Watching the Throne with T-Bone: NFL Championship Sunday

Looks like we made it. We’ve been watching and predicting and giving our takes all year, and it comes down to today to see who dukes it out in the Super Bowl and takes the throne. Look how far we’ve come, my baby.

Cincinatti Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (ML -135)

They might’ve took the long way after an 0-2 start and a 4-4 record at Halloween, but the Bengals looked every part the reigning AFC champion last week taking it to the practically universal favorite Buffalo Bills on their home turf. They kind of always knew they’d get here someday with an offense full of stars and a defense full of no-namers who don’t miss many tackles and get the job done. Early this season, critics were in full force ready to enact their Super Bowl hangover. They said, “I’ll bet they never make it.” But just look at em holding on and going strong. They have not lost since that ill-fated trick (no treat) to the Browns. They’ve already beaten Kansas City at Arrowhead, and Burrow is undefeated against the Chiefs. All signs point to the Bengals winning this one, but Patty Mahomes: you’re still the one.

Chiefs 41 Bengals 37

Patty Mahomes not about to fall short this year.

San Francisco 49ers (ML +125) at Philadelphia Eagles

We’ve been watching the throne here since our launch, but I don’t think anyone has been watching it closer than the Niners. Another team that was 4-4 on Halloween, The Shanahan Clan has since rattled off 12 straight dubs in dominant fashion including two playoff performances that never felt in doubt. Two coach of the year finalists going head to head, the league’s best rushing defense against a team who has thrived all year on building early leads and rushing the ball the rest of the way. Defense wins championships, my friends, and San Francisco should be able to completely take Philly away from that gameplan and win a low-scoring game.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Kyle Shanahan knows how to exploit a defense’s weakness. The Eagles are a middle of the road rushing defense, so I imagine his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning game planning for this one. I like SF to take an absurd amount of time (of possession) rushing today to keep Jalen Hurts and his offense off the field for as long as possible en route to hoisting the George Halas and a Super Bowl LIV rematch with Kansas City.

49ers 27 Eagles 9

Bonus bet: I like Brandon Aiyuk for +45.5 yards and an anytime tuddy for +450 fwiw.