“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2022 Conference Championship NFL Picks

January 25, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head to head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 5 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Conference Championship Games

Ha Kung’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

Last year I ended up with a 64.7% record for the season, so that’s seven years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. Plus, I had a 75.5% record on Locks of the Week and a 58% record on Upsets of the Week. I went 2-2 in the Divisional Round Playoffs, with a total of 178-101 for the season (63.8%), 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%), and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%).

No more Locks or Upsets of the week, but check out my Preview and Prediction for the AFC Conference Championship game and my Preview and Prediction for the NFC Conference Championship game!

Joanne’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Joanne’s Thoughts:

Last week, the New York Giants filled me with false hope once again after an epic win against the Minnesota Vikings. Then came the devasting loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was like watching two different teams.

There are three reasons I picked the San Francisco 49ers:

I’m a New Yorker and I DO NOT want the Philadelphia Eagles to win.
The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 52 in 2017, defeating the New England Patriots. They DO NOT need to head to the Super Bowl when so many teams have yet to win in over a decade, like the San Francisco 49ers.
I DO NOT want the Philadelphia Eagles to head to the Super Bowl.

As for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, like the San Francisco 49ers, the Cincinnati Bengals haven’t won a Super Bowl in decades. In their last three meetings, the Cincinnati Bengals have defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, which includes last year’s Conference Championship Game. With Patrick Mahomes suffer from a high ankle sprain, the Chiefs will lose one of their greatest weapons, Patrick Mahomes’ legs, putting the Chiefs at a disadvantage against the very dominant Cincinnati Bengals.

Scott’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Scott’s Thoughts:

Going with the road teams this weekend. I think the Bengals are firing right now and have confidence and are in the Chiefs head a bit. I think the 49ers defense is unreal and will slow down the eagles offense. These should be two amazing games. We’re lucky to watch them.

Kaiden’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Wole’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

New Episode (538) Listen via link tree https://t.co/bZfGHgEfUh @Commanders starting @Sam7Howell? – 8:38 min #httc
Should the @Washwizards trade Kuz? – 21:33 #DCAboveAll #HBCUCorner with @Howard_WBB coach @Coachtygrace – 40 min #themecca #thehilltop @MEACSports #meacpride pic.twitter.com/0TAvzyErLn

— Urban Sports Scene (@UrbanSportScene) January 19, 2023

Ray’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Championship – Philadelphia Eagles

George’s Thoughts:

San Francisco at Philadelphia: Going into the playoffs I was backing the 49ers to make history and get to the Super Bowl with a rookie quarterback. Brock Purdy had hardly put a foot wrong in his regular season starts. But in the playoffs he has. Purdy has put the ball in danger several times in the playoffs and he looks a lot like Cooper Rush did for the Cowboys before he got completely exposed at Philadelphia in prime time. And that’s exactly the same scenario here. Plus Jalen Hurts shoulder looks good to me and the Eagles boast so many weapons that even the great San Francisco defense will struggle to cover them all. Philadelphia rolls here.

Cincinnati at Kansas City: Putting Patrick Mahomes out there with a high-ankle sprain is crazy. Mahomes’ ability to escape and extend plays is a critical part of his brilliance. Shorn of that he’s still a great passer yes, but he’s also a sitting duck and at risk of the kind of injury that could mar his career forever. Plus the Bengals and Joe Burrow already defeated a healthy Chiefs game in Kansas City in the playoffs last year and in Cincinnati this year. The Bengals beat the curse of the Super Bowl loser and return again.