Chicago.com
Anyone in the mood for some playoff football this weekend? There are four mouth-watering matchups on the slate this weekend in what promises to be fantastic two days of NFL playoff action. Of course we are all interested in the Bears game tomorrow but the other three games should be just as much fun, if not more for some. Whether one is in the mood for an old-school game featuring the Ravens and the Steelers or a duel of high rising quarterbacks in Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, Saturday’s lineup has both of those.
Sunday’s games feature Bears vs. Seahawks and Jets traveling to New England looking to avenge their 45-3 loss to the Pats in Week 13. After all the trash talking this week between the two teams, it’s going to be very interesting how both teams approach the game come kickoff time.
Here is a preview of the two Saturday games:
Ravens @ Steelers – on CBS @ 3:30
For my money this is the best rivalry in the NFL and it’s only going to get better Saturday. Ravens have been chirping the whole week about how much they hate the Steelers and how bad they want to knock them out of the playoffs. Steelers have remained pretty quiet during the week and have said that they will let their actions do the talking. Regardless of who one roots for, if anyone, this is a must watch game for any NFL fan.
The Ravens’ confidence is at an all time high following an impressive victory at Arrowhead Stadium over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens ran the ball well, Joe Flacco passed with accuracy and the always stout Ravens defense harassed Matt Cassel into numerous turnovers in what turned out to be a rather easy victory.
This game should be different, however, since they are facing one of NFL’s top defenses. Steelers are No.1 against the run and have yet to allow Ray Rice to score against them in six previous meetings. I don’t see that changing much today unless the Ravens get the ball around Pittsburgh’s 10-yard line.
In my opinion the keys to the game are the turnovers and the play of special teams. Everyone assumes that the punters will get their share of work today and I think that the punt/kick returners will determine a lot in the final outcome of the game. The two quarterbacks will be vital as is always the case and whoever deals with the blitzing better while avoiding turnovers should make the big plays of the game.
I expect this to be an extremely hard fought game and a defensive battle at that. Both teams are highly motivated and should bring it all come game time.
Playing at home and having had the rest last week, I think that the Steelers will edge out the Ravens by a field goal.
PREDICTION: Steelers 20 – Ravens 17
Packers @ Falcons – FOX @ 7:00
If you want to see two good, young quarterbacks then this is the game for you, as Matty “Ice” Ryan takes on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. It’s Atlanta’s home field advantage against Green Bay’s Top 5 defense in a game that will hopefully determine what the Bears can expect next week. If Atlanta wins the Bears will have to travel to the Georgia Dome and if the Pack pulls it out then they will come to Soldier Field for a showdown 70 years in the making. Of course all these scenarios are predicated on the fact that the Bears are able to beat the Seahawks tomorrow. That still remains to be seen.
As for the Falcons – Packers game, this game should be close as well. The Falcons are extremely hard to beat at home and Green Bay is playing incredible football right now. The Falcons crowd should play a huge role in the game while Green Bay is hoping that James Starks will continue to provide the team with an unlikely surge in the running game, something it has been missing for the majority of the season.
The keys to the game are simple: How will Atlanta’s O-line protect Matt Ryan against Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson and at the same time how will the Green Bay defense neutralize Michael Turner and make the Falcons one dimensional? Whichever unit gets to accomplish one of these will help in determining the winner.
Matt Ryan has a 20-2 record inside the Georgia Dome in his career but showed some signs of weakness in the Monday Night game against New Orleans. That was a huge game at the time and Ryan wasn’t his usual cool self, something he can’t afford to do against the Packers. I believe he will have a good game but I believe that his counter part – Rodgers will be just a little bit better.
I like Green Bay’s defense better and I also believe that Rodgers will play better than Ryan, thus resulting in a Green Bay victory.
PREDICTION: Packers 31 – Falcons 24
Chicago is a world famous city for a variety of things. People from all over the world know about Chicago. In Europe, people always associate Chicago with Michael Jordan and Al Capone, at least in countries I’ve lived in. Yes, I understand it is very predictable and superficial to be associated to a sports icon and gangster of all gangsters but such are the facts. Sure here in the States we are known as the “Windy City” and a town with a great skyline and even better food, but across the world people don’t know about these things. Jordan, Capone and now Obama are the first things that people associate with our city and quite frankly there could be worse things to be associated with.
In summertime there is no better city to live in than Chicago and there aren’t many people that would argue against that statement. There are so many different activities to choose from, whether on Lake Michigan or in many of our trendy neighborhoods, there is always something to do.
In wintertime, however, the options become somewhat limited. Chicago winters are so cold that even the biggest of outdoor enthusiasts sometimes want to curl up on a couch and avoid the awful temperatures. Those who do dare to get outside and look for things to do usually end up going to shows and performances, both of which there are many in our wonderful city.
Museums are another great way to spend a day inside and get ones self educated on a variety of different things. While all the museums charge a fee to their fantastic exhibits, almost all of them have specific days when they offer free entrance. These free days are available throughout the year and every single museum has them at one point or another.
Here at Chicago.com we have compiled a list of 8 major ones and the days when these free days are featured. In today’s economy people are looking for deals constantly and Free Days at variety of Chicago museums has been a fan favorite for a number of years, especially among students throughout the city and the suburbs.
Adler Planetarium:
The museum has not yet announced when it will have its free days for 2011 but they have said on the site that it will be updated soon. Click here for the updated info.
The Art Institute of Chicago:
From January 3rd through February 4th, the museum is offering free admission, every weekday, all day long (late evenings included).
For more info please click here.
Brookfield Zoo:
Tuesdays and Thursdays are currently FREE days for zoo general admission. While admission is free on these days, normal internal attraction fees still apply for different attractions. Those who arrive after 4:00 p.m. on Free Days, regular admission rates still apply for Holiday Magic exhibit.
For more information please visit the Brookfield Zoo website.
Chicago Children’s Museum:
Free Thursday evenings 5-8 p.m.
First Sunday of every month is free admission for ages 15 and under.
Chicago History Museum:
The Museum is free on Mondays.
The Field Museum:
The Field Museum is offering 52 days a year when basic admission is free. The Field Museum offers Target Free Second Mondays, where Target’s sponsorship is making it possible for The Field Museum to offer free basic admission on the second Monday of each month.
2011 Target Free Second Monday dates are:
January 10th
February 14th
March 14th
Target Free Second Monday hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Other regularly scheduled free basic admission days at least in wintertime are:
January: 3rd, 11th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 26th, 31st,
February: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 17th,
April: 11th
Museum of Science and Industry:
General admission is free on the following dates at MSI but it does not include admission into any of the MSI’s specific exhibits:
January: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 31st
February: 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 22nd
Shedd Aquarium:
During Community Discount Days, admission to the aquarium’s original galleries is free. This includes the Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, and the Caribbean Reef. Packages including Wild Reef, Polar Play Zone and Abbott Oceanarium are available at a discounted rate. Shedd’s 52 discount days a year take advantage of civic and school holidays to make family visits more convenient.
Upcoming Monday and Tuesday Community Discount Days in 2011 are:
January: 10th, 11th, 24th, 25th, 31st
February: 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 28th
With all this information at hand the time is now to go out and visit one of our great museums.
Two games down and two to go in the first round of the NFL playoffs and after yesterday’s somewhat surprising results one has to wonder how today’s games will turn out. There is no way to hide what happens yesterday: I predicted both games wrong but in my defense how many so-called experts honestly expected the Seahawks to put up 41 points against the defending champs? Not many, that for sure. In the second game, Rex Ryan and his Jets finally got the best of Peyton Manning as the Jets came out in the second half and ran the ball right down Indy’s throat. They did what everyone wants to do against the Colts – run the ball and keep Manning off the field. Congrats to the Jets and the Seahawks.
Here is a preview of today’s games:
Ravens @ Chiefs – noon on CBS
This should be an exciting matchup as Kansas City’s top rushing attack will challenge Baltimore’s mean defense all game long. Who gets the best of who in this matchup will obviously go a long way in determining which team advances to play at Pittsburgh next week.
The Ravens defense must minimize the big play of Kansas City, not only because it will cost them on the scoreboard but because they want to keep the crowd out of it. Arrowhead has always been known as one of the most hostile environments in the NFL. Along with its defense Baltimore will need Ray Rice and the running game to show up and slow down the Chiefs blitzing schemes, as well as quiet the crowd. Joe Flacco is good enough to win the game with his arm but will need Ray Rice to pick up the slack.
As for the Chiefs it all starts and ends with their running attack and their great duo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. The duo has combined for over 2,300 yards, most in Chiefs history and will need to be at its best to beat Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense. The thing that makes the Chiefs very difficult to defend is the passing threat of Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe. Cassel has been tremendous all year long and Bowe has turned into an elite receiver this year as he led all receivers with 15 touchdowns, three more than any other receiver in the league.
I expect this to be a very close game and in the end the big play ability of Kansas City’s offense, running and passing, to be a difference. It think that either Bowe or Charles will come up big at some point and lead the Chiefs to a victory against the Ravens.
My prediction: Chiefs 24 – Ravens 21
Packers @ Eagles – 3:30 on FOX
This should be a feast for any NFL fan regardless who you’re rooting for. It’s Vick against the Packers defense and Aaron Rodgers’ aerial assault against Asante Samuel and the Philly defense.
Can the Packers defense stop Michael Vick, who has been sort of “figured out” in the last month or so? Will Aaron Rodgers be able to shred the Philly D like he did against the Giants in Week 16? How much will the Packers defense blitz Michael Vick knowing his big play ability outside of the pocket? Will the Packers defense be able to neutralize DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin? These are all fascinating things to be watching for come game time and will go a long way in determining a winner.
My main key of the game will actually be LeSean McCoy. The versatile running back is such a threat in the passing game that teams can not forget about him or he will burn them over and over again. I think that Vick will be under pressure a lot in this game and will need to check down to McCoy to neutralize the pressure. If the Packers can stop McCoy from converting those key third downs with his receiving ability the Packers should be in good shape.
I know the Packers don’t have a running game. I know Philly’ offense is very explosive. I will take the better defense out of the two to win the game and that is Green Bay’s. The have last year’s defensive MVP in Charles Woodson and most likely this year’s in Clay Matthews. They will get more stops than the Eagles D and that’s why I think they will be victorious.
My prediction: Packers 31 – Eagles 24
Bring on the Seahawks next week here at Soldier Field, if this scenario holds true.
At last it is playoff time in the NFL as eight teams begin their journey towards the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Chicago Bears are relaxing this weekend and waiting to see who they will host next Sunday at Soldier Field. It is already predetermined that the Bears will face either Saints, Seahawks or the Eagles. If Philadelphia wins tomorrow against Green Bay, the Bears will host Michael Vick and the Eagles next Sunday. If the Packers beat the Eagles tomorrow, the winner of the Saints – Seahawks game is coming to Chicago.
As a Bears fan the best case scenario would almost certainly be playing against the 7-9 Seahawks at Soldier Field. In my opinion playing against Saints or against the Eagles would be about the same as both teams present very difficult matchups. Seattle is the worst out of those three opponents, not just by the season record but also by talent and not a lot of people can argue with that.
Here now is a little preview of Saturday’s games:
Saints @ Seahawks – Sat. 3:30 on NBC
It’s the defending champs against the team that really shouldn’t even be in the playoffs, let alone be hosting a game with a 7-9 record. The Saints are coming in with major injuries and questions surrounding their running backs. Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory have already been placed on the injured reserve list and it’s down to Reggie Bush and former Seahawk Julius Jones to provide the running spark for New Orleans. The Saints defense is playing well as of late and Drew Brees should have all his passing options available for this game.
The Seahawks are happy to report that Matt Hasselbeck will be starting this game (already playing in the 1st quarter) and are hoping that the veteran quarterback and the noisy crowd will carry them to victory. 
Seattle’s Qwest Field is known as the loudest place in the NFL and it should be a big factor for this game. Seattle’s running game has been improved since the arrival of Marshawn Lynch, as he and Justin Forsett are a very formidable duo and should pose problems for the Saints defense.
Despite the home noise and the 12th man, I believe the Saints will come out on top in this game. To me there is simply too much talent on that Saints’ sideline for the Seahawks to be able to come out victorious in this one. The play-calling of Sean Payton and the execution of Drew Brees should be enough for the Saints to advance to the next round.
My prediction: Saints 31 – Seahawks 24
Jets @ Colts – Sat. 7 p.m. on NBC
It’s Peyton Manning vs. Rex Ryan’s blitzing defense. Need I say more? It’s a game that features arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all time against the team that talks more than any other team in NFL history. It’s a rematch of the AFC championship game from last year, where Manning and the Colts prevailed 30-17 ending the Jets’ surprising run.
Rex Ryan spoke all week long how this matchup against Manning is “personal” and how he wants to beat Manning more than anyone else. 
Manning, however, in his usual manner has refrained from any verbal jawing with the Jets coach and has instead focused on how to beat the Jets defense. Manning will be missing two of his favorite targets in Dallas Clark and Austin Collie. The Jets are a year wiser and have brought in Antonio Cromartie to help out Darrelle Revis and neutralize the Colts’ top two receiving options.
The Jets are very good at running the ball and the Colts are not good at stopping the run, although over the last four weeks of the regular season Indy’s run defense allowed only 79 yards a game. The Jets feel like they should be able to dominate the time clock with their running game, while the Colts are sure that they can stop the run.
In my opinion Peyton will do his thing, he will throw a couple of touchdowns and perhaps a pick here and there but that is not where the game will be won or lost. I believe that the game will be either won or lost by the Jets QB Mark Sanchez. If he plays well and minimizes the mistakes the Jets will come out victorious, however, if he turns the ball over and lets the crowd noise get to him then Peyton and the Colts will get the best of Rex Ryan once again.
My prediction: Colts 27 – Jets 24
Back again here on the Bulls Report with some thoughts, concerns and overall analysis of the Chicago Bulls and what’s happened to them over the past 10 days. There were some ups and some downs during that period but more than anything else we are learning what we can expect from the squad the rest of the way.
Since the last “Report” the Bulls went 5-2 and have a game going on at this time against the 76ers in Philadelphia. 
When I wrote the last time I said that the Bulls have a favorable stretch of eight games coming up and that I expected them to go 7-1 or 6-2. If they lose in Philly tonight the record would be 5-3 and that to me would be almost below par performance. I am not saying I’m not happy with a 5-3 record during that span, but in my opinion the only game in question during that stretch should have been the Christmas Day game at the New York Knicks. These are not the same old Knicks we’ve all watched over the last decade, these Knicks are good and they have a legitimate MVP candidate in A’mare Stoudemire. Everyone was rolling their eyes (myself included) when A’mare chose New York over several other “better” options this past offseason. People thought that he just went there for the money and not for the wins but he and his old Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni are proving everyone wrong in the Big Apple.
Following the tough loss in New York, the Bulls ran off five wins in a row, only to be stopped by an awful loss in New Jersey on Wednesday that resulted in a slight disagreement between head coach Tom Thibodeau and Carlos Boozer. 
Boozer was benched for the last 14 minutes of the game that the Bulls lost by two points, due to defensive deficiencies. What that actually means no one knows, as well as if this incident will break apart the great chemistry that the team has had all year long. Injuries have hampered this team enough already and the last thing the team needs is a locker-room issue. Boozer was missing for the first month of the season and just when you thought that the team was coming together nicely, Noah had to have thumb surgery and will miss another month and a half.
The schedule certainly gets tougher in the next couple of weeks. There are teams like Boston, Miami and Dallas on the schedule and without Noah even the most optimistic fans have to believe that the Bulls will lose 2 out of 3 there. There are still games against Detroit, Memphis and two against Charlotte within that stretch of games, so even if they lose against the top teams they must feast on the “lesser” opponents.
As the trading deadline approaches next month, the rumors surrounding a shooting guard will only intensify. 
Even though most Bulls fans are happy with the team as it is, the biggest problem still remains a solid shooting guard. Keith Bogans is a nice player and a good defensive option but he is simply not a starter, at least he shouldn’t be on the Bulls in my opinion. Ronnie Brewer should be starting at that spot and hopefully will in the near future. He gives the Bulls more athleticism, length and a bigger defensive presence than what Bogans is providing right now. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens on that front in the next couple of weeks, as names like O.J. Mayo and Courtney Lee will continue to surface again.
The Report will be back next week to review the last couple of games and look forward to the All-Star break and the trading deadline happenings.