The Shenoa Report Conference Championship '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report
January 19, 2020
Conference Championship




Today is the last Sunday of the season where there will be more than one football game on. We have reached the Conference Championship. These games will decide who will be in Super Bowl 54. Next week the only “game” will be the Pro Bowl, and that is probably as much as I’ll write about it. The following Sunday is Super Bowl 54. I’m getting way ahead of myself.


I went 3-1 in my picks last week. I was stunned to see the Ravens lose, but I got all the other picks correct. My record this season is 171-93, which is better than all of the insiders on Inside the NFL. Patting myself on the back.


Here is the recap for the Divisional Round.



Vikings @ 49ers 10-27
Both teams had an interception but it was the 49ers defense that showed up big and helped win the game for San Francisco. At one point the 49ers defense didn’t allow Minnesota to gain a first down for more than 27 minutes! That, coupled with a Kirk Cousins’ interception that lead to an easy walk in touchdown from Tevin Coleman made it look like a pretty easy win for the 49ers. This is the 49ers first win in a playoff game in six years. The next game for the 49ers will be at home versus the Packers.


Titans @ Ravens 28-12Tennessee scored all of their points off takeaways or fourth-down stops in this game, meaning when the Ravens tried to convert on fourth down and were not successful the Titans would score on the following possession. Let that sink in. It became quite apparent that the Ravens do not play well when they are trailing, which they did the entire game. Lamar Jackson threw a pick early in the first quarter, which was the beginning of the end for the Ravens. Jackson had 2 interceptions in the game and one passing touchdown. Even though he lead his team in rushing with 143 yards, the pressure of this game really rattled him. On the other hand, Titans RB Derrick Henry, was unstoppable in his run game, with 30 carries for 195 yards. He also had a receiving touchdown. The Titans will be moving on to Kansas City for the Conference Championship and the Ravens will just go home.


Texans @ Chiefs 31-51I used to watch a lot of football with my father. When a game started really lopsided, he would say, “oh they (the trailing team) are just building up the other team’s confidence, just wait.” Houston jumped out to a 24 point lead early in the second quarter and I thought I had entered an alternate universe, almost like watching the Titans beat up on the Ravens. The Chiefs had definitely built up the Texans’ confidence, as my dad would say. It was time for KC to strike. The Chiefs put up 28 points in the second quarter and took the lead going into half time. It was an amazing comeback and it didn’t stop at half time. The Chiefs dominated the second half as well scoring another 23 points to Houston’s 7. The Chiefs actually shut out the Texans in the fourth quarter. Kansas City will host the Tennessee Titans in the Conference Championship and the Houston Texans will also go home.


Seahawks @ Packers 23-28Russell Wilson is now 0-4 as a starter at Lambeau and the Seahawks are now 1-10 all time in the Packers’ Stadium. It looks like the Packers are Wilson’s kryptonite. Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams eight times for 160 yards and two touchdowns. It was reminiscent of the Rodgers - Jordy Nelson era. Wilson was well on his way to lead the Seahawks to a comeback win late in the fourth quarter, but the Packers defense forced a punt and the Seahawks never got the ball back. Rogers and team sealed the win with two third down conversions and were able to run out the clock on the Seahawks. The Packers will travel to San Francisco for the Conference Championship and the Seahawks will travel to their couches to watch the rest of the postseason.



Conference Championship

Sunday, January 19th

Titans @ Chiefs [3:05pm CBS]The Titans haven’t won a Conference Championship since 1999 and haven’t appeared in a title game since 2002. The Chiefs were in the championship game just last season against the Patriots, but haven’t made it to the Super Bowl in 50 years. Both teams have great play makers, the only one that stands out for the Titans is Derrick Henry. Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelsey. I think they have more weapons on their team. Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, has never coached this deep into the postseason, while Chiefs’ Andy Reid is a veteran. The Titans have surprised me every game this postseason. I hope they don’t surprise me again today. I’m rooting for and picking the Chiefs to win this game.


Packers @ 49ers [6:40pm FOX]The Packers have the stronger quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, but the 49ers have the stronger defense. This should be a good game to watch. If the 49ers win this game they will become the second team in NFL history to make the Super Bowl a year after losing at least 12 games in the season before. The Saint Louis Rams are the only other team to do it. If the 49ers defense can shut down the Rodgers - Adams show, as well as Aaron Jones run game they will be going to the Super Bowl. The Packers defense needs to get to Jimmy Garoppolo early and shut down the Niners running game to be successful. I think the Packers have the harder challenge. Defensive end, Nick Bosa, will be in Rodgers face all day long and George Kittle will taunt the Packers defense. This will be a rematch game from week 12 of the regular season where the 49ers embarrassed the Packers 37-8. I think this game will be closer than week 12 but I still think that the 49ers will win. I’m picking San Francisco to win this game.





Thanks for the edit Eric!