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NFL Conference Championship Predictions

January 21, 2016 Posted by Matt Pencek Featured Sports, National Sports

We have arrived at the NFL version of the Final Four.  Unlike the opening weekend of the playoffs,  all the favorites advanced to this round.  I can make a case for each of the four remaining teams to advance to the Super Bowl.  However I can only lay claim to two.  Here is who I see celebrating a conference championship.

New England over Denver

This is being hyped as another in that long running television series Brady vs. Manning.  I look at it as Manning vs. Belichick.  In the Broncos’ quarterback, we have one of the great minds to ever play the position.  The past month and half is probably as good example as any.  Manning does not have the arm strength and the other physical tools he once possessed yet he is still finding ways to win games in a chicken wire and spit fashion.  Manning knows his limitations but still has the mental skills to identify a weakness in an opposing defense and calling the correct play that will exploit that defense.  That was what was on display during Denver’s winning drive against Pittsburgh.

The issue for Manning is Belichick is also one of the greatest football minds the game has ever seen.  Belichick made his reputation on defense.  The foundation of his success is utilizing a variety of schemes and looks that leads to uncertainty by opposing offenses which often leads to mistakes by opposing offenses.  My take is that Belichick will be able to take full advantage of Manning’s physical limitations as the Patriots return to the Super Bowl.

Carolina over Arizona

The Cardinals had the top ranked offense in the NFL during the regular season as quarterback Carson Palmer found the Fountain of Youth in the Arizona desert.  Carolina’s offense was not too shabby either as the Panthers were ranked 11th.

The defensive are similar as well.  The Cardinals ranked fifth and the Panthers sixth.

I could go with the fact that Arizona coach Bruce Arians has been a member of championship teams when he was an assistant during the Steelers two most recent titles.  However, my lean is with Cam Newton.  I look for the Panthers quarterback’s mobility to be the determining factor

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About Matt Pencek

Matt joined WBOC in October 2015 as a Sports Broadcast Journalist. He is a native of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. Matt graduated from Penn State where he received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He started his broadcast career as the news/sports director of WEMR AM 1460 in his hometown of Tunkhannock. Matt held that same position for WALI/WROG radio in Cumberland, MD. His first television position was as the weekend sports anchor at WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, MD where he eventually became the Sports Director. Matt then moved to Florence, SC to become a sports reporter/anchor for WPDE-TV In 2011 along with his brother David, Matt co-authored The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists. From 2012 – 2015 he was the lead radio play-by-play voice for The Friday Night High School Football Game of the Week for DE FOX Sports 1290 in Wilmington, DE. The last 2 years at the radio station Matt was the studio host during the University of Delaware Football radio broadcasts. He has also called the action for the both the Blue Hens men’s and women’s basketball teams. Outside of work, Matt is married to his wife Shannon and has two sons; Jack and Connor. E-mail Matt Pencek at mpencek@wboc.com and follow him on Twitter @mattpencek_wboc. Check out all stories by Matt.

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