Burning Questions for NFL's Conference Championships

Four teams remain in the quest for an NFL title.

The Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots have plenty of experience when it comes to reaching recent Super Bowls, much less winning them. All of these teams have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy once since 2004.

But which two teams are making the trip to Glendale, Arizona, to play for the title on Feb. 1? That’s the real question.

That doesn’t mean we didn’t come up with a few more in regards to this weekend’s conference title games.

How Mobile Will Aaron Rodgers Be Against the Seahawks?

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It’s been an obvious topic of discussion for a few weeks and will continue to be up until Sunday.

How’s your calf, Mr. Rodgers?

“Yeah, it’s good,” said the Green Bay Packers quarterback on his radio show (ESPN Wisconsin 540 AM) on Tuesday, and relayed by Gary D’Amato of the Journal-Sentinel. “It’s not better. It’s worse than when I started the game but it’s doing OK. I’m tired of talking about it.”

But now Rodgers must deal with the NFL’s top-ranked defense in terms of fewest points and fewest yards allowed.

Back in Week 1 at Seattle, a much healthier Rodgers threw for only 189 yards, one score, one interception and was sacked three times in a 36-16 loss. Green Bay was held to 255 total yards. 

Has the Seahawks Defense Met Its Match This Sunday?

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Judging by the way that the Seattle Seahawks defensive unit has played for nearly two months, you feel like this question should be reversed and asked in regards to the Green Bay Packers.

Including last week’s 31-17 playoff win over the Carolina Panthers, the defending Super Bowl champions have allowed just 225 total yards per contest, 56 points and five touchdowns in winning their last seven games.

Then again, with the exception of the Philadelphia Eagles, none of their seven opponents over that span have the same firepower as the Packers, who led the NFL in scoring this season and ranked sixth in the league in total offense in 2014.

It’s worth noting last week that the Panthers rushed for 132 yards and gained 362 total yards in their loss to the ‘Hawks. Three turnovers doomed their chances, but the Packers aren’t prone to many mistakes. Their 13 turnovers were tied for the lowest total in the league this season.

Can Andrew Luck Avoid the Turnover Bug?

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes this season.

He also committed 22 turnovers in 16 games, one of the higher totals in the league. To put that in perspective, the New England Patriots coughed up the football just 13 times as a team in 2014.

During this postseason, the third-year signal-caller has been what you would expect. He’s completed 58 of his 87 throws for 641 yards, three scores and a pair of interceptions. What’s been very impressive is the fact that he’s been sacked just once in two playoff wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos.

As for those turnovers, he’s committed his share in three overall meetings with the Patriots, all losses.

Including the 2013 playoff loss to New England, Luck has thrown six touchdown passes while committing nine turnovers (eight interceptions, one lost fumble) in his encounters with Bill Belichick’s defense.

You can look for a couple of Luck miscues on Sunday. What the Patriots do with them could be the key to this game.

Will the Patriots Running Game Dominate the Colts Once Again?

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The numbers are pretty daunting. To be fair, we’ll just place our focus on the last three meetings between the Colts and Patriots that date back to head coach Chuck Pagano’s arrival in Indianapolis.

In a 59-24 victory at Foxborough in 2012, the Pats totaled 115 yards rushing on 25 carries, a pretty modest total considering the next two meetings. Of course, Tom Brady threw for 331 yards and three scores in the rout.

In last season’s divisional playoff encounter, Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-22 win. Running back Stevan Ridley added 52 yards and two touchdowns as the Pats rushed for 234 yards and six touchdowns on 46 attempts.

Nine weeks ago on a Sunday night at Indianapolis, it was Jonas Gray’s turn to be...Blount. The little-used running back carried 37 times for 201 and four scores in a 42-20 victory. New England totaled 246 yards on the ground in the prime-time win.

The Patriots offensive line has performed very well the last three months. The Colts defense has been better, but this has been a different beast.

So will Belichick’s running game have its way once again? The answer is yes.

Can Eddie Lacy Keep the Seattle Offense off the Field?

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If the defending Super Bowl champions are to get back to the Big Game, they will have to put the wraps on Green Bay’s power back.

The formula for beating the Seahawks is keeping quarterback Russell Wilson and co. off the field. Just ask the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. All of those teams were able to run the football and control the clock against defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s unit.

While Seattle’s offense is hardly prolific, giving it fewer opportunities to put points on the board puts a lot more pressure on Wilson and his mates.

Lacy ran for 101 yards in last week’s 26-21 win over the Cowboys. He finished seventh in the NFL with 1,139 yards rushing this season and ran for nine touchdowns. The Seahawks finished third in the league against the run in 2014.

Let the battle begin.

Will the Packers Throw at Richard Sherman on Sunday?

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It appears to be inevitable, doesn’t it?

With the way Aaron Rodgers spreads the ball around and with the season-long emergence of rookie wide receiver Davante Adams, it’s hard to believe that the strong-armed quarterback won’t take his shots.

That certainly wasn’t the case when these teams met in the season opener, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reminds us. Of course, while Adams played in that game, he never saw a pass thrown his way that night. This season, he finished fourth on the club with 38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns. In last week’s win over the Cowboys, the rookie wideout totaled seven catches for 117 yards and a score.

So yes, Richard Sherman will see some throws his way. Last week vs. Carolina, he knocked down two passes and picked off Cam Newton once in his team’s 31-17 win. He’s totaled 24 interceptions during his four-year career in the regular season.

Perhaps the bigger question is how long and how boisterous will Sherman’s postgame interview with Erin Andrews be should the Seahawks win?

Has the Colts Defense Been as Good in the Playoffs as We Think?

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During the regular season, Indianapolis was ranked 11th in the NFL in terms of allowing the fewest total yards. It ranked 18th against the run and 12th against the pass, and also allowed 23.1 points per game in 16 contests.

However, in two playoff wins against the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos, the Colts have allowed a combined 23 points.

Why the turnaround? To be honest, part of it has been the shortcomings of Indianapolis’ opponents. The Bengals were minus wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham two weeks ago. The Broncos were hampered by a less-than-healthy Peyton Manning.

But to be fair, these Colts look like a different defense the last few weeks. They have been aggressive and physical, and that will win you a lot of football games. Cincinnati managed only 254 total yards and 10 points.

Denver was limited to 288 yards and 13 points. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that when Andrew Luck was picked off twice last Sunday, his defensive teammates limited Manning and co. to a pair of field goals following those mistakes.

Can the Patriots Defense Bounce Back After a Tough Day Against the Ravens?

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Of all the surprising things we saw this past weekend in the divisional playoffs, the disappointing performance of New England’s defense was certainly one of those shocks.

Bill Belichick’s club found itself down 14-0 in the first quarter as the Baltimore Ravens drove 71 and 79 yards, respectively, to those scores. Baltimore rolled up 428 total yards against a unit that allowed 344.1 yards per game during the regular season.

The Ravens ran for 136 yards (129 by Justin Forsett), and Joe Flacco threw for 292 yards and four scores (two interceptions). New England’s pass rush failed to sack Flacco, although they did pick off the Ravens quarterback twice.

The real matter here is not whether the Patriots defense can rebound from a tough performance. In essence, they have little choice if the team is going to make the Super Bowl for the sixth time since 2001.

Can the Packers Pull off the Upset?

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In a word...yes.

In this matchup between the highest-scoring team in the league this season and the club that allowed the fewest points, more times than not the defense has prevailed. 

But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Packers’ attack is versatile and explosive. Eddie Lacy gives the team not only a power ground game, but he’s become part of the passing attack. Wideouts Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams are exceptional, and tight ends Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers contribute as well. The Green Bay offensive line has gotten better as the season has worn on.

However, can they and will they are two different matters. Seattle’s defense is as hot as they come. Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson could give Green Bay’s iffy defense fits. And we know just how tough these Seahawks are at home.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 21, Green Bay Packers 20

Can the Colts Pull off the Upset?

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In a word...no.

The Colts have played solid football in the postseason. As we mentioned, their defense has played much better in the playoffs than some would anticipate. But going to Foxborough is a whole different story, especially when it comes to this team.

The Baltimore Ravens just scored 31 points and owned a pair of 14-point leads, but they still couldn't get the job done. Considering Luck’s penchant for turnovers and their own lack of a running game (something the Ravens had), it’s hard to believe that the AFC South champions can keep pace with Tom Brady and his cohorts.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 21