NFL Conference Championship Preview

Tomorrow presents two intriguing Conference Championship match-ups. In the NFC the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints could deliver a very exciting game as both teams have good offenses and big play defenses. Over in the AFC the Indianapolis Colts offense will be challenged by the New York Jets stellar defense.

So I took both of these games and watched them play out through a sim in Madden 10. Continue on to view the results and stats. Leave your thoughts in the comments regarding the simmed results as well as who you think will come out on top Sunday!

AFC Championship: Jets @ Colts

1st Half
After forcing a 3 and out to start the game the Colts got the ball and were driving down the field effortlessly. That was until Darrelle Revis picked off a pass to change the outlook of the entire game. Another INT this one by Calvin Pace as Peyton Manning was hit as he was throwing. Both turnovers led to the Jets reaching the red zone but only coming away with FGs.

The Jets defense held strong until late in the second quarter when the Colts went on a 75 yard drive that resulted in a Reggie Wayne TD pass which made the score 10-6 Colts at the half.

2nd Half
It looked like the momentum was completely in the Colts favor as they opened the second half with a kick return all the way down to the four yard line. Another TD pass to Reggie Wayne and it was 17-6. However the Jets fought back with a FG and then on the next drive a big pass to David Clowney led to a TD run by Thomas Jones. The two point conversion was good to tie it at 17.

Manning was picked off again this time by Lito Sheppard and that turned into a Shonn Green TD. Late in the 4th the Colts had a couple drives to try and tie but with under two minutes left Manning was picked yet again.The Jets would tack on a FG with just 20 seconds remaining for the 27-17 win.

Stats
Manning: 14-35-182 2TD 4INT
Sanchez: 21-36-259 0TD 0INT
Addai: 15-65
Greene: 14-92 TD
Jones: 9-25 TD
Clowney: 7-122
Collie: 6-79
Wayne: 3-35 2 TD
A. Johnson: 2 sacks

NFC Championship: Vikings @ Saints

1st Half
The Saints opened the game driving down quickly as Drew Brees started hot but they ended up with just a FG. The Vikings answered back moving down to the five yard line where Adrian Peterson fumbled and it was picked up and returned all the way for the TD by Malcolm Jenkins. The Vikings recovered though with a 15 play drive that resulted in a Peterson TD run.

The ensuing possession had Brees throw a backwards pass as a fumble which was recovered by Minnesota. The very next play was a 49 yard TD pass from Brett Favre to Visanthe Shiancoe. Madieu Williams then picked off Brees and the Vikings got a GB out of that. Brees made another mistake as the half was coming to a close and got picked. Favre to Percy Harvin TD then made it 24-10 Vikings at the half.

2nd Half
Things finally calmed down in the third where both teams had their first punts of the game. Late in the quarter the Vikings got back into a rhythm and got into position for a 12 yard TD pass to Sidney Rice. The Saints couldn’t get anything going on the ground all game and at this point had to start airing it out.

After getting nothing on the next drive the Saints defense made its second big play of the game by picking off pass that was tipped by the receiver, hit off a defenders helmet, and then caught by Jabari Greer taking it for the TD. That provided some hope with nine minutes remaining down 31-17. But Minnesota answered with a drive that chewed up six minutes and resulted in a FG that basically seemed to have clinched it.

It wasn’t over yet though. Brees was able to get a 20 yard TD pass to Marques Colston but the onside kick failed. The Vikings nailed a FG with 1:35 remaining but quickly the Saints struck again with a 68 yard TD to Robert Meachem. That made it 37-31 with 1:09 left. The Saints then recovered the onside kick. But after moving down to the 32 yard line Antoine Winfield picked off a pass to seal it. Vikings win 37-31.

Stats
Brees: 23-34-340 2TD 3INT
Favre: 18-31-240 3TD 1INT
Peterson: 27-128 TD
Meachem: 5-122 TD
Colston: 5-80 TD
Harvin: 5-68 TD
Shiancoe: 4-84 TD

New York Jets vs Minnesota Vikings