And then, there were four! It’s time for the conference championship round of the NFL playoffs, deciding which teams will play in Super Bowl LVIII. Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, are here to get you ready for the most interesting matchups.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
- How will Lamar Jackson deal with Steve Spagnuolo’s unconventional blitzes?
- Can Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco take over this game, and will “pin/pull” continue to be a thing?
- Will Mike Macdonald’s Ravens defense cause Patrick Mahomes to hesitate in his process with all those coverage disguises?
- How will Baltimore counter the Chiefs’ effective use of heavy personnel in the run and pass games?
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
- Jared Goff has become much more than just a game manager, so how will Steve Wilks’ 49ers defense deal with that?
- Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done a brilliant job coaching up a cornerback-light roster. But will that turn into a pumpkin against Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense?
- Is Brock Purdy’s bad game against the Packers in the divisional round indicative of vulnerabilities that can be exploited here?
- Will the Lions’ rookies on both sides of the ball be the ultimate difference in this game?
You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os,” previewing both conference championship games in detail, right here:
You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…
How Patrick Mahomes will deal with the Ravens' pressure and coverage.
Happy Conference Championship Day! In this week's "Xs and Os with @gregcosell," we first get into what Patrick Mahomes can expect when the @Ravens bring pressure… and Mike Macdonald's defense will certainly do THAT. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/kjrz8VTZCm
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
The Chiefs' young secondary could be a problem for Baltimore's passing game.
The @Chiefs have redefined their secondary into a new, younger group over the last few years. Fourth-round rookie Chamarri Conner is the latest young DB to step up, and here's how he does it. @gregcosell https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/lwLdPMXzcZ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
The Chiefs excel out of heavy personnel, especially in the run game with Isiah Pacheco.
The @Chiefs run more 13 personnel than any other team in the league. In this week's "Xs and Os," @gregcosell and I detail how important that's been to RB Isiah Pacheco… and how crucial Pacheco is to the Chiefs. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/ZeEHiy4vHP
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson isn't beatable in one way, but Steve Spagnuolo will have blitzes waiting for him.
New "Xs and Os with @gregcosell" — Lamar Jackson has developed to the point where there isn't one sure way to beat him. Steve Spagnuolo and the @Chiefs will have their blitz plans ready, but Lamar has proven the ability to adjust to that, as well. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/xKlofsVn9g
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
Deebo Samuel is the tone-setter for Kyle Shanahan's 49ers offense.
New "Xs and Os with @gregcosell: — Deebo Samuel is set to play against the @Lions, and that's VERY good news for the 49ers, whose offense isn't nearly the same — run or pass — when Deebo isn't on the field. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/9TxfLsJfce
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done an amazing job covering one personnel issue.
Can the @Lions' defense keep up with the @49ers' relentless offensive attack? As @gregcosell points out in this week's "Xs and Os," Detroit DC Aaron Glenn dials up some nasty schematic stuff despite being very cornerback-light. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/IPwkQueqwY
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
Should Brock Purdy's bad game against the Packers be cause for concern for the 49ers?
Should Brock Purdy's bad game against the @packers spell any sort of trouble against the @Lions in the NFC Championship game? @gregcosell says that Detroit DC Aaron Glenn will certainly have some evil plans for the @49ers' quarterback. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/ADh73XPsXA
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
In this week's "Xs and Os with @gregcosell," we detail how important rookie TE Sam LaPorta has become to the @Lions' passing game — especially as an outside receiver. The @49ers will have to be on point for that. https://t.co/J4rg1HDRJ8 pic.twitter.com/d9gBjx1jq3
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 28, 2024
