Inland Waterways » Vikings running back Dalvin Cook reportedly won’t

play on Monday night with a shoulder injury suffered Sunday against the Chargers. Cook isn’t ready to confirm that.“I’m going to go through my normal preparation Womens Muhammad Wilkerson Jersey ,” Cook told reporters on Thursday, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “If I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go.”Coach Mike Zimmer suggested earlier this week that it’s an issue of pain tolerance. Cook didn’t embrace the not-so-subtle notion that it all comes down to toughness.“It’s just about getting healthy,” Cook said. “Pain and all that comes with the game. You can bare so much. You can do so much. But it’s all about being healthy and I think that’s when I’m at my best for the team.”Rookie Alexander Mattison has performed capably as Cook’s backup this year, but Mattison missed Week 15 with an ankle injury. Coach Mike Zimmer told reporters on Thursday that Mattison is “doing better” and has a “good chance” to play.The next options are Ameer Abdullah and Mike Boone, with Tony Brooks-James on the practice squad. With the Championship games upon us today, it’s time to reveal APC’s picks for who will advance to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Let’s dive right into it.NFC Championship: Saints at RamsThe first time these two teams met this season http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-demetri-goodson-jersey , the Saints won an all-time classic, 45-35. New Orleans’ defense has excelled at stopping the run all season long, ranking third in that area by DVOA while the Rams’ D ranks 28th. That seems to set this game up well for Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram to lead the way for the Saints’ offense.However, New Orleans will be without one of their top run-stuffers, as Sheldon Rankins is out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon. If the Rams can take advantage of his absence and get Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson going, they should be able to start picking on the Saints’ exploitable secondary (22nd in DVOA).All told, however Muhammad Wilkerson Jersey White , APC’s writers see the Saints’ superior defense and Hall of Fame quarterback winning the day, and the Saints going to the Super Bowl in a divisional rival’s stadium.APC Pick: Saints (9-4)AFC Championship: Patriots at ChiefsIn this game we have a matchup of two elite offenses (Chiefs #1 and Patriots #5 by DVOA) against a mediocre and a not-very-good-at-all defense (Patriots #16, Chiefs #26). The Kansas City defense has been much better at home, however, though it is notable that their home schedule this season was pretty easy. Here’s the list of teams that they played at Arrowhead Stadium this season:49ers, Jaguars,Bengals http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-deshone-kizer-jersey , Broncos, Cardinals, Ravens, Chargers, Raiders, Colts (playoffs)Of those teams, only one — Indy — ranked in the top 13 teams in the NFL in offensive DVOA. Meanwhile http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-lane-taylor-jersey , four of them were in the bottom eight.Still, the Chiefs held the Colts to just a single offensive touchdown a week ago, keeping the 10th-ranked Colts to 13 points. The challenge will surely be tougher against the Patriots, however, and their ninth-ranked rushing attack.Still, the Patrick Mahomes factor looms large, as the second-year quarterback and first-year starter has taken the league by storm. The Patriots picked him off twice in the teams’ first meeting Vince Biegel Jersey , but it still took a last-second field goal for them to win in Foxboro. With this game taking place at Arrowhead, APC likes the Chiefs to make it to their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl IV.APC Pick: Chiefs (9-4)Conference Championship PicksGameTexJasonPeterKrisBobJon MJordanMatubMikePaulShawnWendiZachAPC PickGameTexJasonPeterKrisBobJon MJordanMatubMikePaulShawnWendiZachAPC Pick