NFL Conference Championship Round Predictions: Expert Analysis for Patriots-Broncos and Rams-Seahawks

We are down to four teams left in the NFL playoffs. The postseason is undoubtedly an exciting time, but there is nothing better than an NFL Sunday when every team is in action. As the meaning of the games rises, the volume goes down, leaving less for content-consuming fans.

That difference can be mitigated with great games/performances, as we play the whole season to get to this point; the regular season wouldn't mean anything if we didn't have the end-of-season tournament.

With plenty of uncertainty, the experts here at FantasySP wanted to share their thoughts on the penultimate games of the season. Morgan Rode and Daniel Hepner answered five questions about the NFL Conference Championship Round as we head into the weekend.

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Which unit is more important for the Patriots in this game: the offense or the defense?

Morgan: I'd say the offense. The defense has an easier test now facing Jarrett Stidham, so all the offense has to do is score a handful of points and they should win. The Denver defense is no joke, though, so that's why the pressure is on the Patriots' offense in my eyes.

Daniel: It's probably the offense, but just to give the other side, New England's defense can essentially win this game if they can shut down Stidham and Denver's offense. The Broncos have a great defense, and nothing will come easy for the Patriots when they have the ball, but if they only need to score a few times to win the game, it will make the task much less daunting. New England seems to have more ways to win this game than Denver does.

Can Denver overcome the loss of Bo Nix to beat New England?

Morgan: If the Broncos muddy the game up and control the clock, I think they could beat the Patriots. I don't see it happening, but it's definitely possible.

Daniel: It will come down to the Denver defense, as mentioned above. Maybe Stidham comes out and has a huge game, but given the Broncos' middling passing game even with Bo Nix, Stidham's status as a backup, and the tougher matchup, it's more likely that Denver is trying to survive on offense, not thrive. The Broncos need to get a few turnovers and make a few big stops on third and fourth downs then hope for a big play at the right time after protecting the ball all day.

What's the clearest road map to a Rams victory over the favored Seahawks?

Morgan: I like the Rams to win on the road for a third straight time. If LA wins the turnover battle, I like their chances. Getting off to a good start would also work in the Rams' favor to help take the crowd out of things a bit.

Daniel: Matthew Stafford showing why he might be the MVP of the league. Los Angeles has a good defense, but they are sometimes the weaker unit, especially against the pass in the second half of the season. An efficient Seattle attack will likely move the ball, so it will be up to the Rams' quarterback to show that he is the best player on the field. The Seahawks will come in with maybe the most complete roster of any team in the playoffs, but LA's offense is good enough to let them walk away with a victory.

Seattle looked like the best team in the Divisional Round. Can they carry that over and handle Los Angeles this week?

Morgan: I think Seattle looked good last week thanks to playing a battered San Francisco team. Things are going to be much tougher this week, and I just don't trust Sam Darnold like I do Stafford, so I like the Rams to pull the upset over their division rivals.

Daniel: I agree that last week was more about San Francisco's attrition over a long season rather than the Seahawks being such a dominant team. They are obviously good enough to win; they were the top seed in the NFC. Seattle will find a much tougher time than they did last week against an injured 49ers team, though. If they win, it will be on the strength of their roster and their defense. Darnold has been fine, but it's more about him protecting the football than making the big plays that will propel his team to victory.

Which player is the biggest X-factor in determining whether or not his team will win in the Conference Championship Round?

Morgan: It's Darnold for me. If he turns the ball over a couple times (like he did in the regular season against LA), then he could be a big reason behind Seattle being eliminated. If he takes care of the ball and plays well, then the Seahawks will probably advance to the Super Bowl.

Daniel: Stidham is an obvious answer. Nix in this game, the Broncos probably would have been favored. Instead, they are close to five-point underdogs depending on the sportsbook you are looking at. If Denver can get a productive day out of their backup passer, they will be in great position to walk away with the victory. If Stidham plays the way that we would expect any backup to play, though, then it's going to be a long day and likely leave a lot of “what ifs” for Broncos fans.