The Shenoa Report Conference Championships '18 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report

January 21, 2017

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

I can’t believe the football season is almost over. Only 3 weekends left, and that’s if you count the Pro Bowl, but the good news it we still have three weeks of football!!!  Today we find out who is Super Bowl bound! I went 2-2 on my picks last week but I was happy to see the Jags beat the Steelers. I wasn’t happy however, to see the Eagles beat the Falcons. This week are the Conference Championship games and there should be at least one good match up.

 Let’s recap the Divisional Weekend

Falcons @ Eagles 10-15

Whenever I root for the Falcons they always seem to let me down. Not that I root for them a lot; just last year’s Super Bowl against the Patriots and this game against the Eagles. This wasn’t an exciting game to watch unless your favorite player is a kicker. Eagles kicker, Jake Elliott, may have missed an extra point but went ahead and made up for it by kicking three field goals, also scoring the most points on both teams. The Eagles haven’t won a playoff game since the 2008 season, which is entirely too soon if you ask this NY Giants fan. Atlanta will go home to watch the playoffs wrap up and Philadelphia will host the Vikings this Sunday.

Titans @ Patriots 14-35

Well, the first quarter was good. But then the Patriots decided to show up and play and it was all down hill from there. I didn’t even really watch the game after that, it was on, but my 1,000 piece puzzle was far more entertaining. The Titans not only lost this game but also parted ways with their head coach Mike Mularkey. The Patriots will host the Jaguars for the Conference Championship on Sunday.

      

Jaguars @ Steelers 45-42

The Steelers were so busy focusing on playing the Patriots that they forgot they had to play Jacksonville first. Jacksonville did not forget who they were playing, and weren’t concerned coming into this game, as the last time these teams met in Pittsburgh the Jaguars prevailed handily. We had gone out for brunch so I missed the first two Jags touchdowns but it was ok because they had four more! 6 touchdowns in total and Fournette had three of them, it was glorious.  The Steelers cut the lead in half by half time with two touchdowns but could never claw all the way back. What a great game, if you’re not a Steelers fan, which would be me!  The Jags have already said they are Super Bowl bound, but maybe they should learn from the Steelers and take it one game at a time. The Jags will travel to Foxburough to face that Pats and the Steelers will just go home.

Saints @ Vikings 24-29

I think the NFL saved the best game for last. It didn’t get really exciting until the last 5 minutes of the 4^th quarter. Minnesota lead by 17 at halftime but let Drew Brees and the Saints come back and even take the lead in the 4^th. There were FOUR lead changes in the final THREE minutes of the game! Saints Wil Lutz kicked a 43-yard field goal with 25 seconds left and thought they had sealed the win… I was Pouty McPouterson because I had picked the Vikings to win and didn’t want to go 1-3 on my picks. Also, fun fact, there has never been a team in NFL history that was able to play in their stadium in a Super Bowl.  This year’s Super Bowl will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium, which is Vikings Stadium and I think it would be cool if the Vikings made it to the Super Bowl, but I know, one game at a time.  And then, The Vikings, with 25 seconds had 4 plays for 75 yards… As time expired Stefon Diggs caught a 61-yard pass from Case Keenum and ran into the end zone! It’s what people are calling the Minnesota Miracle. And it was. The Vikings will head to Philadelphia to play the Eagles and the Saints will head home.

Conference Championships

Sunday, January 21^st        

Jaguars (12-6) @ Patriots (14-3) [3:05pm CBS]

So, Tom Brady is on the injury report because he hurt his hand in practice Wednesday. Sports Center is saying that he has stiches in his right hand due to the injury. It seems that he is always on the injury report when playoff time comes around. This is bad news for the Patriots but good news for the Jags, although I think the Jags should play like Tom Brady is completely healthy. I am going to pick the Patriots to win this game but I will say this; ever since Tom Coughlin joined the Jaguars they have been a completely different team. And, Tom Coughlin has beaten the Patriots a number of times with the NY Giants and twice when it really counted, in the Super Bowl. I will obviously be rooting for the Jags and hoping for an upset.

Vikings (14-3) @ Eagles (14-3) [6:40pm FOX]

I have proclaimed that I am a Vikings fan for the rest of their season. Hopefully, I’ll be a Vikings fan in February too. I’m picking the Vikings to win this game. Mostly, because I think they can and partially because I refuse to think that there could be an Eagles-Patriots Super Bowl. I feel sick just saying those words in a sentence.  Fun fact, both the Eagles and the Viking QBs were not starters when the season began. It’ll be fun to watch two back up QBs play for a chance at a Championship win.

GO Jaguars, Vikings, and as always GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the edit Eric!!!!!