Hello.
Something different today for you all – a little preview of the NFC title game – an amuse bouche if you will, as we watch the Ravens and the Swifties knock ten lumps out of each other.
Why the NFC game? Well, if it’s not been obvious from all my NFL posts this season, I’m a 49ers fan. This is my seventh NFC title game tonight. We’ve won 2 of them, lost a couple in heartbreaking fashion, and got blown out in one, when we had to have Christian McCaffrey throw passes. What will tonight bring? The truth is, it could be anything. I’ve followed the 49ers since 2005, and if you are good and patient, you’ll see a nice article about that in the next few days, but this is probably the first time I can remember we’ve gone into the game as unabashed favourites. At the time of writing, the line has us -7.5, which honestly seems insane for the playoff game before the Super Bowl. It says a lot about where the team is, what the expectations are, and what this all means. In some ways, this might be the extent of the window for this team – we’re only set up cap wise for a few more years. So what wins it for us? Simply – stop the run on defense, run the ball well on offense. If we stop the run, Goff has to throw 35-40 times, and that’s not a strength of the Lions. If we run the ball well, it opens up play-action, and Purdy can hit those downfield passes he’s apparently incapable of.
There’s a million other mini-battles throughout the game that will make a difference, but ultimately I’m predicting a trench war of attrition between two of the best O and D lines in the NFL. God willing, heaven knows, its got to be this time…hasn’t it?
Now for something totally different, I’m going to pass you over to a good mate of mine, Lions supporter and Southerner (so my diametric opposite) Chris White, aka Blanco_619, for his thoughts on the game.
To quote a great song from Bloc Party’s debut album, so here we are…and did I see it coming? 100% not!
Let’s talk about these Lions. I knew we had something special early on with Dan and Brad, but this special? Nah, I don’t think anyone saw this. I think it speaks volumes, in a positive mindset, that we have no MVP candidates (yet Dak made an appearance – go figure?) because, despite having no real off-the-scale playmakers (though some future players potentially in this category being Gibbs, LaPorta and Amonra to name just 3) this team just oozes togetherness – this team has #AllGrit.
Which is lucky, because that’s exactly what we’ll need this weekend. Where do we sit now with The Cranky Englishman and his successful 9ers? Well, we are still massive underdogs. Yes, we need to be on our game, but I also feel, like a classic FA Cup tie, we need to catch them on a bad day… but hey, that’s “the magic of the playoffs” right?!
On paper where do we stand:
Hutch or Bosa? Bosa
Gibbs or CMC? CMC
Amonra or Deebo? Deebo
Goff or Purdy? Well… for me, this is where it may just play out. “Goff only plays in a dome.” Well. Goff played in Cali for most of his football career. So maybe this statement should be Goff only plays at home?I digress. How do I see this NFC Championship game going? Well, I’ll be honest, being HUGE underdogs I expect nothing, but hope for everything. Do I think we’ll make the Super Bowl? Of course not, but even if we don’t, it’s been an incredibly fun season!
LFG.
I concur.
Enjoy the game.