NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears, 3 p.m. ET
It’s hard to believe that two of the oldest teams in the NFL haven’t met in the postseason since 1941.
Considering the teams involved and what is it at stake, the atmosphere at Solider Field promises to be downright electric. Green Bay comes into this game on a serious roll and they come in with some incredible confidence. The Packers have a red-hot quarterback, a great group of receivers and one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was good in the Packers win over the Eagles and virtually unstoppable in the win over the Falcons. The Packers don’t talk smack like the Jets, but have just as much swagger.
The Bears come into this game with more of a chip on their shoulder. Of all four remaining teams in the playoffs, the Bears are receiving the least amount of respect.
Key match-up: Bears front seven versus the Packers offensive line.
After the way he’s played over the last two games, it’s no secret that the Bears need to slow down Rodgers. If Rodgers has time to sit back in the pocket, he can light up a defence. Even when he is under pressure, Rodgers avoids the pass rush and either buys himself more time to make a throw or take off and run for a first down.
What makes Rodgers even more dangerous lately is the emergence of running back James Starks.
The Bears also have a front seven that features big-league players like Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and Israel Idonije. Facing off against Peppers will be Packers left tackle Chad Clifton. In their two previous meetings, Clifton held Peppers without a sack.
Intangibles: Containing the Clay Matthews will be a top priority for the Bears offensive line.
If the Bears defence thrives on speed and turnovers, the Packers defence thrives on pressure and getting to the quarterback.
The other thing that you have to remember is that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is always capable of the big turnover. In last week’s win over the Seahawks, Cutler got away with a couple of really bad throws because the opposing defensive backs couldn’t hang on to the ball. When he’s on, Cutler is a first-class quarterback but when he’s off and makes bad decisions, Cutler's ugly.
Lost in all the discussion about Rodgers and Cutler is the two team’s respective running backs. While Starks has been a nice story for the Packers, Matt Forte has been a big part of the Bears offence all year long. Forte’s numbers from last week’s win over the Seahawks was typical of his skill set as he ran for 80 yards and added another 54 yards as a receiver out of the backfield.
Of course anytime you face the Bears, you have to respect Devin Hester’s ability to return a kick or a punt for a touchdown anytime he touches the ball.
Washington Redskins defensive end Vonnie Holliday's take:
Vonnie Holliday and the Redskins beat both the Bears and the Packers this season and he offers a unique perspective on both teams.
Packers: "It starts with their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers is so impressive. This guy can make all the throws and he is faster than a lot of people think. His game speed is pretty fast and makes a lot of plays with his feet. Aaron Rodgers, this guy has all the tools when you’re talking about a young quarterback The key to stopping Green Bay is stopping him (Rodgers).
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Bears: "The thing with the Bears is which Jay Cutler is going to show up. Is it going to be the Jay Cutler that throws three interceptions and goes in the tank? Or is it going to be the gunslinger that makes plays, avoid the turnovers and propels the team to victory? I remember preparing for the Bears and the plan was to get after Jay Cutler and force him to make bad decisions."
Who wins?
This is their third meeting this season between these division rivals and they met as recently as Jan. 2. The Packers won that game to get into the playoffs so it is only fitting that Green Bay faces the Bears again to see who advances to the Super Bowl. Both teams can play punishing defence. Both teams have playmakers at receiver with the Packers having the edge because of Greg Jennings. Each squad can run the ball with the Bears having an edge because of Forte.
The big difference is at quarterback. While Cutler is good, Rodgers is great. In what has the makings of a hard-fought game played in nasty weather, Rodgers will be the difference as the Packers win and continue their magical playoff run.
Clubber’s final prediction: Packers 27 – Bears 20
AFC Championship game: New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30 p.m. ET
The last time the Jets faced the Steelers in the playoffs, Chad Pennington was their starting quarterback. Back on Jan. 15, 2005, Jeff Reed kicked a game-winning 33-yard field goal in overtime.
That game might as well have been 50 years ago because the current edition of the Jets could not be more different than the 2005 squad that was coached by Herm Edwards.
These Jets are now led by Rex Ryan, and just like their coach, they have shown an ability to back up their bold talk with bold action.
Unlike the barrage of verbal vitriol lobbed back and forth between the Jets and the Patriots last week, there has been nothing but a love fest between the Jets and the Steelers this week. Mike Tomlin said I love Rex while speaking to the media on Tuesday. While both teams and coach’s respect other, each squad wants to win badly and will do whatever it takes to advance to the Super Bowl.
The only difference about the Steelers from that game is their coach, Mike Tomlin. Ben Roethlisberger is still the Steelers quarterback and Pittsburgh's defence is as tough ever.
Key match-up: The Steelers offensive line versus the Jets defence.
If there is one weak link on the Steelers, it is their injury-riddled offensive line. It’s really amazing that the Steelers won last week when you consider the physical pounding Roethlisberger received from the Ravens. Big Ben was sacked six times, hit another eight times and still managed to throw two touchdowns in the Steelers win.
Now the Steelers offensive line will attempt to protect their quarterback against a defence that is much better at putting pressure on the quarterback than the Ravens. Ask Tom Brady how good the Jets are at putting pressure on the quarterback. The biggest challenge for the Jets is actually getting Roethlisberger to the ground.
Like his nickname would suggest, the Steelers quarterback is big, strong and has the ability to shake off a hit to keep a play alive.
Intangibles: If there is one thing about the Steelers that Ryan has the utmost respect for it is James Harrison and the defence. Unlike their meeting in Week 15, the Steelers defence will have Troy Polamalu in the line-up.
The Jets pride themselves on their Ground & Pound running game while the Steelers have the best run defence in the NFL. The Jets use the running game to wear down opposing defences and open up the passing game for Mark Sanchez. While Mark Sanchez was able to make key throws last week to Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery; it all starts with the running game.
The Steelers running game doesn’t have a catchy nickname, but they do have a player who has scored six touchdowns in his last four games, Rashard Mendenhall.
Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis’s take:
In 2009, the Bengals swept their season series with the Steelers. In 2010, the Bengals lost both of their games to the Steelers. In Week 12, the Jets beat the Bengals 26-10. This is what Coach Lewis thinks makes both teams so tough to play against:
Steelers: "Their quarterback play just stands out. That’s what hits you first. And they’re very low on (offensive) turnovers and very good on red-zone defense, both of which give you opportunities to be successful."
Jets: "Their defense can make the big play on you and turn a game around. And like the Steelers, they don’t give the ball away very often."
Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s take:
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If not for a dropped pass in the end zone by Steve Johnson, Fitzpatrick and the Bills would have beaten the Steelers back in Week 12. The Bills didn’t fare quite as well in their two games with the Jets. Fitzpatrick, a Harvard grad, has a unique perspective of both teams:
Steelers: "Their physical front seven makes it extremely difficult to run the ball against them. Their linebackers are able to both drop into coverage and rush the passer effectively. Troy Polamalu is the best defender in football because of his instincts and timely play-making ability."
Jets: "The Jets often rely on the overload blitzes to get to the quarterback or make him throw the ball before he wants to. They are tough to game plan for because they are so multiple in what they do.
When you play the Jets you know you're going to see a defense that is going to come after you with blitzes and a defense that is going to play a lot of man to man coverage as well."
Who wins?
When I visited the Jets training camp, Ryan made it very clear that he truly believed the Jets would be Super Bowl champions this year. Everyone scoffed at his bravado and mocked his team’s chances.
In the last two weeks, the Jets went on the road and beat Peyton Manning and the Colts and then Tom Brady and the Patriots. Now they are a win away from the Super Bowl. New York also has a coach who doesn’t get enough respect for his ability to scheme a defence.
Roethlisberger’s Steelers will do what they always do in the playoffs: Keep battling until the bitter end. The Steelers defence will keep the score close but the Jets have a better offensive line than the Steelers and they have a better corps of receivers.
The Jets will find a way to overcome everything the Steelers will throw at them to win the game and make their first trip to the Super Bowl in 42 years.
Clubber’s final prediction: Jets 24 - Steelers 20
