Ahhhh, the memories.

Yes, we all remember those Conference Championship Game Weekends, right New England Patriots fans?

They were always full of anticipation. For yours truly, it’s been a great opportunity to have covered a few of those games at Foborough and then Gillette Stadium in person, and even traveled to a location or two as well. Two were in Pittsburgh, one was in Indianapolis.

But it’s been awhile. We weren’t at the last one – the best one – that was won by the Patriots in overtime with a regulation time comeback in Kansas City. That was four years ago, and it seems like a lifetime ago.

There have been some fun AFC title game weekends and games. We remember our first one, at the old Foxboro Stadium, when the power briefly went out, and the Patriots under Bill Parcells beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. There were two trips to Pittsburgh, one changing flights due to snowy weather and arriving in the Steel City early on a Saturday morning, but in time to grab breakfast at the hotel. Then later that night mingling with other media and Steeler greats as the NFL used to invite the media to the Conference Title Game Eve receptions. Sports scribes never turn down free food and drink, right?

Or in Indianapolis,watching the Patriots blow a sizeable halftime lead and nearly getting bulldozed by then-Colts GM Bill Polian as he raced out of the press box to get down to the field for the celebration. Or at Gillette a year later seeing the then-San Diego Chargers’ Ladanian Tomlinson on the sideline with a team coat on, done for the day with a knee that just wouldn’t let him go as the Patriots won.

Then there were the two AFC ttle games at Gillette with the Baltimore Ravens, whom the Patriots seemed to face in the playoffs every year, right? We remember looking directly down from our press box perch in January of 2012 and seeing Sterling Moore stripped the Ravens Lee Evans in the corner of the end zone at the last possible second to prevent a Baltimore win. Then Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal attempt that would have sent the game to OT and the Patriots were on their way to Indianapolis and the Super Bowl – and albeit another loss to the New York Giants – 23-20.

The year later, the Ravens dominated 28-13 with a team that rose from the ashes late in the season as recently inserted offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell was smiling from ear to ear in the Baltimore locker room. It’s the only AFC title game loss at home for the Patriots.

There were duds, of course – blowout wins here over the Steelers and Colts. Of course the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning battles, four of them in AFC title games. Believe it or not, Manning won three of them.

But the last few years this has been just another weekend. It’s the fourth straight year the Patriots aren’t in it. Will they get back to it anytime soon? It will be tough. They got there because of a guy named Brady, but he’s not around and now the AFC is loaded with QBs named Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, Lawrence, etc.

Speaking of a couple of them, two meet tonight in Kansas City. And here are our AFC and NFC picks:

BENGALS 30, CHIEFS 23

Yes, Joe Burrow will now go to 4-0 over Patrick Mahomes. Amazing. But Mahomes is going to be hobbled, no matter what we’ve seen at practice. Cincinnati hasn’t lost a game since the Browns of all teams waxed them on Halloween. Yes, the Bengals are injured up front, but they right now are following the lead of their quarterback and playing with no fear.

NINERS 23, EAGLES 21

Oh this is a tough one. We said San Francisco would win the NFC in this space previously, so we stick with it. But the Eagles are just such an explosive, well-oiled machine. The 49ers are vulnerable to the long pass, so their pass rush better be able to contain Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. The best thing is they haven’t lost a game since Oct. 23, when the Chiefs took advantage of that weakness with a 44-23 win.

But we think they’ll figure a way to pull the upset and look Purdy doing it.

LAST WEEK: 4-0

PLAYOFFS: 9-1

REGULAR SEASON: 71-54

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).