EDIT: This will now serve as our NFL Championship Sunday Open Thread. The Titans and Chiefs kick off at 2:05 pm Central with the Packers and 49ers getting underway at 5:40 pm.

Keep in mind open threads are rated WCG-MA, but our community guidelines are still in affect, so keep it civil!

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And then there were four.

There are three major events where the NFL hands out some form of guaranteed hardware every calendar year. The Super Bowl, what with a trophy named after a certain Packers coach. You’re lying if you’ve ever said you didn’t want your mitts and fingerprints all over a generic silver football. Because, reasons? (The Stanley Cup—still the only trophy worth touching in American sports.) The NFL Honors, which definitely, certainly, and unquestionably aren’t a lame, uninteresting attempt to milk out more television dollars. No sir. No way. (Never mind that “insiders” divest the winner of every award to the Internet before the recorded telecast itself, ruining any surprises.)

What’s ignored in this equation is Championship Sunday. Two of the most influential leaders and reformers in league history, Lamar Hunt (AFC) and George Halas (NFC), have their names adorned across their respective conference’s prizes. Even if both trophies look like glorified, larger Pop Warner participation paperweights, it’s worth winning them for the prospect of what they represent and their history alone. It’s worth capturing their mystique because it you means you get to participate in American cultural nirvana in front of 200 million eye balls.

This Sunday may follow a familiar script of pro football’s parity wearing down by the end of January, but it is no less fascinating. While three of the top four seeds are still in play, still meandering around, still hoping for another trip to Florida (God, help them), there’s a unique flavor to both matchups.

In one corner, there are the underdog, punch-you-in-the-mouth Tennessee Titans. An old school mentality probably doesn’t do Mike Vrabel’s obsessive Faustian Bargain justice. Know that if the Titans ultimately fall short of winning the Super Bowl, the Devil lost, for what it’s worth. Considering Vrabel’s boys have to overcome the presumptive new overall favorite Chiefs, they very well may lose. Then Vrabel will have bet everything for nothing. If there’s anyone that can overcome divine, age-old villains, it’s probably Patrick Mahomes. Where Mahomes finds his lake of fire and sulfur in the middle of Missouri is anyone’s best guess. But there may be hope for the world yet!

On the other side of these contentious proceedings, sit the embodiment of tech-bros and football bros in one toxic symbiosis: the San Francisco 49ers. Aside from quarterback (which is a major aside, of course), the 49ers might have the best roster left in the field. Now if only networks would stop parroting the NFL’s covert dictum by showing off shots of the San Francisco skyline during telecasts, given that the 49ers actually play an hour away, right outside San Jose, a major U.S. city. Oh, geographical “semantics” and “facts.” What are they good for? Well, everything.

If anyone can stop the 49ers from helping to alter world views about maps and GPS systems, it’s the Packers who get the first shot. An unimpressive Divisional Round victory over the Seahawks notwithstanding, this native northern Illinoisan knows not to bet against Aaron Rodgers and an underrated pass rush. That a contrived Local Boy Hero is the opposing quarterback only makes those feelings of guilt 10 times more sincere.

Whatever does happen Sunday, take comfort in knowing the historic trophies that look like recycled plastic will look comical no matter who is holding them.

Windy City Gridiron’s staff picks for Championship Sunday.

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AFC Championship Game

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Robert Zeglinski:

Chiefs over Titans

The Chiefs possess football’s premier quarterback, a legitimate generational talent and walking profane expletive of a player. He has the best and most experienced coach left in the final four, who also happens to moonlight as one of the greatest play designers and play-callers in NFL history. Complementing both, is a loaded and explosive roster across the board. I would be surprised if Kansas City doesn’t run away with its first Super Bowl since the revered band Black Sabbath released its first album.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.:

Chiefs over Titans

The Chiefs had their playoff scare last week and they brushed it off like a well-oiled championship machine. They’ll get another scare from the bruising Titans, but their quick strike offense will force Tennessee to pass more than they’d like. The Kansas City defense will close it out.

Bill Zimmerman:

Chiefs over Titans

The Chiefs can score points in bunches and the Titans are not equipped to comeback from a deficit on the arm of Ryan Tannehill. If Derrick Henry can keep Patrick Mahomes off the field, the Titans can hang in this one. But the Chiefs’ firepower will prove to be too much for Tennessee in the end.

Sam Householder:

Chiefs over Titans

I think I’m 2-6 picking playoff games this year. Whatever. The Chiefs are the better team and have the firepower to overcome anything. The Titans beat the Chiefs earlier this year in a shootout, but it’s difficult to see this game unfolding in a similar fashion.

WhiskeyRanger:

Titans over Chiefs

After dropping the Patriotss and Ravens in consecutive weeks, I’m not betting against the Titans anymore. Derrick Henry only seems to wake up toward the end of the season, but when he does, whoo’ boy. He’s averaging over 200 yards of total offense the past two weeks, and it’s hard to believe that trend doesn’t continue against Kansas City.

Robert Schmitz:

Chiefs over Titans

While I’m certainly excited to watch this game, I’ll be honest — it’s less because I think we’ll see a tight contest and more because I love watching Patrick Mahomes and the unstoppable Chiefs offense. The 2017 Jaguars’ Cinderella story ended on this same weekend two short years ago. I expect the Titans will relive that conclusion.

Erik Duerrwaechter:

Titans over Chiefs

There’s something about these Titans that contradicts the status quo of the league. They’ll grind out the Chiefs and dare Andy Reid to be patient.

Ken Mitchell:

Chiefs over Titans

This should be one whale of a game. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m picking Kansas City because they are the home team and the Mahomes’ team. Even still, I can see this going the other way.

NFC Championship Game

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Robert Zeglinski:

Packers over 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is eventually going to have to be more than “Handsome Game Manager” if the 49ers want to win their first February game in over a quarter century. When that happens, Santa Clara will slip up, because he can’t do it. I have a feeling the Packers and their terrific pass rush manage to coax this out of the man with an impeccable smile, but little else in quarterbacking terms.

Lester Wiltfong Jr.:

Packers over 49ers

The last time the Packers lost it was to the 49ers on November 24 by a score of 37-8. But this is the playoffs and I like Aaron Rodgers’ chances in the playoffs. It won’t be easy, but Green Bay will run successfully enough to keep the 49ers honest. If it comes down to a close game, I’ll take the eight-time Pro Bowler over Jimmy Garoppolo.

Bill Zimmerman:

Packers over 49ers

The Packers have no business being 14-3. Aaron Rodgers has had a down year. The defense hasn’t been nearly as stout as they were early on. The Packers didn’t beat any team in the regular season of substance other than the Vikings (the Chiefs didn’t have Mahomes). Green Bay was waxed by San Francisco in the regular season. Every sign points to a 49ers’ blowout. With all that in mind, obviously, I’m picking Green Bay. Why? Because of that smug quarterback, that’s why.

Sam Householder:

Packers over 49ers

I can’t figure out how the Packers have vastly improved from these two teams’ first meeting back in November. I can’t see what the Packers can do to win. But somehow that seems like it’s been the case a lot this year and they keep doing it I don’t see what will change. I think the 49ers’ defensive line should dominate but again, this feels like the Packers’ magic year. Inexplicably, they’ll win again.

WhiskeyRanger:

49ers over Packers

Are the Packers going to get some bogus calls in their favor? Yes. Is Rodgers going to pull big plays out of his butt a handful of times to make things close? Absolutely. But they also struggle against the run, and can give up big plays in the passing game. Those are two things the 49ers’ offense excels at. Kyle Shanahan has shown he knows how to exploit this Packers defense, and George Kittle is a cheat code. I’m giving this one to the home team.

Robert Schmitz:

49ers over Packers

Once again, Aaron Rodgers reminded everyone last weekend that beating him is no easy task. Unfortunately for Packers’s fans, I don’t think their big win over the Seahawks gives them any better chance against Shanahan’s 49ers squad than they had in Week 12. Every advanced metric leans towards the 49ers, and by the end of the night the final score will too.

Erik Duerrwaechter:

49ers over Packers

Kyle Shannahan coached circles around Matt LaFleur in their first matchup earlier this year. I don’t see anything from Green Bay to show me the end result will be any different in Round 2.

Ken Mitchell:

49ers over Packers

I still say the Packers are a flawed team, and the San Francisco defense is good enough to crack the Packers offensive egg.

No matter what happens, Robert is writing a formal petition to have Derrick Henry run over would-be, big mouth, self-aggrandizing tacklers on Super Bowl Sunday. Sign it!

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.