2024 NFL playoffs: AFC, NFC Championship instances, odds, TV, streaming, predictions for convention finales – CBS Sports activities

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NFL Playoff Time!
Similar to that, the NFL playoffs are right down to 4 groups. Super Bowl LVIII is across the nook, set for a Feb. 11 broadcast by CBS, Nickelodeon and Paramount+, and solely the convention championships stay earlier than the last word showdown.
Now that this weekend’s motion is formally within the books, with the 49ers surviving the Packers, the Ravens cruising previous the Texans and the Chiefs and Lions profitable Sunday, it is time to stay up for the AFC and NFC Championship video games, which can decide this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl matchup. Beneath you may discover all the main points on tune in, plus early odds, key notes and sport predictions:
Date: Sunday, Jan. 28 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+
Opening odds: Ravens -3.5
The matchup: Name it a heavyweight showdown. The Ravens are making their eleventh playoff look in 16 years below coach John Harbaugh, contemporary off a cruise to the AFC’s high seed and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s second MVP bid in 4 seasons. The Chiefs, in the meantime, have superior to their sixth straight convention title sport, aiming for a fourth Tremendous Bowl bid in six years.
The expertise: Baltimore is as full as they arrive, with Lamar Jackson including improved passing effectivity to an already-electric dashing sport below middle. His weapons are shifty and speedy, however extra spectacular is his defensive assist, courtesy of a Roquan Smith-led unit that surrendered the fewest factors of any workforce in 2023. The Chiefs nonetheless have the sport’s most clutch QB in Patrick Mahomes, alongside the bodily duo of ball-carrier Isiah Pacheco and security valve Travis Kelce. Greater than that, they have considered one of their greatest defenses of the Andy Reid period, with Chris Jones, L’Jarius Sneed and Justin Reid headlining the stingy unit.
The journey: The Ravens went 13-4 to win the AFC North — and the AFC’s No. 1 seed — for the primary time since 2019, then trounced the emergent Texans, 34-10, within the Divisional Spherical. The Chiefs completed 11-6, their worst mark in six years, however cruised previous the Dolphins, 26-7, within the wild-card spherical earlier than outlasting the Bills, 27-24, in Mahomes’ first-ever street playoff sport.
Early prediction: Loads of followers will likely be pulling for Baltimore only for the sake of watching somebody aside from the Chiefs struggle for the Lombardi Trophy, and positively the Ravens protection has the instruments to maintain issues tight. However even with Lamar Jackson, Baltimore was uneven with the ball to open its sport in opposition to Houston, and Ok.C.’s “D” below Steve Spagnuolo has been far stingier. Jackson’s play-making rivals that of Mahomes, however like Tom Brady in his prime, No. 15 cannot be written off. Decide: Chiefs 24, Ravens 20
Date: Sunday, Jan. 28 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox | Stream: fubo
Opening odds: 49ers -7
The matchup: It is high canine versus underdog, at the very least traditionally talking. The 49ers have been an NFC powerhouse below Kyle Shanahan, advancing to their fourth convention title sport within the final 5 years. The Lions, in the meantime, are making their first multi-game playoff run since 1991, additionally looking for their first-ever Tremendous Bowl look.
The expertise: Each the 49ers and Lions have been well-balanced in 2023, getting into the playoffs with the NFL’s No. 2- and No. 3-ranked offenses, respectively. San Francisco has two MVP candidates in second-year quarterback Brock Purdy and star working again Christian McCaffrey, whereas additionally boasting an opportunistic all-star protection led by All-Pros Fred Warner and Charvarius Ward. Detroit has equally leaned on each the run and play-action, with Jared Goff having fun with a profession renaissance as the purpose guard for an assault that includes play-makers like Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The journey: The 49ers went 12-5 this 12 months to safe the NFC’s No. 1 seed, then survived a comeback try by the upstart Packers in a 24-21 Divisional Spherical win. The Lions went 12-5 to win the NFC North for the primary time since 1993, then edged the Rams in a 24-23 wild-card win earlier than outlasting the Buccaneers, 31-23, to advance to the convention championship.
Early prediction: Detroit is a feel-good story, residing as much as preseason hype as a hard-nosed fighter, and if Goff will get run assist whereas feeding St. Brown early and infrequently, the Lions are able to the upset. However Goff has additionally been considerably much less efficient on the street than at dwelling, and the 49ers are likely to reap the benefits of defensive alternatives. Whereas Purdy and Shanahan proved weak of their decision-making in opposition to the Packers, the superior expertise is the safer guess. Decide: 49ers 27, Lions 23
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