#297: NFL Conference Championship Preview + 2022 Coaching Carousel Developments (with Hal Bent)

1. Divisional Round Takeaways -DKrom: We might have seen the last of Tom Brady -Hal: Next generation of QB’s shine (Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes) 2. Should the NFL change its OT rules, and if so how? -Case for: Of 11 playoff OT games since the current rules were instituted, 10/11 teams that won won the coin toss…and SEVEN of them scored a TD on the opening drive of OT -Case against: Of 163 games since the current rules were instituted (playoffs included), teams that won the coin toss have only won 52.8% of the time 3. Truth or Exaggeration         -Sean Payton will be a serious candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when all is set and done         -Sean Payton will be coaching the Cowboys in 2023         -Dennis Allen will be the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints         -Of the four remaining teams, the Chiefs are the clear favorite to win the Super Bowl         -Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the 49ers should keep Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 and let him and Trey Lance battle it out for the starting job in training camp         -DeMeco Ryans will be a head coach in 2022         -The Broncos hiring of Nathaniel Hackett makes it even more likely that Aaron Rodgers is a Denver Bronco in 2022 4. Coaching Carousel -Grading the hires (A, B, C, D): Broncos [Nathaniel Hackett], Bears [Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus], Giants [Joe Schoen], Vikings [Kwesi Adofo-Mensah] -Jaguars Developments         -Raiders Developments 5. AFC Championship Preview (Bengals at Chiefs) -What do the Bengals have that the Bills do not that will help them pull off the upset? -Some people said earlier in the season that the NFL had “solved” Patrick Mahomes with the two-high safety looks. And NO team played more of that type of coverage against the Chiefs than the Bills…and you saw the historic performance Mahomes had against them on Sunday. How has Mahomes adjusted so well to this look over the past several months? -Key matchups and picks 6. NFC Championship Preview (49ers at Rams) -Will this game almost entirely depend on which version of Matthew Stafford (and Jimmy Garoppolo for that matter) shows up? -The old adage is that it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season, yet the 49ers have won six straight against the Rams. Why do they seemingly have the Rams number? -Key matchups and picks  7. Bold Predictions        -Hal: Mike Hilton picks off Patrick Mahomes in OT to set up a game-winning 10-yard TD run by Joe Burrow        -DKrom: 49ers defense holds the Rams to less than 250 total yards of offense, force FIVE turnovers, including two RZ turnovers, one of which is returned by Fred Warner for a pick-six with less than 2:00 left and the 49ers up 20-17 to seal a 27-17 win!!!  8. Challenge Flags        -DKrom: Bengals…play like you’re proud of the season you’ve had and the bright future that awaits you        -Hal: The four divisional round losers (Bills-get a strong draft, Packers-make Rodgers happy, Bucs-get Brady back in 2022, Titans-get more offensive playmakers)