New England Patriots: Picks and predictions for the NFL playoff games

Conference Championship

AFC

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #1 New England Patriots

Well, this would surely be quite a surprising opponent for the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, and the Jaguars defense would be cause for concern if they are able to make it this far. New England would have to find a way to contain Calais Campbell and Tom Brady would have to play smart to avoid turning the ball over to Jacksonville’s secondary.

Still, I would not expect the Jaguars to give the Patriots as many problems as the Steelers would. New England would be able to put up some points, like Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers did against the Jags, and then the defense would just have to hold.

No one on the Jaguars offense presents a big threat to New England. Deatrich Wise and James Harrison should be able to feast on Blake Bortles, forcing him to make bad decisions that could result in turnovers. There is no way that Jacksonville could hang with New England in a game of this magnitude. Warm up the buses, gas up the jets, the New England Patriots are heading to Super Bowl LII.

Prediction: Patriots 34, Jaguars 16