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Opening odds for AFC and NFC Championship games

Carolina has shown a tendency to get off to some fast, energetic starts this year, but to go in a shell later in the game.

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The NFL’s conference championship games are set, with the top two seeds in each conference surging into the games next Sunday that will determine the Super Bowl matchup.

Chiefs’ Reid questioned • Often criticized during his Philadelphia tenure for his time management, Kansas City coach Andy Reid again was left to defend his use of the clock during a wrap-up news conference Sunday.

Gronkowski is apparently dealing with pain in his knee, and a back issue as well, and we all know that Gronk is a big part of what makes the Patriots special.

It’s gotten them to 16-1, including the postseason, so it’s not a major concern, but the Panthers are also facing their toughest opponent of the season now in the Cardinals.

Not all of the action was on the field last night during the Packers-Cardinals game. I’m not convinced the Packers figured everything out in last Sunday’s win over Washington, but they should feel a little more confident. Panthers Radio NetworkOnline Streaming: FOXSportsGoOdds: The line opened at Panthers -1.5, but quickly moved up to a field goal. There is a lot of love for Seattle this week.

Aside from that game-winning drive, the Broncos could not put the ball in the end zone against Pittsburgh, and that may explain why they are a three-point home underdog against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, according to Odds Shark. Money is pouring in on Seattle and I get that. Putting the Cards up and into the NFC Championship 27-42. But I still like the Panthers. The Seahawks kicked a field goal with under two minutes to play to make it 31-24 Carolina. The largest lead the Seahawks have ever overcome was 21 points against Tampa Bay in a regular season game in 2013.

The fight broke out in the stands at the University of Phoenix stadium, moments before Aaron Rodger’s miraculous Hail Mary touchdown that tied the game.

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The Panthers outgained Seattle 155-25 in the first quarter and had eight first downs to Seattle’s one. But the Panthers stopped the Seahawks from getting another touchdown on their final drive and most importantly, didn’t let the onside kick become a factor, recovering the ball and giving themselves the opportunity to kneel a few times and frustrate the Seahawks en route to their first conference championship game in 10 years, while avenging their loss against the Seahawks from a year ago.

NFL Conference Championship playoff betting odds and lines and over  unders for 2016