NFL predictions: NFC, AFC title games

Preview: Packers at Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks opened defense of their Super Bowl championship by thrashing the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Now, the only thing standing between the Seahawks and a return trip to the Super Bowl is Green Bay, which pays a visit to No. 1 seed Seattle on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. The Packers, who were limited to only 255 total yards in the 20-point season-opening loss, must find a way to solve the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers dealing with a torn calf.

While a hobbled Rodgers rallied Green Bay past the Dallas Cowboys 26-21 last weekend, Seattle rolled to its seventh consecutive victory win a 31-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks are surrendering an average of eight points during the winning streak and have permitted one fourth-quarter touchdown in that span. “We’re going to have to be efficient against them,” Rodgers said. “They’re a great defense, they’ve got Pro Bowlers all over the place and they’re well-coached.”

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -7.5. O/U: 46.5

ABOUT THE PACKERS (13-4): The left calf injury took away Rodgers’ mobility against Dallas, but he still threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns, completing his final 10 passes and leading a pair of long touchdown drives in the comeback victory. Green Bay shied away from throwing at star cornerback Richard Sherman in Week 1 but it has ample weapons with the wideout tandem of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb - a combined for 189 catches and 25 touchdowns during the regular season - along with rookie Davante Adams, who had seven catches for 117 yards and a TD versus the Cowboys. Running back Eddie Lacy was limited in practice Thursday but has rushed for at least 97 yards in six of the last seven games, while Green Bay’s defense has held eight of the past nine opponents to 21 points or fewer.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (13-4): Although Seattle gave up two TDs in a game last week for only the second time since mid-November, it is the first team to lead the league in fewest points (15.9) and yards per game (267.1) in back-to-back seasons since the Chicago Bears in 1985-86. “Guys are doing whatever it takes to win,” Sherman said. “Guys are playing for one another, they don’t care about stats. Championships are won in the playoffs.” Russell Wilson threw for 268 yards and three scores last week to improve to 25-2 at home (playoffs included) and has the luxury of handing off to Marshawn Lynch, who gashed the Packers for 110 yards and two TDs en route to his fourth straight 1,200-yard season. The “Legion of Boom” secondary made its presence felt last week with Kam Chancellor’s 90-yard interception return for a score.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Seahawks can become the 12th team to reach the Super Bowl after winning it the previous season and first since New England (2003-04).

2. Rodgers has the highest postseason passer rating (108.2) in road games and is second overall (105.3) to Wilson (109.6).

3. Green Bay is tied for the most road wins (10) in postseason history but Seattle has won eight straight playoff games at home.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 27, Packers 20

———————————————————————-

Preview: Colts at Patriots

Andrew Luck has guided the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons but the former No. 1 overall pick has one noticeable blotch on his resume - the inability to beat the New England Patriots. Luck will get a fourth crack at Tom Brady & Co. when the Colts travel to New England for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. The Patriots, bidding for their sixth Super Bowl in 14 seasons, have demolished the Colts by a combined 144-66 in the past three.

New England, which rolled to a 42-20 victory at Indianapolis on Nov. 16, made postseason history by erasing a pair of 14-point deficits in last week’s 35-31 victory over Baltimore to advance to their fourth consecutive conference title game. “The Patriots are a great, great team,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “Hall of Fame coach. Hall of Fame quarterback. We all know how hard it is to win there.” Indy is coming off an upset victory at Denver, knocking off Peyton Manning and the Broncos 24-13.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -7. O/U: 53.5

ABOUT THE COLTS (13-5): Although Luck had his string of three straight 300-yard postseason games halted and tossed a pair of interceptions, but he also had a pair of touchdown passes and spread the ball around as Indianapolis held the ball for 34 minutes. Running back Daniel “Boom” Herron has rushed for a touchdown in each of the two postseason wins while hauling in 18 receptions. T.Y. Hilton was the leading receiver during the regular season with 1,345 yards and has 10 catches in the postseason while tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener each had eight touchdown receptions. Indianapolis’ defense limited Manning to 211 yards and has surrendered an average of 11 points in its last three games since a 42-7 blowout loss at Dallas on Dec. 21.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (13-4): New England set an NFL record for fewest rushing yards (14) in a postseason victory, but the ground game has sparked the past two victories against the Colts. Rookie Jonas Gray rumbled for 201 yards and four touchdowns in Week 11 while LeGarrette Blount steamrolled Indy for 166 yards and four scores in a 43-22 playoff win last season, but Gray was inactive last week and Blount had three carries for one yard. With no running game for which to speak, Brady threw for 367 yards and three TDs while also rushing for a score and tight end Rob Gronkowski had seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Julian Edelman had 92 catches during the regular season and Danny Amendola had a pair of TD catches, but the Patriots’ defense was burned for four scoring passes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Patriots are 16-4 at home in the postseason and can match Dallas and Pittsburgh for the most Super Bowl appearances with eight.

2. Luck is the first QB in history to pass for at least 250 yards in each of his first five playoff games.

3. Patriots coach Bill Belichick needs a win to surpass Tom Landry (20) for the most postseason victories.

PREDICTION: Patriots 30, Colts 26