needs to make plays that are negative and get home.
San Francisco 49ers (13-5) vs. Detroit Lions (14-5)
TV/Time: 630 p.m. ET On Sunday, Fox
Moneyline: 49ers -376 | Lions +285
Spread: SF-7.5 (-1110) | DET +7.5 (-188)
Overall: 51.5 — Above (-110) | Below (-110)
Important game when the Lions are in possession of the ball: evading tackles
This might be the turning point in the NFC championship match.
Detroit, which ranks seventh at 4.6 yards per rush, has been outstanding on the ground this season. The ability of David Montgomery and Joshmyr Gibbs to gain yards after contact, however, truly sticks out. The Lions have the most overall yards (1,061) of any team in the league.
The Niners have a strong tackling defense, though. With just 64 missed tackles in the regular season, San Francisco was second only to the Dallas Cowboys.
Important battle between Detroit’s pressure packages and San Francisco’s protection when the 49ers have the ball
Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator, doesn’t hesitate to use blitzes. He exerted constant pressure last weekend against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, contributing to four sacks and two interceptions.
On Sunday, anticipate something comparable. When it comes to air yards allowed (3,100), the Lions are dead last, thus a coverage-based strategy is doomed. But Detroit, led by Aidan Hutchinson, leads the league in pressure rate (28.2%) and has the ability to win with four as well.
In contrast, Brock Purdy’s pressure rate per dropback (20.1%) places him 16th. San Francisco lacks a top offensive line but has respectable defense. The Lions are on this trail.
