Going into round 2 of the NFL Playoffs I felt pretty confident that I knew four things:

The Vikings win in New Orleans showed real character, and had to mean something. The Ravens were going to put the final nail in the coffin, with regards to helping us grasp that this Patriots team was… not good, by shit-stomping the Titans. Despite Andy Reid’s almost comically bad playoff resume, he would still find a way to expose the calamitous Bill O’ Brien. The Packers; this years middle child of the NFL would survive the Seahawks, albeit unconvincingly (you know, just like every other Packers win).

If you can’t tell what I got right and what I got wrong, then you probably didn’t watch football this weekend. However, what really stuck out to me was the tale of the two conferences. In the NFC, we saw two teams clearly benefit from the fresh legs provided by a first round bye. The 49ers rushed for more yards than the Vikings total offence, including a 8-play drive of only runs, that symbolically buried the Vikings in the game. The Packers likewise, were able to make big plays on third and long late in the game to cut the head off Seattle.

Sidenote: I loved Beast Mode as much as any non-Seattle fan growing up, but um, at a position where guys off the street, repeatedly come in and make an impact (Raheem Mostert, I’m looking at you), maybe avoid the heartwarming narrative of bringing back the out-of-shape, never-especially-quick-in-the-first-place, former star who looks like his legs are moving underwater.

The AFC juggernauts showed the downside (if you wanna call it that), of a bye. The Chiefs survived it, with possibly the most devastating second quarter performance in the history of the modern game, after falling down 24–0 at home. The Ravens, a team that had basically never trailed all season, fell down early, got a little tight, and couldn’t right the ship. Unfortunately, I am no longer the coolest Henry on this side of sports and pop culture anymore. Derrick Henry has surpassed me. Barely. I still have a better haircut.

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who convinced me not to bet on a Titans-Packers super bowl when the odds opened at 13.5 to 1 last night. Ryan Tannehill is showing some serious Alex Smith vibes (in a good way). It’s easy to make fun of a QB who’s thrown for under 100 yards in two straight playoff games, but Tannehill was instrumental to getting the Titans off to a lead in both games. The bad news, is that the Chiefs just proved that when they flip the switch, there’s truly nothing you can do. I think Mike Vrabel, and his penis, will both be going safely home this week. Vegas seems to agree — a spread of -6.5 for Kansas shows just how wary they are of that offence, almost as if the Titans world class game and time management skills don’t really matter against an offence that can overtake a 24 point deficit in 11 real life minutes.

Let’s just say it: the Niners are our best team this year. They possess quality at all facets of the game. Deebo Samuel is everything the Patriots hoped Mohammed Sanu would be, they have the deepest and most versatile running back committee in the league, their defensive line is terrifying and Richard Sherman continues to dump on Michael Crabtrees legacy by already making himself more beloved to the San Fran faithful. Yet here I am with a declaration:

The Packers are winning this game.

I’m sure of it.

I’ve hated on Green Bay all year. Advanced analytics say they were a 10 win team that somehow went 13–3. I didn’t see one Rodgers performance that would’ve held a candle to anything he did a half-decade ago. I’m not even totally positive he’s a top five quarterback anymore. But it became crystal clear to me this morning — this is going to be the crown jewel win of his career.

We’re going to hear all week about how in 2005 San Fran passed on Rodgers for Alex Smith (didn’t expect to reference Alex Smith twice in a 2020 NFL playoffs article, but here we are). Rodgers, a California native, and the consensus #1 pick that year, ultimately dropped to 24th. It’s the closest we’ve got to the Brady draft day story, except instead of the Brady 6 (the six teams who picked quarterbacks over him), it’s the Rodgers 1. His hometown Niners.

Rodgers is 35, and referenced just a week ago that he thinks about his potential second Super Bowl title every single day. As down as I’ve been on him, I think he understands that if he just gets outrageously hot for two weeks (like he did in 2011) he’ll be tied with both Mannings, Roethlisberger, and surpass Brees for Super Bowls. Essentially, making a convincing argument for himself that he’s the second best quarterback of this century. Or at least the clear cut third best. I understand that I’m making a narrative argument, rather than a football argument, for a team that’s 4–1 to win in San Francisco.

I know San Francisco has consistently played the most competitive and intense games all season, but c’mon. We want Rodgers vs. Mahomes. The most electric gun slinger of the 2010’s vs the most electric gun slinger of the 2020’s. This year we celebrated the NFL 100 Years ceremonies. If you haven’t checked out the broadcasts featuring Belichek at a roundtable discussing the NFL 100 Team — do it. As we approach our 54th big game. I think it’s worth looking back at our first modern Super Bowl. Chiefs vs. Packers, where a 33 year old Bart Starr cemented his legend in NFL lore. Starr died this year, and it was no secret Rodgers had been close with the Packers icon. I think he makes him proud this week.

Packers 30 Niners 26

Chiefs 28 Titans 17