The NFL championship Sunday is just a few days away, and based on quarterbacks, it will feature two familiar faces in the AFC, and in the NFC, there will be a new one and an unexpected one.
The Baltimore Ravens and likely regular-season MVP Lamar Jackson will host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC title, while Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers will welcome the Detroit Lions and Jared Goff for the NFC crown.
Ex New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played in the AFC Championship Game twice, said on “The Dan Patrick Show” that the Ravens and 49ers will win their respective matchups and advance to Super Bowl LVIII in the Las Vegas area.
The 49ers defeated the upstart Green Bay Packers on Saturday in the divisional round thanks to some clutch heroics from Purdy and a strong game from star running back Christian McCaffrey.
However, they will have their hands full with Detroit, and Sanchez said their defensive line needs to produce more pressure — something it has done only intermittently all season long.
Deebo Samuel’s status for Sunday is up in the air, and if he’s unable to play due to an injured shoulder, they could find themselves at a sizable disadvantage.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have survived spotty production from their wide receivers to reach the AFC title game for the sixth consecutive year.
There, they will face a Ravens team that was fourth in points and first in points allowed during the regular season.
Right now, Baltimore is favored, but it is usually foolish to pick against Mahomes, regardless of the circumstances.
