Bold predictions for 2023 NFL conference title games: Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase gone; Eagle Torch No. 1 ‘D’

We’re into the NFL’s final four, and at the end of this weekend we’ll find out who the Super Bowl LVII matchup in Arizona will be.

As usual, we expect some crazy things to happen when these conference championship games begin. So here we are again with our bold predictions: three for both the NFC and AFC title games.

NFC Championship Game: the 49 in the eagles

Brock Purdy battles hard, drops two catches

Brock Purdy has been amazing: The last pick in 2022 and the third-string quarterback went 7-0 for the San Francisco 49ers with a 116.0 passer rating in that stretch, his highest in Week 14. NFL and the best seven-game hitting streak by a 49ers player since Hall of Famer Steve Young in 1996-97. It is noteworthy. One of his most impressive attributes is his ball security, with 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, none in the playoffs.

However, Purdy’s perfect streak will come to an end Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the team with the most sacks in football this season, 75, including playoffs (third in singles). season in NFL history, including the postseason) and the second-highest pass rush rate in the NFL (39%). The rookie performed well under pressure in his first six starts, posting a 121.2 passer rating under pressure.

However, in front of the Defensive Player of the Year finalist Micah Parsons and Dallas Cowboys Up front, Purdy wilted as he completed just three of his 11 passes while under pressure for a 39.6 passer rating. The Eagles’ pass rush should be even more of a struggle to contain the 49ers’ offensive line, which isn’t primarily centered around one player. Philadelphia has four players with double-digit sacks this season – linebacker Haason Reddick (16.0), in defense Javon Hargrave (11.0), defensive end Josh Sweat (11.0), and defensive end Brandon Graham (11.0) – Most in NFL history.

* Eagles: 2nd highest pressure rate (39%) and most sacks (75) this season

When Purdy makes his eighth career start Sunday, he will become the fifth-most recent quarterback to start a conference championship game, joining Shaun King in 1999. the buccaneers, Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 Steelers, Joe Flacco in 2008 the crowsand Mark Sanchez in 2009 the jets. Those quarterbacks went 0-4 while throwing four touchdowns and an interception. Purdy would move that record to 0-5 and add another pair of interceptions to that cumulative box score.

It hurts to eat He has 4 total TDs, over 350 total yards

The 49ers defense is the NFL’s best in scoring — 16.3 points allowed per game — and total yards — 300.6 total yards allowed per game — but a lot of what they do depends on the NFL’s sack leader, the defensive end. Nick Bosa (18.5), creating pressures and gathering sacks. That defense will be a little shaky after a week ago against a Dallas Cowboys team that played without its best running back (Tony Pollard) and enter the quarterback Dak Prescott who alone he had eyes for a wide receiver, CeeDee the Lamb.

This week’s challenge of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for 3,500 yards and more than 750 yards in a single season, poses plenty of problems for San Francisco’s vaunted defense as a true doubleheader. – threat Plus, the Eagles can slow down the 49ers’ prolific pass rush with the best offensive line in football.

The success of the Eagles offensive line this season

• Individual offensive linemen have combined for the fewest sacks (14) and lowest pressure rate (3.5%) this season.

• the center Jason Kelce and direct advance Lane Johnson they have allowed zero sacks between the two

• 1st in pass blocking and 3rd in run blocking according to Pro Football Focus

• The entire offensive line has been selected to the Pro Bowl or has been selected as an alternate

Hurts and the Eagles are one of the more versatile offenses in the NFL: They’ve had 300 yards passing or 200-plus yards in five of Jalen Hurts’ last six starts. In short, they’ve pretty much alternated between winning teams in the air and on the ground. This week, it looks like air would be the move.

Hurts’ Eagles yardage streak dates back to Week 12

Another reason Hurts could pile up the yards quickly on Sunday is that he led the NFL in completion percentage (50%), touchdowns and passer rating on kicks of 25 yards or more this season. In that regard, the 49ers have been one of the worst deep pass defenses in the league at 25th or worse in all of the aforementioned categories.

25+ yards passing this season, including playoffs

* NFL drives; ** 25th or worse in the NFL

Between a strong front defense and a resilient 49ers secondary, Jalen Hurts will rush the 49ers for four total touchdowns and over 350 total yards.

AJ Brown nothing to complain about, gets over 150 yards, TD

AJ Brown he appeared visibly disturbed The Eagles’ sideline blows in Philadelphia’s middle New York Giants in the division round, 38-7. The run-heavy approach had just three catches for 22 yards that night. However, it will be all smiles for Brown, whose 1,496 receiving yards this season set the Eagles’ single-season record, as he takes on the aforementioned sensitive 49ers secondary.

He caught seven touchdowns of 25 or more yards this season, tied for the second most of any player in a season since the first consecutive passing yards in 2006.

Most TDs since 2006 on kicks over 25 yards

In addition to having a deep pass defense this season, the 49ers have struggled to rank 25th or worse all season, and Jalen Hurts is a top-10 passer in throwing to receivers, including Brown. DeVonta Smithfirst pair of Eagles receivers with over 1,000 yards each in the same season in team history.

NFL rankings targeting WRs this season

Despite the league’s top scoring and total yardage defense, the 49ers have allowed their opponents’ best wide receiver to rush for over 100 yards in three of their last four games. Brown will take it easy and take a touchdown or two.

100-yard wide receivers vs. 49ers since Week 17

AFC Championship Match: flares in The leaders

Travis Kelce sets the postseason single-game reception record

Everyone on Earth knows that when there’s a Kansas City Chiefs football game on, 2022 All-Pro first-teamer Travis Kelce is going to catch a lot of passes. He led all tight ends in catches (110), receiving yards (1,338) and receiving touchdowns (12) this season and is on track to become one of the most prolific postseason pass catchers in NFL history.

His 120 touchdown catches are second all-time behind GOAT receiver Jerry Rice (120); his 1,389 playoff receiving yards is tied with Rob Gronkowski for third most all-time; and his 14 receiving touchdowns are third all-time, but he’ll move into second behind Rice in that category with two more scores.

Kelce caught 14 passes, tied for third all-time in a playoff game and one game short of tying the single-game record he threw for 98 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City’s divisional-round win a week ago. Jacksonville Jaguars. with Muhammad less than 100%, he’ll have to rely even more on his security blanket, as he won’t be able to use his shuffle magic to create another lane pass. Kelce finished threatening the NFL single-game record for catches with 20, one less than his predecessor. Denver Broncos he had 21 against receiver Brandon Marshall Jars in Week 14 of the 2009 season.

Ja’Marr Chase torches KC again (10 catches, 200 yards, 2 TDs)

Only one wide receiver has dominated leaders like Ja’Marr Chase: Hall of Famer Lance Alworth. Bengal connection Joe Burrow To Chase has been the one that Kansas City has not slowed down in the teams’ last three meetings, all of which have been won by Cincinnati. Burrow has completed more than 80 percent of his passes to his former college teammate for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in the Bengals’ three-game winning streak. Patrick Mahomes and Leaders.

Joe Burrow targets Ja’Marr Chase vs Chiefs

* Lance Alworth’s 3-game record for most yards vs. the Chiefs by any player since 1965-66

Chase’s three-game lead over the Chiefs secondary has been more productive than Hall of Famer John Stallworth could have done against Kansas City in his best-of-three games and John Elway’s Hall of Famer Rod Smith in his best-of-three. -length of game against AFC West rival.

Most receiving yards in a 3-game stretch against the Chiefs*

* Including elimination

The Chiefs secondary had the most touchdowns (33) this regular season and the second-highest touchdown rate (67.3%) before. Indianapolis Colts (67.9%). Facing one of the NFL’s most suspect secondaries, the Burrow-to-Chase connection will be addressed again and again on Sunday.

Burrow scores TD with less than 13 seconds left, doesn’t give Mahomes enough time

Last season, Patrick Mahomes did the seemingly impossible, running Kansas City down the field to tie the AFC division title. Buffalo Bills A Josh Allen touchdown pass gave the Bills a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds left. Lightning doesn’t usually strike twice, and it won’t this postseason. The game would be tied late in the fourth quarter, as it has been in the last three Bengals-Chiefs games, and Joe Burrow would throw a touchdown pass with 11 seconds left to break the tie, giving the Bengals the lead. seven point border. Mahomes was able to score in Kansas City in 13 seconds against Buffalo, but he won’t be able to go the length of the field in nearly the same amount of time. Thanks to Joe Cool, the Bengals will hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy at Arrowhead Stadium for the second straight season.