What We Learned About the Future of Every NFL Conference Championship Team

Each conference championship game showed a great deal about each respective team and where they're headed in the future.

Let's breakdown what we learned about all four teams on Sunday. 

Baltimore Ravens 

The Baltimore Ravens aren't an old, slow and declining defense. Yes, Ray Lewis is 36, and Ed Reed is 33, but there are still one of the most formidable defensive units in football. 

Both defensive leaders have tons of football left in them, especially Reed, and there are a variety of talented players around them. 

Terrell Suggs is arguably still in his prime. Haloti Ngata definitely is. The scheme confuses opposing quarterbacks and they're physical brand of football isn't vanishing anytime soon. 

As for Joe Flacco, he did what he needed to do to silence most of the critics. However, I'm not ready to elevate him to any new level after his 306-yard, two-touchdown, one-interception performance, although he did gain more respect from me.  

Putting up those kind of numbers, on the road with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, is certainly not easy, but he did it against a patchwork Patriots secondary that was shredded all season and featured Julian Edelman. 

Flacco's weapons are adequate and the future is bright for rookie speedster Torrey Smith. 

Ray Rice is entering what should be the most productive seasons in his career and finishes off what has the potential to become one of the most balanced offenses in football.

New England Patriots 

The Patriots proved they can win without a dominant defense and a masterful effort from Tom Brady. They did make Joe Flacco great and undoubtedly need upgrades in their secondary. They cannot count on guys like Sterling Moore to make game-saving plays in the future. 

New England also proved how dangerous they may become in the next few years. 

Yes, I said it. 

Their offense was efficient without a true deep threat in an offense that essentially featured three players. 

If the Pats address their secondary needs and add a true, playmaking wide receiver, they'll remain contenders in the AFC for a while.

How will defenses stop, Wes Welker underneath, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski and a down-field option?

They won't. 

I was a bit perplexed by some of the inaccurate throws by Brady. No, he's not perfect, but a few of the tosses came when he was stoically standing in the pocket. 

That is unusual for No. 12. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers demonstrated that they're built for the future, but also, that even after their magical season, they clearly have some holes to fill. 

Alex Smith "regressed" after his Joe Montana-esque performance against the New Orleans Saints a week ago, which really, was expected playing a far better New York Giants defensive unit. 

With Jim Harbaugh in place, though, the 49ers need not worry about their quarterback. He's good enough. He simply needs weapons. Vernon Davis will continue to pulverize opposing secondaries, but the wide receivers aren't scaring anyone. 

Not Michael Crabtree, not Kyle Williams, no one. 

The defense, is amazing and will continue to be. No doubt in my mind. Justin Smith is 32, but the rest of the defense is remarkably young and loaded with talent. 

Great defenses have great linebackers and Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman will be the best linebacker tandem in the league next season, if they haven't already achieved that distinction. 

They could use another youthful and energetic cornerback to complement Pro Bowler Carlos Rogers, but safety Dashon Goldson is a star in the making, too. 

New York Giants

Eli Manning's elite. That needs to be the first thing written about the Giants at this juncture. I wrongfully didn't have a ton of faith in Manning earlier in the season, but going on a second "run" to the Super Bowl and winning yet another ridiculously hard playoff road game has made me a believer. 

The win over the 49ers was the gutsiest of Manning's career and he's bound for more triumph in the future. 

The team's receiving corp rivals the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints as the best in the league and Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham have yet to turn 26. 

Watch out. 

They must inject more youth to the offensive line, but for the time being, they're good enough. 

Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs aren't total game-changers, but they do their job of keeping the defenses honest, which opens up throwing lanes for Manning to find his playmakers. 

On defense,  23-year-old Jason Pierre-Paul spearheads a group that's lined with wily veterans that still have at least a couple of years left in the tank. 

Adding more depth on that side of the ball, at any position, wouldn't be a horrible idea. Bringing in young guys to learn from the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Michael Boley would be beneficial. We saw how well Jacquian Williams played this season in a situational role. 

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