Niner Noise
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NFL playoffs: AFC & NFC Championship game previews, predictions

By Peter Panacy

FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 23: Josh Huff #13 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings after making a catch for a first down during the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The eagles defeated the Vikings 21-10. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 23: Josh Huff #13 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings after making a catch for a first down during the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The eagles defeated the Vikings 21-10. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Niner Noise breaks down the next round of NFL playoffs by looking at both the NFC and AFC Championship games and offering up predictions. Who wins between the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles?

We’re down to the final four in the 2018 NFL playoffs.

Sunday’s action will be featuring an AFC Championship contest between the heavily favored New England Patriots taking on a defensively stout Jacksonville Jaguars squad. Meanwhile, the Nick Foles-led Philadelphia Eagles will try to halt the momentum of the Minnesota Vikings and their thrilling last-second win over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round last Sunday.

Three of the four teams are starting quarterbacks one might not think as “Super Bowl ready.” Aside from the Patriots’ Tom Brady, only Foles had any postseason experience prior to this season.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

But that’s how the NFL playoffs can shake out. This season has been weird, and the postseason has only reinforced that notion.

Nonetheless, each team remaining has a legitimate chance to advance to Super Bowl LII. We’ll break the two conference championships down, offering up predictions for who we think represents both the AFC and NFC in the big game.

This weekend’s slate of games Sunday, Jan. 21, are as follows:

  • AFC Championship: Jaguars @ Patriots — 3:05 p.m. ET on CBS
  • NFC Championship: Vikings @ Eagles — 6:40 p.m. ET on FOX

Can the Jaguars pull off an upset over the Patriots, or will we see yet another Brady run to the Lombardi Trophy?

And can the Vikings secure home-field advantage in the Super Bowl at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis?

Let’s take a look.