Championship Sunday. No day on the NFL calendar better exemplifies the agony and the ecstasy of postseason football. Two teams will be punching their tickets to the biggest game on the planet, and two others will be punching themselves wondering what went wrong. Speaking of what went wrong, we started the playoffs with a stable full of aesthetic promise and are now staring down the possibility of white practice pants or red overload in the grand finale. Let’s see if the Uniform Gods have a few more tricks up their sleeves to deliver us a worthy Super Bowl uniform matchup.

A quick note on (playoff) methodology.

I’m still analyzing every NFL uniform matchup and picking a winner against the spread based on who dresses best.  And just because a team is ranked higher in the Uniform Wardrobe Power Rankings doesn’t mean it will automatically win the uniform matchup. It’s what you wear in the instant matchup that counts.

We're not shaming teams that made the playoffs.  So we're only crowning the best matchup of the weekend from here on out.  And still betting the over. 

Looking back at the Divisional Round.

2-2 on the week. Which brings us to 145-129-8 on the year. Three games left in the 2023 season. Let’s go for the sweep.

AFC Championship Uniform Matchup (and Best NFL Uniform Matchup of Championship Sunday).

Chiefs at Ravens may be the best of the week by default. But it is still an excellent uniform matchup. Sure, I’d put stripes on the Ravens pants if given the option.* But the subtle and satisfying contrast between the purple jersey and black pants makes up for the omission. The road whites of the Chiefs provide a fantastic foil for Baltimore’s black and purple. And the color palettes all around combine for a home run.

For my money, Chiefs-Ravens is both the uniform matchup of the week and the game of the day. The two best quarterbacks remaining (and arguably the two best quarterbacks in football) are set to put on a duel for the ages. The last time the Chiefs played the Ravens (back in 2021), Baltimore won an electric shootout at home 36-35.** That is music to an over bettor’s ears, and I think we’re in for similar fireworks here. While the pick here is all about points, this feels like Baltimore’s year. And if forced to pick a side in addition to the over, give me the Ravens.

*I’d also go with white pants for the Ravens if it were up to me. But I completely understand (and respect) sticking with the winning outfit from the Divisional Round. If Baltimore makes it to the Super Bowl, I’m hoping they see things through with this outfit and establish it as the definitive look of the Lamar era.

**Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson combined for 692 total yards and six total touchdowns.

The Pick: Over 44

NOTE - The Chiefs have yet to reveal their choice of pants.

NFC Championship Uniform Matchup.

I wanted to give Lions-49ers best of the week. I truly did. It was right there. Gray or blue pants and this could've been an NFC Championship Game for the ages. But the Lions again refuse to leave the white practice pants in the corner.* While the matchup’s overall color combo is sharp, the stripeless white britches from Detroit just take me out of it. And the Niners are an easy choice as a result.

If five or six things break a different way, we’re preparing for Packers at Lions instead of Lions at 49ers. But that’s life in the NFL. As rough as San Francisco (and especially Brock Purdy) looked at times last week, the past is the past. The buzzsaw of the NFC played one of their worst games of the season and emerged unscathed. With no rain in the forecast and Deebo Samuel cleared for action, I have a hard time seeing Brock Purdy repeating that hapless performance. The Lions have been the league darling all year long - and for good reason. There’s no better story in football than the Fightin’ Dan Campells putting Detroit on their back and making it to Vegas. But I’m having a hard time seeing how we get there on paper. Kyle Shanahan should feast on this Lions defense. And San Francisco owns Jared Goff. 3-6 overall and 0-5 going back to 2019 (averaging an interception per game in that losing span). Anything can happen on Championship Sunday, but the line could be 10 points and I still would be content rolling with the Niners.

*If the Lions make it to the Super Bowl, perhaps the formal occasion will move them to dress appropriately in gray or blue pants. And nothing would make me happier. I want to be your hype man, Detroit. But I worship at the altar of the Uniform Gods. In the words of Jerry Maguire, help me help you.

The Pick: 49ers -7

Club SDR - Championship Sunday Prop Plays.

A small step back going 1-2 last week. But the strong season for the Single Digit Revolution marches on. 39-21 on the year with six more bites at the apple. And don’t mind me while I put all this week’s eggs in one MVP basket.

Lamar Jackson - Over 208.5 Passing Yards

Rashod Bateman - Over 22.5 Receiving Yards

Odell Beckham Jr. - Over 20.5 Receiving Yards

It feels right to go all out with the season’s best Single Digit Revolution team. I said it above, and I’ll say it again: I can’t shake the feeling this is Baltimore’s year. Sure, Lamar’s passing over did not come through for us last week. But I don’t think the Chiefs will go the way of the Texans and let Lamar run wild. Kansas City is going to blitz the Ravens and force Jackson to win with his arm. The last time these teams met, Lamar threw for 239 yards and ran for 107 more. I like him to duplicate that passing effort on Championship Sunday.

If Lamar is going to clear this line, I can’t pass up stacking it with the low bars of Bateman and OBJ. Both guys are more than capable of clearing the number in one reception.

The Gridiron Uniform Database.

The uniform graphics you see here are courtesy of The Gridiron Uniform Database. If you’ve never paid their site a visit, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. Best site on the Internet and an invaluable resource to uniform nerds and casuals alike.

Coming Attractions.

With the Super Bowl two weeks away, we won’t be back with a uniform matchup breakdown until the morning of the big game. But that doesn’t mean your inbox is going empty next Sunday. Get ready for the Bets Dressed uniform year in review. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the second annual edition of The Unis - an awards special unlike any other. NFL Honors has nothing on us.

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