NFL - Conference Championships - The Best Game that Never was

NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Best Game that Never Was

In a little over 24 hours we will know the two teams that will compete in the Super Bowl.  I have ranked the four possible matchups based on my personal sense of "intrigue":

Patriots and Niners

Ravens and Niners

Ravens and Falcons

Patriots and Falcons

The Niners and Pats played already this season.  The Pats rallied from 28 points back to tie the game.  The Niners answered with a big play to claim victory.  A rematch would give us the Golden Boy Brady against the rising star Kaepernick.  We would get the aloof Hoodie against the risk-taking Harbaugh.  We would get the Patriot offensive Machine against the league's most complete defense.  I want to see that.

A Ravens/Niners game would give us the Brother's Harbaugh game we almost saw last year.  The family storyline here would be epic.  The teams play physical, hardnosed football, but the Niners would bring the Kaeprnick wrinkle.

These first two options are very close in my ranking of game sex appeal.  It would be a steep drop to Ravens/Falcons, but the differences in style would be somewhat interesting.  The Patriots and the Falcons have similar features to me. New England is just better and more accomplished. 

I have learned over the years though that the conference championships have their own storylines and sometimes the surprises leave us with unexpected and disappointing matchups.

During the 1985 season the Chicago Bears steamrolled to a 15-1 record.  They started the season 12-0.  The Miami Dolphins ambushed them in a week 13 Monday Night game, 38-24.  Miami preserved the 1972 Dolphin perfect season legacy with the win.  The Bears dominated the NFC playoff shutting out the Giants in the divisional round and the Rams in the conference championship.

The Miami Dolphins won the AFC East and defeated Cleveland in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.  Miami faced New England at home in the AFC championship.  The Dolphins were the betting and the popular favorite.  All football fans not in New England wanted to see the Bears and the Dolphins in a rematch.  The Dolphins had ruined Chicago's perfect season.  The physical Bears against the finesses Dolphins presented contrasting styles.  Coach Ditka vs Coach Shula would present another contrast:  Ditka brash and frank, Shula the gentlemanly coaching legend.

All Miami had to do was win.  We sometimes forget though that the other team wants to win as well.  The traveling Patriots won their third straight playoff game as they dominated the Dolphins 31-14.  New England rushed for 260 yards and forced six Dolphin turnovers.  I hated the Patriots for ruining the dream game.  Then I hated them more when they played Michal Spinks to Chicago's Mike Tyson in losing the Super Bowl 46-10.

The lesson:  The conference championship games favor the teams that stay in the moment.  The four teams that get this far are all worthy of making it to the Super Bowl.  The teams that best prepare to execute their game against a high quality opponent will get one more game.  As fans it is OK to look ahead.  We risk disappointment though if the favorites on the field are doing the same.