Month: January 2022

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Rams vs. 49ers: Expert picks, predictions, props for NFC Championship game today, NFL playoff schedule

Two division rivals face off tonight for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVI. It’s the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams, Kyle Shanahan vs. Sean McVay. Shanahan’s 49ers swept the Rams in the regular season, and have won six straight against McVay. Matthew Stafford and Co. are coming off of a win over the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, and are looking for revenge against a rival.

This will be the fourth intra-division conference championship game since realignment in 2002. Interestingly enough, the previous three winners of intra-division conference championship games have gone on to win the Super Bowl. The Rams are the first team to host a conference championship game in the same stadium that will host the Super Bowl, so they can’t let this opportunity go to waste. 

Below, we will examine the different betting angles for this matchup. We will provide picks from both CBS Sports and SportsLine experts on this NFC showdown, as well as a few player props that we view as enticing. 

All NFL odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.

How to watch 

Date: Sunday, Jan. 30 | Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (try for free)
Odds: Rams -3.5, O/U 45.5

49ers at Rams spread picks

“49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Rams coach Sean McVay are good friends who have worked together in their careers. But since becoming head coaches, Shanahan has gotten the better of McVay. He is 7-3 in 10 games against him, winning six straight, including two this year. In Week 18, the 49ers beat the Rams on the road to earn a spot in the playoffs. Here we are three weeks later, and they are back in the same building meeting for a chance to get to the Super Bowl.

“In the last meeting, the 49ers rallied from a 17-0 deficit to win the game, 27-24. The 49ers defensive line dominated the Rams offensive line in that game. In two games against the Rams, the 49ers have seven sacks and 21 pressures without doing a lot of blitzing, which is something Matthew Stafford has killed this season.

“The Rams love to run the ball in their zone scheme, but the 49ers have run it better in the two games, getting an average of 87.5 yards more per game on the ground. That’s where this game will be won. The team that runs it best will win. The 49ers need to run it take the pressure off Jimmy Garoppolo, while the Rams key their offense off that wide-zone scheme.

“As for attacking the 49ers defense, it’s simple. Block them against the pass and you will beat them. That’s something the Rams have not done. I don’t think they will do it here, either.

“The Rams are the star-studded team, but the 49ers are the more physical team. The last time a team won three games, including a conference title game on the road, against the same team in the same season came in 1999. That year, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the star-studded team, but it was the Tennessee Titans that were the more physical team. The Titans won the championship game to get to the Super Bowl on the Jaguars’ field. That will happen here as well. The 49ers will continue their run to a title with a tough, physical victory.” 

— CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco is calling the upset this weekend in the NFC. To read his conference championship column, click here.

“The Rams under Sean McVay are winless against Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. The 3.5-point spread for the 49ers makes me think Vegas wants us all on San Francisco. The Niners swept the regular season series. San Francisco is a bad matchup for the Rams because the L.A. defense is designed to snuff out superstars on the other side of the ball and punish questionable offensive lines.

“The 49ers have plenty of stars but no alpha the offense runs through. Deebo Samuel isn’t someone you can just put Jalen Ramsey on. Using Ramsey on George Kittle works pretty well with Ramsey playing more in the slot, but George Kittle is used in run blocking so much it’s not necessarily maximizing his skillset. 

“My heart’s rooting for Stafford and my brain is sending off a Spidey Sense signal the Rams might be ready to break through. Maybe they get us the Chiefs-Rams Super Bowl we’ve been waiting on for a few years now. My wallet wants a 49ers-Bengals matchup and I picked just that before the playoffs. I can’t possibly lay down now.”

— CBS Sports’ Will Brinson had a tough time deciding between his heart and his mind on the NFC side of things. To read his picks column, click here.

“When these two teams have met in their second game each of the past three seasons, the Niners have won them each by a field goal as time expired. It’s uncanny. It’s hard to beat a good team three times, and I just don’t see it happening this weekend.”

— CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones is taking the Rams to get the last laugh on the 49ers. To read his Sunday picks and the NFL insider notebook, click here.

“The Rams were swept by the 49ers in the regular season. There’s no way they go 0-3 against Jimmy Garoppolo, right? A team losing three times to one opponent in the same season hasn’t happened since 2017. Additionally, if L.A. loses on Sunday, it would be Sean McVay’s seventh-straight loss to Kyle Shanahan. The last time a head coach lost to an opposing head coach seven straight times was Marvin Lewis and his Bengals struggling against Mike Tomlin’s Steelers.

“San Francisco’s comeback against the Rams in Week 18 was incredible, but I don’t think that happens again. The 49ers’ postseason run has been impressive, but it certainly hans’t been perfect. They almost blew a lead to the Dallas Cowboys in the first round and needed a blocked punt touchdown to down the Green Bay Packers last weekend. Matthew Stafford hasn’t been in this situation before, but I think he’s ready for it. He threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and orchestrated a game-winning drive. He’s not going to let this opportunity to play in the Super Bowl in his new home stadium slip through his fingers. His legacy is still being established.”

— CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani is taking the Rams to win and cover vs. the 49ers. To read his weekly column, click here.

Before you make any 49ers vs. Rams picks or any other NFL predictions, you need to see which side SportsLine NFL expert Micah Roberts is on. Roberts has worked in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry for 20-plus years, including a 13-year run as Station Casinos’ book director. He is 10-6 against the spread in his last 16 NFL picks, for a profit of $345. In addition, Roberts has gone an astounding 10-1 in his last 11 picks involving San Francisco.

We can tell you he’s leaning Under, but head on over to SportsLine to see his against the spread pick.

49ers at Rams total picks

“These two teams hit the Over/Under once apiece this year in their two meetings. If you recall how their matchup went earlier this month, the Rams jumped out to a 17-0 lead, and the 49ers had to score 14 unanswered in the third quarter to tie the game. I don’t think the Rams get off to that hot of a start this time around. The 49ers’ path to victory includes controlling tempo and establishing the run. Betting unders in Championship Weekend isn’t fun, but that’s where my lean is.”

— CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani gives his thoughts on the total in the NFC Championship game. 

Before you make any 49ers vs. Rams picks, you need to check out the latest NFL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,500 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. The model enters championship weekend in the 2021 NFL playoffs on an incredible 137-97 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. Amazingly, it hasn’t missed a top-rated pick since Week 14 of the regular season. To see what it has to say about the total this Sunday, click here.

Player props

Deebo Samuel receiving yards: Over 52.5 (-115). Samuel hasn’t crossed this number in the playoffs yet, and has caught just three passes in each postseason game. Still, he’s San Francisco’s most talented weapon, and the 49ers will have to ride him if they want to outscore Stafford. Samuel caught four passes for 95 yards in Week 18 vs. the Rams, and then five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in their first meeting. He has averaged 87.8 receiving yards per game this season, and has that big-play ability where he can get to this number on just a few catches. 

Jimmy Garoppolo total interceptions: Over 0.5 (-140). Jimmy G has thrown an interception in each playoff game. Additionally, he threw two in both of the final regular-season games for a total of six interceptions thrown in his last four outings. Garoppolo’s last game where he didn’t throw an interception came Dec. 19 against the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s thrown at least one pick in 10 of 17 games played this year.

Matt Gay made extra points: Over 2.5 (+105). The 49ers haven’t had a team attempt or make three extra points against them in any game this postseason, which is a credit to their defense. But Gay has made at least three extra points in each of the last three games — including in Week 18 vs. the 49ers. He’s missed just one extra point all season.  

TD props

Cam Akers to score a touchdown: (-104). Akers made a miraculous return after suffering a torn Achilles in July. He hasn’t scored a touchdown in three games played, but McVay will get him one in this important home game. 

Kyle Juszczyk to score a touchdown: (+575). Juszczyk is one of the better players in the NFL even though he’s not a household name due to his position. Juszczyk has scored just two touchdowns all year, but has recorded two touches per game in each playoff contest. He caught two passes for 15 yards against the Cowboys and rushed two times for 14 yards against the Packers. This is obviously a flier, but when San Francisco gets in the red zone, look for him. 

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Study compares the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines

Vaccine vials hanging at the Cruise Center Steinwerder vaccination center in GermanyShare on Pinterest
Vaccine vials hanging at the Cruise Centre Steinwerder vaccination centre in Hamburg. Daniel Bockwoldt/photograph alliance through Getty
  • The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been really effective at protecting against COVID-19.
  • In a new research, researchers seemed at the dissimilarities in performance in between the two vaccines.
  • They uncovered that persons who experienced gained two doses of the Moderna vaccine ended up fewer likely to create COVID-19 or turn into hospitalized with the illness than men and women who experienced obtained the Pfizer vaccine.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines — a rather new sort of vaccine engineering.

These COVID-19 vaccines function by supplying our cells with directions for producing a SARS-CoV-2 protein. Our immune program then reacts to these proteins and develops the resources to respond to any infection with the virus in the upcoming.

Experts from the Facilities for Disorder Manage and Prevention (CDC) have observed that both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are pretty helpful at shielding folks from COVID-19.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky factors to “accumulating proof that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective and must stop most bacterial infections.” She provides that “Fully vaccinated people today who continue to get COVID-19 are most likely to have milder, shorter sickness and appear to be considerably less most likely to distribute the virus to some others.”

“These benefits are a further essential reason to get vaccinated.”

In the hottest research, scientists investigated the distinctions in fees of “breakthrough” conditions of COVID-19 between individuals who acquired the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. A breakthrough situation is when the ailment develops in an individual who has been fully vaccinated against it.

The team was also intrigued in any variances between costs of hospitalization and demise owing to COVID-19 between people today who obtained either vaccine.

For their analysis, the researchers drew on health documents from 89 million men and women in the United States. The data incorporated people with a broad selection of demographic attributes.

The crew appeared at knowledge taken concerning July and November 2021, when the Delta variant of COVID-19 was the main variant of the virus.

The final results seem as a investigate letter in JAMA.

The researchers observed that in November 2021, there had been 2.8 breakthrough circumstances of COVID-19 in people absolutely vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine for each 1,000 men and women. They involved breakthrough situations if the folks experienced not gained the booster vaccination or experienced not experienced a prior recorded infection with SARS-CoV-2.

For the Moderna vaccine, the monthly figure was substantially lessen, at 1.6 breakthrough situations for each 1,000 people who received these pictures.

The hazard of hospitalization in the 60 days following an infection was also reduce for folks thoroughly vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine: 12.7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} for Moderna as opposed to 13.3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} for Pfizer.

The researchers did not see a important variance in mortality costs concerning the two vaccine teams.

Healthcare News These days spoke with Dr. Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Situation Western Reserve University’s College of Drugs and the corresponding writer of the new research.

Dr. Xu pointed out, “We in comparison recipients of these two vaccines although accounting for individual hazard elements, distinct approval time, and varying time from vaccination.”

“I believe that inherent change in these two vaccines may perhaps have partially accounted for the noticed big difference in equally breakthrough infection and hospitalization.”

Dr. Xu thought that both vaccines would carry on to be productive from the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

“My speculation is that we can hope that vaccines are helpful against extreme clinical results linked with Omicron variant bacterial infections, as research showed that vaccines can elicit T cell immunity, which might give safety towards Omicron. We will carry out a identical analyze for [SARS-CoV-2] an infection with Omicron,” Dr. Xu claimed.

Dr. Pamela B. Davis, the Arline and Curtis Garvin investigation professor at the Heart for Local community Wellbeing Integration and a co-creator of the study, highlights that “Although there is a big difference in breakthrough infections, each vaccines are really protecting versus SARS-CoV-2 an infection and primarily in opposition to the most intense penalties of infection.”

“Further scientific studies are essential to assess the effects of booster doses and also the protection afforded particularly vulnerable populations by vaccines.”

For dwell updates on the newest developments regarding COVID-19, click on below.

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Tom Brady has millions of reasons to extend his career just another week

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Tom Brady may possibly be retiring after 22 seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but he’ll be paid out handsomely if he decides to phone it quits soon after Feb. 4.

Brady initially signed a two-12 months agreement with the Buccaneers right before the begin of the 2020 year. He would afterwards indication a 1-yr extension by means of the 2022 period with 3 voided yrs for salary cap uses. The deal integrated a no-trade clause and a no-franchise or changeover tag clause.

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Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lays on the floor just after an incomplete go in the first quarter of the activity against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff sport at Raymond James Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Visuals / Getty Pictures)

In accordance to Spotrac, $15 million of Brady’s $20 million signing bonus was deferred to Feb. 4, 2022. If Brady retires before Friday, he will give up the reward funds. Ought to Brady choose to go on to the 2022 period, Spotrac notes his total wage would be confirmed but voided if he decides to retire.

There’s a ton of income tied to Brady’s conclusion.

But past funds, what Brady does upcoming will ascertain what the staff does in the foreseeable future. Tampa Bay will have the No. 27 decide of the draft and extensive receiver Chris Godwin could be a cost-free agent this offseason as very well.

TOM BRADY RETIREMENT REPORT SPARKS CONFUSION, DENIALS

Retirement speculation all around Brady heated up on Saturday when ESPN noted that the famous quarterback was likely to retire. But that apparently was not the scenario.

Brady, 44, informed Buccaneers normal supervisor Jason Licht in a telephone contact that he has not built a choice on his long term, the Associated Press reported. Bally Sports first claimed the connect with from Brady to Licht.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts soon after becoming penalized through the to start with half of an NFL divisional spherical playoff football activity in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio / AP Newsroom)

And Brady’s agent, Don Yee, told ESPN the quarterback would make the remaining announcement.

“I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s long run. With no having into the precision or inaccuracy of what’s currently being documented, Tom will be the only human being to specific his designs with finish accuracy,” Yee said in the statement. “He appreciates the realities of the football business enterprise and organizing calendar as well as any person, so that should really be soon.”

Tom Brady Sr. told KRON-Tv the stories of his son’s retirement have been untrue.

“This tale Mike is total conjecture,” Brady Sr. told NFL Community. “Tommy has not manufactured a remaining conclusion just one way or the other, and anybody else that suggests that he has is definitely erroneous.”

Brady’s representatives and the Buccaneers did not promptly respond to a ask for for comment from Fox Information. Brady, who commonly shares any and all bulletins on his social media, did not article about his retirement.

Jan 23, 2022 Tampa, Florida, United states Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) helps make a phone at the line of scrimmage all through the 1st quarter from the Los Angeles Rams in a NFC Divisional playoff soccer video game at Raymond James Stadium. (Matt Pendleton-Usa Now Sports / Reuters Shots)

Bucs mentor Bruce Arians told ESPN the quarterback hadn’t decided anything.

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With a large amount of cash to be made a decision over the subsequent few months, a choice will have to arrive reasonably before long.

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Ford, GM juggle today’s challenges with tomorrow’s promises, Auto News, ET Auto

Though GM and Ford were once giants of the global auto sector, their market capitalizations have been dwarfed by EV maker Tesla
Even though GM and Ford had been after giants of the international vehicle sector, their sector capitalizations have been dwarfed by EV maker Tesla

DETROIT – Standard Motors Co and Ford Motor Co are predicted to report future 7 days they turned stable revenue for the very last quarter of 2021, but seldom has previous efficiency mattered fewer to investors.

The two Detroit automakers are in mid-leap amongst a combustion-run present, and a foreseeable future they have promised will be defined by electric powered autos and computer software-run expert services.

The two organizations have mapped out multibillion-dollar investments in new North American electrical motor vehicle and battery factories, aimed at difficult Tesla Inc and a flock of more compact EV startups in the nonetheless-very small market. But people new factories will not be at complete speed until eventually the center of this 10 years.

Even though GM and Ford were being when giants of the world-wide auto sector, their industry capitalizations have been dwarfed by EV maker Tesla. Tesla on Wednesday noted stronger than expected profits and revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021, but warned that offer-chain bottlenecks would go on through 2022 and very likely avert its factories from running at complete capability.

GM final 12 months bought much less vehicles in the United States than Toyota Motor Corp, the first time in 91 many years that GM was not the No. 1-advertising automaker in its household industry.

GM and Ford’s revenue in 2021 had been lifted by buyers willing to shell out record-higher selling prices for petroleum-run pickup vehicles and SUVs. In 2022, analysts are concerned the Detroit suppliers will face a far more unsure financial ecosystem, together with mounting desire prices, substantial oil charges and continuing provide-chain bottlenecks that could curtail output.

Analysts anticipate equally companies to be cautious in their outlooks for 2022. Shortages of semiconductors are envisioned to weigh on output into the second 50 percent of the 12 months, Financial institution of The united states wrote in a take note.

“Even though automakers will appreciate production restoration and inventory restocking, (these) could be coupled with price tag declines, combine deterioration, rising input costs,” Morgan Stanley reported.

Ford informed buyers in its third-quarter report that it expected $1.5 billion in better commodity charges, and saw inflationary pressures throughout a wide assortment of bills.

Wall Street has revealed more confidence about the last quite a few months in attempts by Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, to speed up the firm’s electrical pickup truck and van programs. Ford’s current market price strike $100 billion in mid-January, exceeding GM’s value for the very first time in more than five a long time. But the market place value of Ford, whose quarterly results are envisioned on Thursday afternoon, has considering the fact that dropped by 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} following the firm issued a complex reworking of its 2021 gain assistance.

GM Main Govt Mary Barra is expected to have a extra clear-cut story to inform on Tuesday about fourth-quarter and entire-calendar year results. GM Main Economic Officer Paul Jacobson explained to buyers in December the enterprise envisioned altered pretax financial gain for 2021 to attain $14 billion, larger than former forecasts.

The firm reported it is expanding groups that electrify vehicles, acquire motor vehicle program and autonomous engineering and engineer gasoline cells.

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Today in History | WTOP News

Today in Heritage Currently is Friday, Jan. 28, the 28th day of 2022. There are 337 days remaining in the…

These days in History

These days is Friday, Jan. 28, the 28th working day of 2022. There are 337 times still left in the 12 months.

Today’s Spotlight in Background:

On Jan. 28, 1973, a cease-fire officially went into result in the Vietnam War, a working day right after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords by the United States, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

On this day:

In 1547, England’s King Henry VIII died he was succeeded by his 9-12 months-aged son, Edward VI.

In 1813, the novel “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen was 1st released anonymously in London.

In 1915, the United States Coast Guard was established as President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill merging the Everyday living-Conserving Provider and Profits Cutter Service.

In 1916, Louis D. Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court docket Brandeis became the court’s very first Jewish member.

In 1922, 98 men and women ended up killed when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., collapsed beneath the pounds of virtually two feet of snow.

In 1945, in the course of Globe War II, Allied supplies began reaching China above the newly reopened Burma Road.

In 1956, Elvis Presley created his initial national Tv physical appearance on “Stage Clearly show,” a CBS system hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

In 1977, actor-comedian Freddie Prinze, 22, co-star of the NBC-Tv set present “Chico and the Male,” shot and mortally wounded himself at the Beverly Comstock Lodge (he died the pursuing working day).

In 1980, six U.S. diplomats who experienced avoided staying taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the assist of Canadian diplomats.

In 1982, Italian anti-terrorism forces rescued U.S. Brig. Gen. James L. Dozier, 42 times just after he experienced been kidnapped by the Pink Brigades.

In 1986, the area shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all 7 crew members, together with schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

In 2011, chaos engulfed Egypt as protesters seized the streets of Cairo, battling law enforcement, burning down the ruling party’s headquarters and defying a armed service curfew.

In 2020, the United States and numerous other nations well prepared to airlift citizens out of the Chinese town at the heart of a virus outbreak that experienced killed much more than 100 men and women.

Ten a long time ago: The Arab League halted its observer mission in Syria simply because of escalating violence. Victoria Azarenka routed a few-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6- to win the Australian Open up.

Five many years ago: A federal judge in New York issued an crisis purchase quickly barring the U.S. from deporting people today from nations subject to President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Serena Williams received her document 23rd Grand Slam singles title, defeating her sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 at the Australian Open up.

1 calendar year in the past: A new variant of the coronavirus emerged in the United States, posing however a further community wellbeing obstacle in a state already getting rid of a lot more than 3,000 persons to COVID-19 each individual working day. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration confirmed that thousands much more nursing dwelling inhabitants died of COVID-19 than the state’s formal tallies had earlier acknowledged. Cicely Tyson, the groundbreaking Black actor who gained an Oscar nomination for her purpose as the sharecropper’s spouse in “Sounder,” gained a Tony Award in 2013 at age 88 and touched Tv viewers’ hearts in “The Autobiography of Miss out on Jane Pittman,” died she was 96.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Nicholas Pryor is 87. Actor Alan Alda is 86. Actor Susan Howard is 80. Actor Marthe (cq) Keller is 77. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is 75. Actor-singer Barbi Benton is 72. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren is 68. Previous French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sahr-koh-ZEE’) is 67. Actor Harley Jane Kozak is 65. Motion picture director Frank Darabont is 63. Rock musician Dave Sharp is 63. Rock singer Sam Phillips is 60. Rock musician Dan Spitz is 59. Gospel singer Marvin Sapp is 55. Singer Sarah McLachlan is 54. Rapper Rakim is 54. DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) is 54. Actor Kathryn Morris is 53. Humorist Mo Rocca is 53. Rock/soul musician Jeremy Ruzumna (Fitz and the Tantrums) is 52. R&B singer Anthony Hamilton is 51. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is 50. Singer Monifah is 50. Actor Gillian Vigman is 50. Retired MLB All-Star Jermaine Dye is 48. Actor Terri Conn is 47. Singer Joey Fatone Jr. (’N Sync) is 45. Rapper Rick Ross is 45. Actor Rosamund Pike is 43. Actor Angelique Cabral is 43. Singer Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) is 42. Actor Vinny Chhibber is 42. Actor Elijah Wood is 41. Rapper J. Cole is 37. Actor Alexandra Krosney is 34. Actor Yuri Sardarov is 34. Actor Ariel Winter season is 24.

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Bengals-Chiefs, 49ers-Rams – NFL playoff game picks, schedule guide, bold predictions, odds, injuries, matchup keys, more

Jan 28, 2022

  • ESPN staff

The NFL’s conference championship round for the 2021 season is stacked, and we’ve got you covered with what you need to know for Sunday’s NFC and AFC championships. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to both games, a bold prediction for each matchup and, of course, final score picks.

Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game projection. Matt Bowen picks out a key matchup to watch for both games, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about the officiating. Everything you should know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded two-game weekend of NFL playoff football.

First up, the Bengals head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs — an offensive showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. Then it’s NFC West foes facing off in the second game, with the 49ers matching up with the Rams for a third time this season. And remember: The winners are off to Super Bowl LVI.

Jump to: CIN-KC | SF-LAR

Sunday, 3 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 73.0 | Spread: KC -7.5 (54.5)

What to watch for: Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase wrecked the Chiefs in the December meeting between these teams, catching 11 passes for 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs undoubtedly won’t allow that to happen again, but at what cost? They mostly took away Buffalo receiver Stefon Diggs’ impact last week against the Bills, but then Gabriel Davis had a big game. And Cincinnati has receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd — plus running back Joe Mixon — along with Chase. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s schemes in this regard loom large. — Adam Teicher

Bold prediction: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will throw for at least 390 yards. Kansas City leaned on a successful run game in the second half of the first matchup against Cincinnati, which led to a quiet game from Mahomes. But don’t be shocked if the reigning AFC champions look for more explosive plays in the passing game this time and get their revenge against the Bengals. Mahomes already has 782 passing yards and eight touchdown passes in two playoff games this season. — Ben Baby

Stat to know: Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is the sixth player to enter a conference championship game with 50-plus sacks — and his 62 are easily the most. The previous five QBs all failed to reached the Super Bowl, and four of them saw their teams fail to score an offensive touchdown in that conference title game. However, Burrow is also the fifth player in the past 30 seasons to enter a conference championship game while leading the NFL in both completion percentage and yards per attempt (including playoffs). And these aren’t easy completions. The second-year QB has the NFL’s best completion percentage over expectation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Bowen’s game-plan key: The Chiefs need to heat up Burrow in the pocket, and outside linebacker Melvin Ingram III could play a big part. Expect Kansas City to scheme him up and get him some one-on-one matchups. Read more on E+.

Injuries: Bengals | Chiefs

Seifert’s officiating outlook: Referee Bill Vinovich’s regular-season crew (crews change in the playoffs) annually throws the fewest flags among the NFL’s 17 crews, and this season was no exception. His crew averaged 10.9 flags per game, 34{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} less than the crew that called the most (Carl Cheffers, 16.6). He’ll preside over a game that features the NFL’s least-penalized team (Bengals, 84) and ninth most-penalized team (Chiefs, 129). Vinovich was the only referee in the NFL not to call a single roughing the passer penalty during the regular season, and his regular-season crew threw the third-fewest flags for holding (34).

Betting nugget: The Bengals have covered six straight games and four straight road games. They are also 5-1 against the spread as a road underdog this season. But Kansas City has covered six straight home games and is 7-1 against the spread in its past eight games against teams with winning records. Read more on E+.

Baby’s pick: Chiefs 31, Bengals 21
Teicher’s pick: Chiefs 34, Bengals 24
FPI prediction: KC, 69.6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} (by an average of 6.7 points)

Matchup must-reads: Burrow can cement place among top young quarterbacks … Why Hill had to pivot this season … McShay: How Mahomes changed the way I scout QBs

Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 84.8 | Spread: LAR -3.5 (45.5)

What to watch for: The 49ers have won six straight games over the division rival Rams, which includes a 17-point come-from-behind win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff berth. The Niners bring All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, who have led a resilient, bruising brand of football, while the Rams have a proven knack for scoring quickly on explosive plays behind quarterback Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, the NFL’s leading receiver. As for what the Rams must do to finally get the best of the Niners and advance to Super Bowl LVI? “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here,” Kupp says. “It’s just about doing our job and taking this as a new week.” — Lindsey Thiry

Bold prediction: San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will throw three touchdown passes. He has yet to throw for a score in these playoffs and has only two touchdowns, and five interceptions, in his five playoff starts. But Garoppolo has a history of playing well against the Rams — he has a 71.7 Total QBR and won all six starts against them — and the Rams still have questions up the middle of their defense, allowing a 77{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} completion rate and 7.9 yards per attempt on throws inside the numbers this season. Buoyed by a strong run game, the oft-maligned Garoppolo will deliver on the big stage. — Nick Wagoner

Stat to know: Midseason acquisitions have been key for the Rams. Since joining Los Angeles in Week 10, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is second on the team in receptions (37) and has caught a touchdown in six of 10 games played. He has caught 10 of 12 targets this postseason, too. And outside linebacker Von Miller has recorded at least one sack in six straight games, tied for the longest streak of his career (three other times, most recently in 2018). Opposing quarterbacks have posted a 2.3 Total QBR when both Miller and defensive tackle Aaron Donald rush the passer this postseason.

Bowen’s game-plan key: Watch for linebacker Fred Warner to play a role as a blitzer in the Niners’ tilted five-man fronts. San Francisco blitzed on more than a fourth of the Rams’ third-down plays in its Week 18 win this season. Read more on E+.

Injuries: 49ers | Rams

Seifert’s officiating outlook: Referee Carl Cheffers’ regular-season crew led the NFL with 16.6 flags thrown per game, but these two teams ranked among the 14 least-penalized teams in the league. The Rams saw 92 flags and the 49ers saw 117. During the regular season, Cheffers threw 10 flags for roughing the passer, tied for sixth most in the NFL, and 61 for offensive holding, second most in the league — though he will have a different crew on Sunday.

Betting nugget: Los Angeles is 6-2 against the spread in its past eight games, but San Francisco is 9-2 against the spread in its past 11 — with four straight covers. Plus, the 49ers are 4-1 against the spread in the playoffs under coach Kyle Shanahan. Read more on E+.

Wagoner’s pick: 49ers 30, Rams 23
Thiry’s pick: Rams 28, 49ers 24
FPI prediction: LAR, 59.5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} (by an average of 3.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Has Garoppolo reshaped his NFL future? … Beckham Jr. giving Rams boost in production, good vibes … Trash talk, a ticket blockade and a rivalry reborn: Rams and 49ers meet for NFC title … McVay: Whitworth, Rapp look on track to return … 49ers in wait-and-see mode with Williams’ injury … From ‘love of the game’ to Rams’ game winner: Inside the Stafford-Kupp pass