NFL Conference Championship Games Next

After the first two rounds of the National Football League playoffs this season, we are finally approaching the weekend when the conference champions will be crowned and set against each other for the next Super Bowl. So far, I have been generally pleased as my favorite playoff teams from each conference have still survived: the Baltimore Ravens in the American Conference and the New York Giants in the National. Unfortunately, my most disliked team has made it as well: the New England Patriots. And another team I don't particularly care for (because of its very annoying coach), the San Francisco 49ers, finishes the field. Hopefully, Baltimore will take care of New England and New York will continue to shine in the post-season against San Fran. But for this to happen will entail two underdog victories, both on the road. Certainly possible, but not likely.

Regardless who wins the upcoming games, this year's Super Bowl matchups will be interesting, with the following possibilities:

New England vs. New York: A rematch of the great Super Bowl four years ago when the Giants scored a come-from-behind touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game to upset the undefeated Patriots.

Baltimore vs. New York: A rematch of the Super Bowl eleven years ago, won convincingly by the then-surging Ravens 34-7. I rooted for Baltimore back then, but if this scenario repeats I will pull for the Giants instead.

New England vs. San Francisco: This would be for bragging rights as the best team spanning many years as each has already won several titles and is looking to add to their totals. San Francisco has never lost a Super Bowl.

Baltimore vs. San Francisco: This game would pit brothers against each other as head coaches: Baltimore's John Harbaugh and San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh.

So we'll see how it all turns out. I have enjoyed this year's playoffs more than those in the past, it seems. And I see both of these games as promising a lot of excitement. Of course, I would rather have seen Miami or one of the other two Florida teams in the Super Bowl, but they were all pretty bad this year: all three of their head coaches were fired!