After what was perhaps the most thrilling weekend in recent playoff memory, the NFL playoffs have reached their final four weekend. If history is any indication, this weekend’s conference championship games should also be action-packed. In the AFC, Cincinnati will be squaring off with the red-hot Chiefs in K.C. Meanwhile in the evening game in the NFC, it will be an NFC West showdown with the 49ers locking horns with the Los Angeles Rams.
Below, SBS will break down the two championship game matchups, offer analysis on both teams and a final prediction for the two teams that will head to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles.
| NFL Conference Championship Weekend Picks | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals at Chiefs | Chiefs ML | -310 | -310 | -310 |
| 49ers at Rams | Rams -3.5 | +100 | +100 | +100 |
When: 3:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Where: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
What to look for from the Bengals:
Cincinnati is coming off a thrilling victory over the Titans and are aiming for this first Super Bowl berth since the Ronald Reagan administration. In their 19-16 win over the Titans, quarterback Joe Burrow was extremely cool under duress (he was sacked an alarming nine times) and was able to still pass for 348 yards. Cincy mainly relied on their defense though to bail them out of tough spots as their unit generated three Ryan Tannehill interceptions, including one on the final Tennessee drive. If the Bengals are looking for a formula to knock off the opposing team, this game is pretty much the textbook example of Burrow throwing for a ton of yards and the defense coming up big when it needs to.
What to look for from the Chiefs:
In a thrilling victory over the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City will be returning to the AFC Championship for the fourth time in as many years. Patrick Mahomes was marvelous as usual, throwing for 378 yards, three passing touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing. Basically, unless Mahomes completely screws up and gives up too many turnovers, Kansas City will be the favorite in each game they play.
Prediction: In what will be a rematch from their thriller earlier this month (Cincy won 34-31), Chiefs vs. Bengals should be another classic. However, the outcome will be different this time as the Chiefs (on the moneyline) roll at home and advance back to the Super Bowl.
When: 6:40 p.m. ET on Fox
Where: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
What to look for from the 49ers:
In another nail-biting finish, San Francisco was able to outlast Green Bay, 13-10, and advance back to the conference championship game for the first time since 2019. The 49ers offense was not pretty in the win, but they made the big plays when they needed to with 106 rushing yards and only one turnover from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. What’s more impressive is that the San Francisco defense was able to contain the high-flying Packers offense to 263 total yards, including only 67 of them on the ground. The 49ers will need to dial up some similar pressure (five sacks) in Los Angeles to rattle quarterback Matt Stafford just like they did with Aaron Rodgers.
What to look for from the Rams:
Even though Los Angeles lost four fumbles in their divisional showdown with the Bucs, they still were able to overcome these blunders and come away with the victory in Tampa. Quarterback Matt Stafford was incredibly productive with 366 passing yards and two touchdowns, including one to Cooper Kupp. The receiver was also very productive in the last playoff game with 183 receiving yards and was able to overcome a fumble early in the game. The Rams were able to capitalize on the early Bucs mistakes and take a commanding 20-3 lead heading into halftime. If they are able to do this again, San Francisco will need to watch out.
Prediction: In the team’s prior two matchups this season, the 49ers were able to outlast Los Angeles on the road (a 27-24 win overtime) and blast them at home (31-10). However, beating a team three times in one season is incredibly hard to do so look for the Rams to finally turn the tide in L.A.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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