NFL's Conference Championships To Be.... Confrontational?

This week the NFL announced a new off-season program called the Veteran's Combine. At first, I thought this had something to do with veterans of war because I am not a bright individual. After reading an article on this combine, I was sold on the whole thing. The event is basically another show for football fans to watch in the off-season that the NFL can bank in more cash from viewers and we, the audience, get a chance to see players like Ben Tate and maybe (hopefully because everyone would totally watch if it did happen) Tim Tebow. The participants get a $400 check at the end of the day and potentially a real NFL contract with a real NFL team if they impress in the same drills that the rookie classes cooperate in ahead of being drafted annually.

Here are my Conference Championship predictions and mini-previews...

Seahawks 27 - Packers 17

Al Bello/Getty Images
If Green Bay wins, it'll be a result of Davante Adams uprising since not being a factor in their first match-up versus Seattle.

What has changed since week one? Seattle lost Defensive Tackle Brandon Mebane and Tight End Zach Miller for the season but, Tony McDaniel/Kevin Williams and Luke Willson have stepped up and the team has not missed a beat at those two positions. Seattle also traded away Percy Harvin, who was a huge player for one game this season and that game was in week one against the Packers. Green Bay has not changed much. They won't lose Tackle Bryan Bulaga (hopefully for entertainment's sake) for the second half and the team has guaranteed we won't see Derek Sherrod, who was one of the worst offensive linemen in football whenever he stepped onto the field. Green Bay's odds are quite better without Sherrod, with Clay Matthews moving to Inside Linebacker and without Percy Harvin being the ultimate wildcard. 

Live look-in at Percy Harvin.

Gimpy Aaron Rodgers is better than no Aaron Rodgers (AKA: Matt Flynn) and the Seahawks will still have to cover the pass despite Eddie Lacy running probably being the more effective game-plan for Mike McCarthy. Speaking of defense, Green Bay's has not allowed more than 21 points (outside of the fluky Atlanta Monday night game) since week eight. It's not like Green Bay's defense is made out of the same material as their hats....

Cheese. I'm talking about cheese.

I don't expect this game to be wildly different from week one except it should be closer as a result of Seattle's loss of Percy Harvin and Green Bay's emergence of Davante Adams.

Patriots 45 - Colts 27

AP Photo/Elise Amendola
"Super Bowl Media Day should be a blast." stated Bill Belichick... probably.

Patriots' Center Bryan Stork is OUT with a knee injury because, someone has to deliver the babies. Realistically, this could hamper New England's offense a little bit but, expect the team to have already thought three steps ahead of everyone else and look perfectly fine (as they always do). This is the Belichick/Brady combo's ninth conference championship game in fifteen years together and those two know what they're doing and have faced more worthy opponents than this year's Colts squad. 

AP Photo
"Thanks for the torch of losing to New England in the playoffs, horsebro."

Andrew Luck has been one unlucky Quarterback against the Patriots so far in his three years in the NFL.

November 18th, 2012: Lost 24-59
January 11th, 2014 (Divisional Playoffs): Lost 22-43
November 16th, 2014: Lost 20-42

While Indianapolis's defense has slowly gotten better, they have to get over the hump that is New England's offense. After giving up the second-best rushing performance in 2014 to now-hardly active RB Jonas Gray, the Colts defense is likely to try defending the run when they should be defending the pass as it is still Tom Brady on the other side and he will torch your defense if you show up unprepared. Two major changes on both sides since their week 11 battle are at the Running Back position. LeGarrette Blount has replaced Jonas Gray (not really an upgrade or a downgrade) and the Colts' combination (Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw) that went for three yards on fourteen carries is now OUT for Daniel "Boom" Herron and Zurlon Tipton (an upgrade but still... yuck). Don't expect anything to have changed between these two teams yet, New England is still miles ahead.

So, enjoy the Conference Championships even if they turn into blowouts and don't blame me for picking against your team and that result becoming true.