Patriots Daily: NFL Championship Sunday; OC Nick Caley?

NFL Championship Sunday will not involve the New England Patriots this season. But the show must go on, with the AFC and NFL Championship Games taking place today.

In the AFC Championship Game (3:00 PM ET) the Baltimore Ravens play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens are the number-one seed in the AFC. They are led by MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson and an excellent defense. Baltimore destroyed the Houston Texans 34-10 last week.

Baltimore will need to knock off the defending champs to advance to the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and company won their first road playoff game last weekend in Buffalo. They’ll need to make it two straight to advance for a chance to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

The NFC side of the bracket has the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Detroit Lions. The 49ers have arguably the most talented roster in football from top-to-bottom. Can Kyle Shannahan’s squad advance to their first Super Bowl in a decade? San Francisco is looking to join the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers as the only six-time Super Bowl winners.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions are attempting to advance to their first Super Bowl in franchise history (although the Lions have won four NFL Championships). QB Jared Goff has been playing superbly in the playoffs thus far. He helped advance the 2018 Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl. Can he lead a second team to an NFC title?

Once again, the prediction here, based on the Best QB Theory, is a Baltimore-Detroit Super Bowl matchup.

Nick Caley Favorite to Become New England’s Offensive Coordinator?

With Jerod Mayo as head coach and DeMarcus Covington reportedly getting the defensive coordinator job, the New England Patriots coaching staff is starting to take shape. Next is landing an offensive coordinator to replace Bill O’Brien. The Patriots have interviewed seven known candidates who are still in play to become the team’s OC. But it appears there could be a favorite for the position.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported this morning:

“(Nick) Caley, the former longtime Patriots tight ends coach who interviewed for the team’s offensive coordinator job in 2022, is viewed by some close to the process as well-positioned to ultimately lead the offense.”

Nick Caley is currently the tight ends coach for the Los Angeles Rams. He was with the New England Patriots for eight seasons (2015-2022) so he has familiarity with the franchise and the personnel. Caley has also worked alongside Jerod Mayo. He spent this past season on Sean McVay’s staff in Los Angeles. He was the first confirmed interview for the position.

Others still under consideration, who are known, are: Zac Robinson (Rams passing game coordinator), Thomas Brown (former Panthers OC), Jerrod Johnson (Texans QB coach), Tanner Engstrand (Lions passing game coordinator),  Brian Fleury (49ers tight ends coach), and Luke Getsy (former Bears OC).

Also in today’s Patriots Daily…

New England Patriots

Patriots Football Now – DeMarcus Covington to become Patriots defensive coordinator

Patriots Football Now – Tracker: 2024 New England Patriots Coaching Staff

Pats Pulpit – DeMarcus Covington mic’d up at Patriots practice (video)

Patriots Football Now – Patriots fans react to Bill Belichick being left out of promo video

Patriots Football Now – NFL Draft history: Top three picks helping teams win a Super Bowl

NFL News

Yardbarker – AFC Championship: Ravens-Chiefs betting picks, preview

Yahoo! Sports –NFC Champi0nship Game preview: 49ers try to spoil Lions feel-good story

Oregon Live – Seahawks continue to search for head coach as candidates dwindle

WLJA – Ben Johnson expected to become Commanders next coach, would be the youngest in the NFL

Boston Bruins

Go over to our sibling site Boston Hockey Now to check out the great Boston Bruins coverage from Jimmy Murphy and the BHN team. The NHL season is underway and plenty is happening in the Bruins 100 Anniversary season.

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Fun Fact of the Day

Today marks only the second time in Detroit Lions history they have played in an NFC Championship Game. They lost the 1991 game to Washington 41-10. 1991 NFC Championship Game Boxscore

Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day is from Honest Larry, celebrating 20 years since a dominating performance by the New England Patriots in the 2003 AFC Championship Game…

On this date in the 2003 AFC Championship Game. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots beat the snot out of Payton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Woooooooooo!

pic.twitter.com/cCYK1Bh3f8

— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) January 18, 2024