Culture
NFL playoffs: Final 4 teams' odds to win Super Bowl, with conference title game analysis
We’re down to the final four. The top-seeded Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers will try to fend off challenges from the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the upstart Detroit Lions to reach Super Bowl LVIII.
Jeff Howe breaks down the conference championship matchups before The Athletic’s projection model, created by Austin Mock, reveals each team’s odds of winning the Super Bowl.
AFC
No. 1 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs, 3 p.m. ET, Sunday
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was the best player on the field during the Ravens’ 34-10 victory against the Houston Texans, and they’re virtually unstoppable when that happens. The Ravens are 10-0 this season, including Saturday when Jackson’s passer rating is above 90, and that doesn’t even take into account his rushing prowess.
It’s hardly all Jackson, though. Head coach John Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald were brilliant in their playoff opener. Monken’s adjustments were outstanding against the Texans’ aggressive blitz packages, while Macdonald accomplished the rare feat of shutting down quarterback C.J. Stroud. It would feel like a surprise at this point if Macdonald doesn’t get a head coaching job this cycle, and it’s not inconceivable to think the Ravens could lose both coordinators.
Patrick Mahomes has reached the AFC Championship every season he has been a starter in the NFL 👑 pic.twitter.com/18EeNToCMC
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 22, 2024
While it’s seemed like the Ravens’ year, they’ve now got to slay the reigning Super Bowl champions as the Chiefs continue to attempt to fortify their claim as a modern-day dynasty. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is coming off his first career playoff victory on the road, and he’s going to have to do it again in his sixth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance.
Not only that, but the Chiefs just played their best game of the season by a considerable margin. The defense locked in with three consecutive scoreless possessions to close the game, but that unit has been solid all season. More impressive, Mahomes and his supporting cast delivered in several key moments, only making one pivotal mistake. If they play this well in Baltimore, the title game should be a thriller.
LIVE Divisional Round Recap with @robertmays and @Nate_Tice https://t.co/kfMFmUyDIT
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) January 22, 2024
NFC
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 3 Detroit Lions, 6:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
This game may be decided on the ground, and the Lions are going to need to tighten up in that area. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who ranked last in rushing and yards per carry in the regular season, ran 15 times for 89 yards Sunday in Detroit. That was a surprising performance against a Lions defense that ranked second in rushing yards and third in yards per carry.
The 49ers’ ground game needs little introduction with superstar back Christian McCaffrey, who was an MVP frontrunner for much of the season. If the Niners are moving the ball with McCaffrey, they might double up the Bucs’ rushing numbers.
GO DEEPER
Dre Greenlaw wouldn’t go down, and neither did the 49ers thanks to him
On the other side, the Packers ran 28 times for 136 yards (4.9 yards per carry) against a 49ers defense that ranked 14th by allowing 4.1 yards per carry in the regular season. The Lions’ two-pronged attack of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ranked fifth in yards and yards per carry.
There will understandably be plenty of focus on quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Jared Goff, but each offense’s identity is built on the ground. Purdy struggled against the Packers before his impressive game-winning drive, while Goff has been efficient in both playoff victories. Both quarterbacks have been tough to defend when the offense stays on schedule, which is why the NFC Championship Game will likely be decided by the better team on the ground.
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GO DEEPER
What separates the Bills from the Chiefs (it’s not just Patrick Mahomes): Sando’s Pick Six
(Photo of Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
Among the many complaints made about the modern American novelist, the loudest, if not the most intelligent, has been the charge that he is not speaking for his country. A few seasons back an editorial in Life magazine asked grandly, “Who speaks for America today?” and was not able to conclude that our novelists, or at least our most gifted ones, did.
This opening paragraph is from an essay titled “The Fiction Writer and His Country” by a writer whose work was influenced by Catholicism, the rural South and peacocks. Who was it?
Welcome to Lit Trivia, the Book Review’s regular quiz about books, authors and literary culture. This week’s challenge is all about an influential group of writers, editors and other creative types known as the Algonquin Round Table. In the five multiple-choice questions below, tap or click on the answer you think is correct. After the last question, you’ll find links to related books and other information about the era if you’d like to do further reading.
A strong sense of place can deeply influence a story, and in some cases, the setting can even feel like a character itself. But as it’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and travel adventures abound, this week’s literary geography quiz takes you on a trivia tour of notable libraries around the world. To play, just make your selection in the multiple-choice list and the correct answer will be revealed. At the end of the quiz, you’ll find links to more information if you’d like to do further reading.
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