AFC/NFC Championship Game Previews

The AFC and NFC title games are set, and the final RUTS2 season winds down, tempers, emotions, ticket prices, and controller breaking will be at an all-time high.

Both games this week are both huge rivalry games. There is no love lost between the teams, and NFL fans should be in for a treat.

Let's take a look at the matchups...

NFC Championship Game

Dallas Cowboys (16-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (17-0)

In a rematch for the ages, the Cowboys head west to Phoenix to face off against the high-flying Cardinals. The two teams met in week 8, where the Cardinals scored 14 unanswered 4th quarter points to upset the defending Super Bowl Champion Cowboys 31-21. After the game, Coach utvol27 and Coach StuBucksman briefly shook hands and exchanged words at midfield. When asked after the game what words were said, neither coach would answer, leading to speculation that both coaches had bad memories.

Whether or not that is true remains to be seen, but both coaches say their teams are primed and ready for this week's epic battle.

"Our team is by far the most dominant team in NFL history," said Coach Stu. "The #1 offense, the #2 overall defense, and the best looking coach in the NFL. The Cowboys have to travel here to our house, where they will see nothing but blood red."

Cardinals OLB/SS Adrian Wilson tells the Cowboys to "Bring It"
The Cardinals are led by NFL MVP, and the best bearded QB in NFL history, Kelly James, who has an array of play makers at his disposal. Beanie Wells has stepped up to be a dominant force on the ground and slashed through the Dallas defense in week 8 for 161 rushing yards. Because the Cardinals passing game is so difficult to contain, with star targets Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Bush, Steve Breaston, and TE C. Jackson, containing the ground game will be tough for Dallas.

However, the Cowboys defense says they are up for the challenge. OLB Keith Brooking said that Kelly James would not make it to the 4th quarter alive. "He's a good player," said Brooking, "but we have something up our sleeves that will leave him wishing he was still the backup QB in New Orleans. And, since it's a known fact he wears pink panties, it shouldn't be difficult to rattle him."

Coach utvol27 has kept a low profile this week, spending a few days in seclusion in his office eating Lucky Charms at Cowboys headquarters.

This game should be one of the best RUTS games in history. The most talented team (Cardinals) pitted against arguably the best coached team (Dallas). Fresh off his victory in this season's "Dancing With The Stars," former Chargers Coach Rob-A-Dob joins us to offer his prediction:

"The Cardinals have so much going for them...they have been dominant all season, have the league's best offensive and defensive players, a backup QB who beats dogs for fun, and have the best team sponsorship (BIKE shorts), but that doesn't mean the Cowboys are afraid. This game will come down to the wire, and whoever has the ball last...will not win. That's right, it's the defense of the Arizona Cardinals who will get a crucial 4th quarter stop and hold on for a 34-27 victory, sending them to their 3rd Super Bowl in the past 4 seasons."

AFC Championship Game
New England Patriots (14-3) @ Tennessee Titans (17-0)

A few weeks ago, some wondered if this rematch would occur. The Patriots were reeling after convincing back-to-back losses to the Titans and the Steelers, and some wondered if Coach Cjohnchavis could rebound and regroup his team. That question has been answered with a resounding "'Sho Nuff!" Last week, the Patriots silenced their critics with a stomping 66-7 victory at Pittsburgh.

Now, they travel back to Nashville to face their dreaded nemesis, Coach UTVOL54 and the undefeated Tennessee Titans. The Titans boast the league's best defense, but some analysts wonder if they may have peaked too soon. They have struggled the past few weeks, and some question if the Patriots are the hotter team coming into this game.

"We're just trying to get the Coach UTVOL54 monkey off our back," said Coach cjohnchavis. "My teams have yet to defeat him, but I think this team knows what it takes to go into LP Field and lay the hammer down. Then, we will go honky-tonkin' on lower Broadway to celebrate what would be a major accomplishment."

The Patriots have turned to Rookie of the Year RB Scooter "My Lips Are" Chap(ped)man to provide the much needed spark to propel them to this winning streak. Chapman's speed and versatility catching passes out of the backfield has given QB Tom Brady another deadly target.

"We have our hands full," said Titans RB Chris Johnson. "I am sold that this Patriots team, no matter their record, is coming in here more prepared than ever before. We have something special for them though...something they have never seen from us."

Titans RB Chris Johnson is drinking the Patriots' Kool-Aid

With that quote, Chris Johnson set off a whirlwind of speculation in the NFL. Will the Titans do the unthinkable and wear red jerseys? Will Johnson line up at WR or QB? Will the Titans change playbooks and run some of the much talked about, but never seen, "Wild Finnegan" package on offense? Don't ask their coach, cause he ain't talkin'.

"I ain't talkin'," said Coach UTVOL54.

This game should be a wild one, DWTS Champion and former Chargers Coach Rob-A-Dob is back for more of his insightful prognosticating...

"I played against these teams a lot, and I know their strengths and their weaknesses. The Titans play within themselves...nothing too fancy, just meat and potatoes, carry your lunch pail, hard hat, and flask of whiskey, and go to work kind of team. The Patriots, however, are a team on a roll. They have such great talent on both sides of the ball, that it should worry the Titans. Look for New England to jump out to a quick lead, and put pressure on Vince Young all game. If these teams both play mistake-free football, then I think New England wins. But the football powers-that-be always seem to shine on the Titans. This game will come down to a forced fumble or interception from this stingy Titans defense, and that will propel them to a hard fought 31-24 victory."

So there you have it...it should be an unbelievable week of RUTS2 football. Check back soon for a recap of the games, and a preview of RUTS2 Super Bowl III.