AFC Championship Game Prediction

And so it has come down to the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC Championship.  The Pats beat the Houston Texans as they were expected to do, 34-16 to make it to another AFC Championship game. The Steelers however went head to head with the Kansas City Chiefs and notched up a very hard fought 18-16 win.

Now these two sides will go all out to ensure that they reach Super Bowl LI at the NRG Stadium and it is all set up for a cracking encounter. These two sides did meet once during the regular season and the Pats won that game 27-16. This is however a very different Steelers side and the Pats will have to bring their A-Game to the table if they are to have any chance of making it to Super Bowl 2017.

Now that the AFC Championship Game is not too far off, let’s see how the two sides stack up and make our prediction on who will come out on top.

1. Offense vs Defense

One of the most fascinating aspects of this encounter is the offensive force of both sides against their defenses. The Steelers have a very formidable offense that is led by the likes of Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. On the other hand, the Pats’ allowed just 15.6 points against them all through the regular season on an average and those are very impressive numbers.

The Steelers have Le Garrette Blount and a certain Tom Brady to handle so it will be really fascinating to see how the Steelers, who had the tenth best defense in the NFL, handle them.

2. Tactical Battle

Tactics will play a big part in deciding which of these two sides goes all the way to Super Bowl 51. Bell is in the form of his life and the Pats will have to find a way to stop him or he will create havoc. Then there is Antonio Brown and the space he likes to run in. Bill Belichick and his coaching staff have their work cut out.

The Steelers however will have to stop Tom Brady, who is out to prove a point or two this season. They will have to put extreme pressure on him to stop him from dictating play which is easier said than done. If the Steelers manage to do that then that might tilt the tie in their favor.

3. The Home Advantage

The New England Patriots will be the home team so they will have that advantage on the day of the game. Home comforts can play a big part in lifting a side up but playing at home also brings its own pressures. If the Steelers can fly out of the blocks, then the pressure will mount on the Pats and their fans. The nervousness from the stands can make its way down to the field too.

The New England Patriots for us are the favorites to win the game but only by a small margin. It should be a very close game, but we still think that Pats’ playoff experience will take them through to Super Bowl LI.