Cook: Breaking Down The 2021 NFL Conference Championship Games

This weekend is Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL, and Steve Cook is here to break it down and tell you what’s going to happen–and why!

No matter what happens this Sunday, we already know what the theme of Super Bowl LV will be. The NFC will be represented by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, theoretically in the final years of their career. The AFC will be bringing one of the best young quarterbacks of today, looking to take that torch out of the hands of the old guard. All us writers have to do now is fill in the names. Pretty sweet, isn’t it?

Before we get there, we need to do this first. One game pits two of the fellas in that GOAT conversation against each other. The other has two of the fellas looking to get in that conversation someday. Hell, one of them is already in that conversation according to some. Let’s break it down!

Sunday, 3:05 PM: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers

I’m sure the twittersphere will only have kind things to say about this gesture. Everybody gets a high five! https://t.co/tWA8o3YIIQ pic.twitter.com/LadOvYbnws

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 18, 2021

When I was a kid, there was a pretty interesting stat about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost their first twenty-one games that took place with a kickoff temperature below 40 degrees. Granted, most Tampa Bay teams during that time period were pretty miserable, things didn’t really get cooking there until Tony Dungy arrived in the late 90s. Tampa’s record isn’t much better now, but that’s at least partially because they haven’t played many cold weather games since 2002, when divisions realigned. Instead of making the trek to Chicago & Green Bay every year as part of the NFC Central, they’re going to Atlanta, Charlotte & New Orleans every year.

You kind of have to throw out everything you think you know about the Buccaneers. Only consider what you know about Tom Brady. He’s been pretty good in cold weather games over the year. Antonio Brown: also pretty good in cold weather games. These aren’t your father’s Buccaneers, even if Tom Brady was playing against your father’s Buccaneers back in the day.

Going to Lambeau Field is never easy though. The Packers looked good in their first playoff appearance this season, Aaron Rodgers was clicking on all cylinders against the top-ranked LA Rams defense. Tough to pick against them, except for one important thing:

I already picked against Tom Brady last week.

I didn’t want it to happen, but it’s undeniable now. Tom Brady’s going back to the Super Bowl and winning it once again. Why would anything else happen? Brady will throw a couple of touchdown passes, Rodgers will fall flat on his face, and the Golden Boy will retake his spot on top of the mountain. It’s what the NFL wants, and it just might be what the NFL needs.

Cook’s Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday, 6:40 PM: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs refusing to rule out Patrick Mahomes for the Conference Championship like… pic.twitter.com/hhwwRjuQDy

— TPS (@TotalProSports) January 20, 2021

Kansas City might have a problem. Patrick Mahomes suffered a concussion during Sunday’s game against Cleveland, leading KC to almost lose to the Browns. I’m sure Chad Henne is a nice guy, but he’s not Patrick Mahomes. Should Mahomes miss the AFC Championship game, the Chiefs won’t be beating the Bills and advancing to play against Tom Brady.

You’d like to see Buffalo make it past the Chiefs and return to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XXVIII. Josh Allen has had a great season throwing the ball to Stefon Diggs among others. It’d be a great story, and the idea of the underdog Bills going against big bad Tom Brady has a nice ring to it.

You have to pick the Chiefs though, especially since it seems like Mahomes is playing. If Mahomes isn’t playing, pick the Bills.

Cook’s Pick: Kansas City Chiefs

So it’ll be Mahomes trying to take the torch from Brady. NFL pundits might declare Pat the greatest QB of all time if he wins. Enjoy Championship Weekend!