AFC, NFC Championship Game kickoff times, TV info and betting spreads
A preview of the NFL’s conference championship action:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (13-4)
TV: Sunday, 3:05 P.M. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson)
Line: Patriots by 3½
Story lines: The Patriots seek a record ninth Super Bowl trip. The Broncos hope to go an eighth time. … New England is 3-3 in road playoff games under coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady and 0-2 in Denver. … This will be the 17th meeting between Brady and Denver QB Peyton Manning. They’ve split four playoff meetings, though Manning has a 2-1 edge in championship games. Neither quarterback has beaten the other on the road since 2007. … Brady is hot, intercepted just once in the last five games (7 TDs). Manning is not, failing to throw a TD in his last nine quarters. … The Broncos led the NFL in total defense, pass defense and sacks (52), including three of Brady in Denver’s Nov. 29 win. The Patriots were 2-for-13 on third downs in that loss. However WR Julian Edelman missed the game. The Patriots are 10-0 when he plays this season. … Rob Gronkowski's eight postseason TD catches are a record for tight ends. He's scored in his last four playoff games. … Manning also missed the previous matchup, when the Broncos rushed for 179 yards. … Broncos Pro Bowl CB Chris Harris is dealing with a severe shoulder bruise but is probable to play. … Denver WR Demaryius Thomas caught just one pass despite 13 targets in the Week 12 matchup.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (14-3) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (16-1)
TV: Sunday, 6:40 P.M. ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
Line: Panthers by 3
Story lines: Both teams are seeking their second trip to the Super Bowl. Neither has won it. … Arizona is 2-6 in road playoff games in the Super Bowl era, but one of those victories occurred in Charlotte. … The Panthers have won 12 in a row at home. Carolina is 1-2 in NFC Championship Games but has never hosted one. Of the seven teams that have won at least 15 regular-season games, only three reached the Super Bowl. … The Cardinals have the league’s No. 1 offense and score more points than any NFL team except the Panthers. … Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald has averaged 114 receiving yards in eight playoff games but could often find himself covered by all-pro CB Josh Norman. … For the first time in the Super Bowl era, a playoff game will feature former Heisman Trophy quarterbacks – Arizona’s Carson Palmer and Carolina’s Cam Newton – competing against each another. … Cardinals coach Bruce Arians called out his offensive line and knows Arizona must run the ball better. … Arizona has won 35 consecutive games when entering the fourth quarter with a lead, the longest active NFL streak. … Carolina forced a league-high 39 turnovers in the regular season before adding two more interceptions in their divisional round win against the Seattle Seahawks. … Carolina’s Ted Ginn Jr. and Arizona’s Patrick Peterson are dangerous return men. ... Panthers DE Jared Allen (foot) won't play, the only significant injury on other team.