TORCH SUPERBOWL PICKS & OTHER NFL PREDICTIONS
After a long and eventful season with many surprises and disappointments, the NFL Conference Championships are upon us. The American Conference championship game features the defending Super Bowl Champions New England Patriots traveling to face the resurgent Denver Broncos in yet another Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning showdown with kickoff set for 3:05pm on Sunday, January 24.
The NFC Championship features the Arizona Cardinals traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers at 6:40pm Sunday evening. These are two teams that have been doing things the right way by slowly and methodically building their franchises into championship caliber teams over the past few years.
Of course, the winners of the conference championship games will be facing off in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Cal., on February 7. The evening before the Super Bowl will be the NFL’s own version of the Oscars with the NFL Honors Awards ceremony where the league’s best are honored for both their on-field and off-field contributions to the game.
As we head into the Conference Championship weekend, Torch sports editor Cole Smith and Torch staff writer Jacob Pasternack offer their predictions for not only the upcoming games but also for the recipients of the top individual awards.
Cole Smith’s Picks
AFC Champion: New England Patriots
NFC Champion: Carolina Panthers
Super Bowl Champion: Carolina Panthers
Season MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
Offensive Player of Year: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Defensive Player of Year: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Offensive Rookie of Year: Tod Gurley (Rams)
Defensive Rookie of Year: Marcus Peters (Chiefs)
Comeback Player of Year: Eric Berry (Chiefs)
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid (Chiefs)
Executive of the Year: John Schneider (Seahawks)
Jacob Pasternack’s Picks
AFC Champion: Denver Broncos
NFC Champion: Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl Champion: Arizona Cardinals
Season MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
Offensive Player of Year: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Defensive Player of Year: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Offensive Rookie of Year: Tod Gurley (Rams)
Defensive Rookie of Year: Marcus Peters (Chiefs)
Comeback Player of Year: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians (Cardinals)
Executive of the Year: Mike Maccagnan (Jets)