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AFC & NFC Championship Games: Who Is Heading To The Super Bowl?

January 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Just four teams remain in the NFL playoffs. Some were expected to be here; others were more surprising. In the AFC, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs travel to the white-hot Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, the NFC sees the Detroit Lions attempt to make their first Super Bowl at the expense of the San Francisco 49ers. With both games scheduled for Sunday, HotNewHipHop has everything you need to know about the AFC & NFC Championship Games.

AFC: Chiefs @ Ravens

When: January 28, 3:00 PM ET

Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

Odds: Baltimore -4

The Chiefs enter their sixth consecutive AFC Championship Game under very different circumstances to the previous five. For one, they aren’t hosting. And secondly, they are doing so after winning less than 12 games in the regular season. While the Chiefs still rule the AFC West, they don’t look like the powerhouse team that has made two of the last three Super Bowls. It’s not that the Chiefs are worse, it’s simply that the rest of the conference is catching up.

And that’s where their hosts, the Ravens, come in. After beginning the season unsure if Lamar Jackson would actually play, the team stormed to the league’s best record. However, this marks new territory for the team. They appear in their first Conference Championship Game since 2012, the year they won the Super Bowl. But the newness cuts both ways. The Ravens will get to enjoy their home-field Conference Championship Game in franchise history.

Can Kansas City Slow Down Baltimore?

The big question heading into this matchup will be whether the Chiefs can slow down Baltimore enough to let Patrick Mahomes ball out. Kansas City allowed the second-fewest yards per game during the regular season (289.8). However, their defense must contend with the league’s sixth-highest yardage team in Baltimore (370.4). There will be high expectations from the DT Chris Jones and CB Trent McDuffie, both All-Pro First Teamers for the Chiefs.

The key for Baltimore will be in the backfield. Unsurprisingly, given their prototypical dual-threat QB, Baltimore led the league in rushing yards per game this season (156.5). Conversely, the Chiefs allowed the 15th-most rushing yards during the regular season (113.2). If the Chiefs can’t stop the run, it’s going to be a long night for the red-and-white faithful.

Prediction: Ravens 20 – 17 Chiefs. Chiefs don’t allow the Ravens to ever run away with the game but just don’t have enough to neutralize the potency of Baltimore’s ground game.

NFC: Lions @ 49ers

When: January 28, 6:30 PM PT

Where: Levi Stadium, Santa Clara

Odds: San Francisco -7.5

The 49ers were here a year ago, on the cusp of a Super Bowl appearance. However, a spate of injuries saw them steamrolled by the Eagles. They were here the year before that, when they were 15 minutes from the Super Bowl before allowing 13 fourth-quarter points to lose to the Rams. Now they stand 60 minutes from another Super Bowl, with a former Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback. The NFC has been weird this year, with no one emerging as a clear favorite. However, the Niners have been one of the conference’s better teams. They are an offensive juggernaut (four offensive all-pro first-teamers) and are ready to flex that moniker all the way to a Lombardi.

However, they will have to overcome this year’s scrappy underdog. In 2008, the Detroit Lions went 0-16. Since that infamous season, they have appeared in the playoffs just four times. And now they are one game away from their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. The last time the Lions were in this position, it was 1957 and they were playing for a chance to appear in the pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship. But head coach Dan Campbell, the epitome of “never give up, never surrender” has turned the Lions into a team that their fans can finally believe in.

Who Wins The Backfield Duel?

The running game will absolutely define the NFC Championship. The 49ers have the league’s best running back in Christian McCaffery. McCaffery rushed for 1459 yards, nearly 300 more yards than the next best back in the league (Derrick Henry). However, the Lions have an elite backfield of their own. The two-pronged attack in Detroit begins with fifth-year back David Montgomery. After signing with the Lions ahead of the 2023 season, Montgomery rewarded the team with his first 1000-yard season since 2020. However, Montgomery isn’t alone. Many people questioned Detroit’s decision to take Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall in the 2023 draft, especially after trading back from 6th overall. Well, Gibbs rushed for 945 yards in the regular season.

However, it’s not just about the run game for these two teams, it’s also about their run defense. The Lions and Niners are second and third respectively in run defense this season, with 0.9 yards per game separating them. Teams have simply not been able to drive out of the backfield against either team. This becomes a fascinating dynamic, however, when the opponent is someone with as prolific a run game as these two teams have. This means that whoever finds the edge in the backfield will hold the keys to this matchup.

Prediction: 49ers 30 – 23 Lions. This will likely be the game of the season. However, as much as the Lions deserve to be here and will keep it close, the Niners’ overwhelming offense gives them the edge here.

AFC/NFC Championship Games: Who Wins?

However, let us know what you think! Is Kansas City headed to yet another Super Bowl? Do the Lions find a way to beat San Francisco? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Tyreek Hill Fires Employee Responsible For Divorce Filing

January 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Tyreek Hill has fired the “f-cking bonehead” who filed a divorce filing for the wide receiver without his consent. “I just gotta say that it sucks that A, yeah, a lot of our stuff is public record. But behind closed doors, a lot of people got fired, too, for just doing things without a ‘yes.’ It sucks that me and my wife gotta go through that. Like yeah, public records says it and right now we’re in a spot of fixing it — I fired the f-cking bonehead that did that mistake. Now it sucks,” Hill said on a recent livestream.

Hill married Keeta Vaccaro during the Dolphins’ bye week and gifted her a game ball after scoring a touchdown a few games later. However, the young marriage has faced serious strain as three women filed paternity suits against Hill. All three children were reportedly born in 2023 and conceived in 2022. If all cases are legitimate, this would mean Hill fathered all three children while engaged to Vaccaro.

Tyreek Hill House Fired Caused By Child With Lighter

Meanwhile, another strain on the marriage was the house fire that broke out at the couple’s Florida home. Later, it was revealed that the fire was caused by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom of the home. “It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press. Taylor declined to identify anything more about the child who started the fire or the extent of the damage that was done to the house. Hill left Dolphins training earlier after receiving word of the fire. The home is located 30 miles outside of Miami. Hill paid $6.9 million for the home in 2020 after being traded to Miami.

Furthermore, Hill’s agent confirmed the rumors that all residents of the house were able to evacuate safely. “He and his family are safe. No one was injured. No one, no pets, so for that, we’re very grateful. We’re very grateful to the firefighters that put the fire out. Thankfully, the fire was contained to a limited area of the home. Obviously, there’ll be some smoke and water damage. It’s very difficult for anybody obviously to have your home catch on fire, but Tyreek was handling it, he and his family, with as much poise as you could hope,” Drew Rosenhaus said.

[via]

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Shannon Sharpe Flexes Shredded Physique From The 80s, Says He’s “Always Been Poppin”

January 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Shannon Sharpe shared a throwback picture of his 20-year-old self to prove that his recent muscular physique is nothing new. “When they say UNC just started poppin. That’s a lie. UNC been poppin since the 80s. Here’s proof of young 20 yr old Nephew. #ТВT #SSUQRANGECRUSH #BEENHIM #IMSTILLHIM,” Sharpe wrote on social media.

“20-year-old nephew” dates the photo to 1988, Sharpe’s penultimate season at Savannah State. In 1990, he would become an unheralded seventh-round pick by the Broncos. However, the rest is history. Sharpe would become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and one of the greatest Broncos of all time. He ended his career with three Super Bowl rings and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Shannon Sharpe Delivers Subpar Electric Slide

While Sharpe might be in great shape, it appears that dance is not his forte. In July 2023, a video shared by The Neighborhood Talk appeared to show Sharpe at a cookout. In particular, the video showed Sharpe joining in a group dancing the electric slide. The only problem is that Sharpe puts little effort into the moves and just sort of vibes around at the back of the group. While it is true that Sharpe got a hip replacement, that was in early 2022. The resulting comments meant that ribs weren’t the only thing being grilled.

“He aint never been around so many black women since he was 18,” one person noted. “Lmao he dance like a middle aged white man,” another astutely pointed out. “He used to them football drills this a different type of steppin,” argued a third. However, some argued that Sharpe wasn’t the only person disrepecting the dance. “Oh no. Is it a simulation? Is it AI? Because I ain’t never seen so many off beat black folks doing a slide in my life .” Furthermore, some argued that Sharpe’s tendency to date white women couldn’t even be used an excuse. “Can’t even blame the white women because them folks love a good line dance too.”

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Chargers Hire Jim Harbaugh, Fans Expect Big Things For Justin Herbert As A Result

January 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Los Angeles Chargers have hired Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach. Harbaugh returns to the NFL after nine seasons at his alma mater, Michigan. Harbaugh leaves the Wolverines after earning three Big 10 titles and capturing the program’s first National Championship since 1995. “Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward. The son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who himself was coached by names like Schembechler and Ditka, for the past two decades Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he’s been — as their coach. And today, Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach. Who has it better than us?” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement.

Harbaugh, who enjoyed a successful tenure in San Francisco that was marred with front-office clashes, also spoke on his excitement for the role. “The only job you start at the top is digging a hole, so we know we’ve got to earn our way. This organization is putting in the work — investing capital, building infrastructure and doing everything within its power to win. Great effort equals great results, and we’re just getting started,” Harbaugh said.

Will Jim Harbaugh Make Justin Herbert Elite?

Jim Harbaugh being the Head Coach of the @chargers may be the best thing that’s ever happened to Justin Herbert. Harbaugh will build the roster from the trenches out, is a master of establishing a GRIT BASED CULTURE and wins without asking the QB to be SUPERMAN EVERY PLAY. pic.twitter.com/oByr7EMsB7

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 25, 2024

However, one element of Harbaugh taking over the Chargers that fans are most excited about is the development of Justin Herbert. The young quarterback, who signed a lengthy extension last offseason, is seen as an elite signal caller in the making. Throughout his coaching career, Harbaugh has been viewed as a “quarterback whisperer”. From Josh Johnson at San Diego to Andrew Luck at Stanford to Colin Kaepernick at the 49ers to J.J. McCarthy at Michigan, Harbaugh knows how to get the best out of his QB.

Herbert, entering his fifth year in the league in 2024, is still very much a diamond in the rough. He has an absolute cannon for an arm and excels in the pocket. However, Brandon Staley’s high-risk offense might not have been the best fit for him. He has yet to play a full season without double-digit interceptions. Despite this, pundits from RG3 to Dan Orlovsky believe that Harbaugh’s more methodical playcalling and QB development could turn Herbert into one of the league’s best. What do you think – will Jim Harbaugh unlock Herbert’s true potential?

[via]

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Tim Tebow Nearly Left The NFL For Wrestlemania

January 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Tim Tebow could have left the NFL for a guest spot at Wrestlemania, the President of WWE has revealed. “When I was an agent, my prior profession, and I was trying to get into the WWE business. Paul had called me, unsolicited call, and this was when Tim Tebow had just gotten cut by the Patriots. He said, hey, what do you think about Tim Tebow against the Big Show at whatever that WrestleMania was after the Patriots run. I said, what’re you thinking? He offered some financial terms, I called Tim at the time, [asked] what do you think. Tim and I had, then, a top secret private meeting: Tim Tebow, myself, Vince McMahon, Triple H, in Anaheim, California about that. Ultimately, it didn’t happen,” Nick Khan told Pat McAfee.

Tebow’s time in New England only lasted the summer of 2013. with Tebow being cut at the 53-man roster deadline. That means that Tebow was being considered for April 2014’s WrestleMania XXX. According to Khan, Tebow was being considered for a fight against Big Show. However, as the now WWE President noted, the fight never came together. Instead, Big Show would end up finishing second at the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Joel Embiid Gets Wrestlemania

“Paul Levesque introduced me to WWE when I was an agent..

When Tim Tebow got cut by the Patriots he called me about him wrestling the Big Show at WrestleMania..

Tim, HHH, Vince and I had a secret meeting about that but ultimately it didn’t happen”

Nick Khan #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UiLmHFLnZN

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 23, 2024

However, another pro athlete who could be headed to Wrestlemania is Joel Embiid. The NBA fined Embiid $35K for “repeatedly making an obscene gesture on the playing court” in November 2023. The gesture in question was the “DX Crotch Chop”, something first seen in the WWE by the D-Generation X stable. Embiid broke out the move after scoring off a foul in the third quarter in the Sixers’ home opener against the Blazers. Earlier this year, in January, Embiid was fined $25K for making the same gesture in a similar situation against the Nets.

Despite being out $35K, Embiid has gotten an invaluable invitation out of the moment. After news of the fine broke, Triple H, one of the best known DX wrestlers, hit Embiid up on Twitter. “Hey @JoelEmbiid – I know a place where you can do that all day, and everyone will love it. WrestleMania 40 is right there in Philly…,” the wrestler wrote. Furthermore, the milestone wrestling will touch down in the City of Brotherly Love this April.

[via]

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Titans Hire Brian Callahan As Head Coach

January 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Tennessee Titans have hired Brian Callahan as the team’s new head coach. Callahan joins the Titans after five seasons as the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. “This is an exciting time for our franchise, and we’re thrilled to have Brian as our head coach. We went through a thorough candidate search and Brian stood out as the best person to lead our football team. I want to thank the other candidates who were part of this process and wish them well moving forward,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said.

Quarterback development was a key factor for the Titans as they moved forward with Will Levis as their presumptive starter. Callahan’s time in the NFL has included coaching Peyton Manning during the Broncos’ Super Bowl win in 2015 and the rise of Joe Burrow with the Bengals. He also helped coach Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr to new heights in their already-established careers. The Titans parted ways with Mike Vrabel earlier in the offseason after back-to-back seasons of disappointment for the team.

Titans Become Third Team To Fill Coaching Vacancy

The Titans become the third team to fill their head coaching vacancy. Both New England and Las Vegas opted for internal replacements. The Patriots promoted former star linebacker and groomed Belichick protege Jarod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick. Meanwhile, the Raiders opted to retain interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who had a 5-4 record with the team after taking over midway through the 2023 season.

However, that leaves a number of vacancies as yet unfilled. Atlanta appears to be leaning towards Belichick after interviewing him twice last week. Meanwhile, the Chargers have been linked with Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. However, that leaves Seattle, Carolina, and Washington without a clear frontrunner. Some of the interview processes have been delayed by interview rules concerning playoff teams. Coaches from the Chiefs, Niners, Ravens, and Lions cannot be contacted until after the Conference Championship games this weekend.

[via]

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Travis Kelce: Heart Celly Was For Bills Fans, Not Taylor Swift

January 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Travis Kelce has revealed that his “heart hands” celebration during the Chiefs’ divisional round playoff game was aimed at Bills fans, not Taylor Swift. “The Bills — coming into their house, they want to make it rowdy. Did it get a little disrespectful? One-thousand percent. One-thousand percent. Did it get a little extra? One-thousand percent. Some things were said about the families — some pretty inappropriate things were said about Pat Mahomes. It was pretty wack. I don’t hate you guys like you hate us. It’s all love, baby. It’s all love,” Kelce explained on the New Heights podcast.

The immediate assumption was that the celebration was aimed at Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift. It’s a gesture Swift herself has popularized at her concerts. Furthermore, Kelce himself was spotted doing the gesture at Swift’s concert in Argentina last year. However, Kelce has now set the record straight and explained he was showing love to the Bills Mafia during a charged playoff game.

Travis Kelce & Chiefs Focus On Ravens

Standing between the Chiefs and a third Super Bowl appearance in the last four years is the white-hot Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens finished the regular season 13-4, their best records since their 14-2 2019 campaign. After massive promises from Lamar Jackson in the pre-season, Baltimore has become one of the hottest teams in the league. However, they are treading relatively new ground. Sunday marks their first conference championship game since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2012.

However, the dynastic Chiefs, fresh off another tough back-and-forth against Buffalo, will be more than ready to take on the gauntlet thrown down by Baltimore. The Ravens are only favored by -3.5 and the over/under of 44.5 indicates that this game could quickly devolve into a defensive slugfest. The Ravens beat the Chiefs in their last meeting back in 2021 but have a 4-7 all-time record against the team. Who are you picking to reach the Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments.

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Cam Newton Reveals The One Team He’d Return To The NFL For

January 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Cam Newton has revealed that a contract with the Atlanta Falcons would be the only way that he would return to the NFL. “Me having a family now, it’s always been about family and I don’t see myself leaving Atlanta. If it’s not Atlanta, I don’t want to [come back],” Netwon told Good Morning Football this week. Newton is originally from Atlanta but played college football in Florida and Alabama before being drafted by the Panthers.

Newton has not suited up in the NFL since 2021 when he briefly returned to the Carolina Panthers. Once seen as a generational talent, Newton’s career hit an ignominious end. A string of injuries limited Newton’s ability to harness his signature dual-threat capabilities. His 2021 campaign saw him go 0-5 as a starter as the Panthers rotated between Newton, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker. However, it’s unlikely that the Falcons, currently quarterbacked by second-year starter Desmond Ridder, will be offering Newto a contract. Atlanta has been floated as a potential landing spot for Russell Wilson.

Cam Newton Beefs With Deebo Samuel

However, Newton has stepped away from the NFL completely. In late December, he found himself beefing with Niners star Deebo Samuel. Newton responded to Deebo Samuel’s claims that the former QB has been blowing up his phone after the 49ers fell to the Ravens on Christmas Day. “Big fan, still a fan. I still f-ck with you. But I ain’t got your number to call you. It was very believable, I had to go and check to make sure I didn’t call you. But I ain’t got your number. Whoever is calling you, it ain’t me,” Newton said.

Samuel made his claims during an appearance on Up & Adam while defending his quarterback, Brock Purdy. The Ravens completely routed the 49ers in the late Christmas Day game. Baltimore picked off Purdy four times, eventually forcing the Niners to sub in Sam Darnold. Samuel had been responding to the wave of criticism against Purdy when he called out Newton.

[via]

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Eminem Continues To Cheer On Detroit Lions Amid Playoff Success

January 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Eminem was back in attendance at Ford Field for the Detroit Lions’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. The broadcast caught the iconic rapper screaming in celebration while watching the game from a skybox in the stadium.

It was a tightly contested game throughout with the Lions winning 31-23 after Bucs’ quarterback Baker Mayfield threw an interception on his team’s final drive. It’s the second time in the franchise’s history that they’ll compete in the NFC Championship.

Eminem Poses With Calvin Johnson During Lions’ Win Over Rams

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 14: Former Detroit Lions player Calvin Johnson poses for a photo with Eminem before the Lions home game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on January 14, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions beat the Rams 24-23. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

Eminem previously made an offer to coach Dan Campbell to suit up for the team if they need him on Sunday. “Yo, Dan, I’m reporting. I’m going to report. Third quarter,” he joked in a video on Instagram, earlier in the week. “I’m reporting, offensive line, eligible receiver. I’ll be the quarterback, the entire line, (the) offensive line. And the receiver, I will throw it to myself and score a touchdown. In the third quarter. Just give me a uniform. Or at least just a helmet.” Check out a clip of his appearance at the game below.

Eminem Supports The Lions In NFC Divisional Round

.@Eminem and his family and friends are at the #NFL NFC Divisional Playoff Round Game watching the Detroit Lions face off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. #TBvsDET #Eminem2024 pic.twitter.com/aEfgaPxIkg

— EminemData (@EminemData) January 21, 2024

With the win, the Lions advance to the NFC Championship game where they’ll take on the 49ers in San Francisco for an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. On the other side of the country, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs will face off to be their opponent. Be on the lookout for further updates on Eminem and the Detroit Lions on HotNewHipHop.

[Via]

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Travis Kelce Made This Sign For Taylor Swift After Scoring A Touchdown Against The Bills

January 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Travis Kelce had a bit of a tough end to the NFL season. Although he started off great, things eventually took a turn for the worse. Overall, Chiefs fans and Fantasy Team owners were looking for some sort of scapegoat. The easiest place to turn was none other than Taylor Swift. After his relationship with Swift began, it was clear that the NFL media was going to do everything they could to shove it down our throats. At first, Swift proved to be a good luck charm, however, as Kelce began slipping, so did Swift’s goodwill.

Heading into the playoffs, many fans felt like Kelce was going to continue his downward trajectory. However, the opposite has happened. Against the Miami Dolphins, Kelce showed flashes of brilliance. Furthermore, last night against the Buffalo Bills, he had his best game in a while. He made five catches for 75 yards and he ended up finishing the game with two touchdowns. In fact, after his first touchdown, he made sure to acknowledge his girlfriend who was in the press box with his family.

Read More: Who Has Travis Kelce Dated?

Travis Kelce Shows Out For Taylor

Travis Kelce throwing a heart to Taylor Swift pic.twitter.com/lVtsr4ECLH

— FootballSZN (@FtballSZN) January 22, 2024

In the video up above, you an see Kelce making a heart sign while looking up at the skybox. Swift was up there with the likes of Brittany Mahomes and Jason Kelce, who got pretty rowdy during the game. Overall, it was an amazing match with the Chiefs taking it by a score of 27-24. In fact, if it weren’t for a missed field goal at the end, this game could have very well gone to overtime. Instead, the Chiefs are off to the AFC Championship game, where they will take on the league-best Baltimore Ravens.

Let us know what you thought of last night’s game, in the comments section down below. With four teams remaining, who do you think will be going to the Super Bowl? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will always keep you informed on the biggest athletes and all of their moves.

Read More: Travis Kelce Will Play In 2024

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