NFL Conference Championships

 Anyone noticed my absence?  I've been putting off this column, mainly because it is so hard to write.  We have an excellent slate of teams playing in the conference championship games this postseason, and really ANYONE could advance to the Super Bowl.  Still, time for me to put on my prognosticator's hat and give it a whirl:

NFC: Tampa Bay Bucs at Green Bay Packers:  The Bucs were the only team this season to completely shut down the Packers offense.  So the first question is, can they do it again?  I don't think so.  The Bucs were a mystery this season; nobody really knew for sure if this team would gel.  It took time for the offense to gel, but the defense came together quickly.  The Packers weren't prepared for that.  They are now.

While the defense will help, if the Bucs want to win, they will need their offense.  That offense is looking sharper than it has all season, and that bodes well for Tampa Bay.  However, I still saw that some receivers were out of sync with Brady during the Saints game.  The Bucs won that game more because the Saints were more out of sync, and the defense and special teams helped the scoring.  I don't expect the Bucs to get the same help against the Packers.  Close game, but the Pack leave Lambeau victorious.  PACKERS, 27-23

AFC:  Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs:  First, the good news -- Patrick Mahomes has cleared the concussion protocol and will start.  However, he now becomes a liability to the team.  You can bet the Bills will blitz more, as they want to get to Mahomes and make him concerned about getting hurt again.  Mahomes is a killer QB when he is focused, so the Bills want him off-balance and concerned.  They have the defense to do that.  This is a tougher team than the Browns (no knock against the Browns, just a statement of fact), especially on offense.  If the Bills can slow down the Chiefs offense by distracting Mahomes, Josh Allen and the offense can become the stars of the show.  I keep seeing the stiff defense that kept Lamar Jackson and the Ravens off-track and befuddled all game last week.  I think the defending Super Bowl Champions will have their hands full, and might even taste defeat.  BILLS, 28-27