Chicago.com
The “Big Game” is finally here and as a Bears fan it just doesn’t seem to be as big as it could have been had a certain team from the Windy City made it. No, I’m not going to dwell on the Bears game and the way season ended. Am I still a bit bitter? Perhaps, but it’s time to give credit to the two teams in the Superbowl: Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. They made it to the final game in impressive fashions and it should make for an entertaining game on Sunday at Dallas’ Cowboys Stadium.
The draw of the game is everywhere, from two of NFL’s most respected and storied franchises to the individuals playing in it: Roethlisberger, Rodgers, Harrison, Matthews, Polamalu and Woodson among others. The star power names will be displayed all over the field on Sunday both offensively and defensively for both squads. 
It will be the aerial assault of Rodgers and the Packers against the NFL’s stingiest defense, led by the defensive player of the year Troy Polamalu. Polamalu just beat out the Packers’ Clay Matthews for the award despite missing two games, yet he was still tied for second in the league with seven interceptions. On the other side it will be Big Ben and his elusive ways against the Packers D, ranked second in the league at points allowed only trailing the aforementioned Steelers.
Who has the edge? That is the one million dollar question.
On paper it’s the Packers because of their explosive passing game and the fact that both defenses are pretty similar in everything they do. The passing attack and the ability of Rodgers to spread the ball around in the 4-5 wide receiver sets is what has gotten the Packers thus far. Atlanta couldn’t handle Rodgers as he shredded the Falcons defense for 366 yards and four scores. The Bears did a better job, in particular in the second half but at the beginning of the game Rodgers went through Chicago’s vaunted defense like it was Swiss cheese. The Bears adjusted in the second half and held Rodgers scoreless while intercepting him twice, something the Steelers have certainly studied over these past two weeks.
The Steelers defense is better than the Bears defense, statistically and in terms of personnel, and come Sunday they have to show that to everyone but most importantly to the Packers. They can’t fall behind early the way the Bears did. Packers’ defense is too good to allow a comeback from 14 points and Green Bay’s offense won’t allow them to catch up.
Big Ben, however, has weapons at his disposal that Jay Cutler doesn’t have and he knows how to use it too, but Green Bay has had two weeks to prepare for the Steelers offense and that’s got to count for something too. Dom Capers is one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history, and one would think that he has some tricks up his sleeve for Big Ben, Rashard Mendenhall the rest of the Steelers offense.
So many times people have written off the Steelers and Big Ben because of how Ben just sort of lumbers around on the field and makes something out of nothing. It’s not always the most attractive way to win the game but that is one thing that Big Ben has done in his career: he’s won way more than he’s lost. If he wins tomorrow he will tie the likes of Tom Brady and Troy Aikman with three Superbowl rings, and those are Hall of Fame credentials regardless what one thinks of Roethlisberger’s off the field choices.
As for Rodgers, well, he has become one of the faces of the league whether he wants to be or not. His talent and his play on the field are quickly putting him into the same class with the other top QB’s – Brady, Manning (Peyton) and Brees. For two years now Rodgers has put up gaudy numbers and he is getting better while still learning on the job. 
He is considered a legitimate MVP candidate this year (although Brady ran away with the award early on) and should be so for some time to come. His behavior off the field is exemplary in the least and his manners on the field extremely respectful. Rodgers appears to be a good guy on and off the field, something every team hopes to get from the face of its organization.
The key to the game is Pittsburgh’s big play ability with Mike Wallace in the passing game along with the bruising running style of Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers run it hard and often, they did so with efficiency against a very good Jets defense and I believe that their success on the ground will play a huge role in keeping the Packers defense off balance. Rodgers and the Pack will get their points, even though the Steelers defense is great.
The real question is can they run the football against NFL’s toughest run defense? I think not and that is the reason why I believe that the Steel Curtain will celebrate tomorrow night in Dallas. I am not bitter that the Packers beat the Bears, the better team won on that day and is deservingly so in the Superbowl. In my opinion the Steelers entire team (offense, defense and special teams) is slightly better than Green Bay’s. It would not surprise me at all if the Pack came out victorious and it would certainly be well deserved.
Either way those who don’t have a rooting interest in the game can always root for entertaining commercials.
That’s something we can all collectively cheer for.
PREDICTION: Steelers 27 – Packers 21
Chicago Bears against Green Bay Packers is NFL’s oldest rivalry and might just be the best the NFL has to offer. The teams have met 181 times, an astounding number for sure, but only once in the postseason. That matchup happened seven days after the attacks on Pearl Harbor and in that game the Bears prevailed 33-14. This game is bigger and better than any other game in Bears and Packers history. Why? Because you can eliminate your mortal enemy one step away from the Super Bowl, because you can make this one hurt forever and even if they were to meet again at the same stage it wouldn’t be the same. It just wouldn’t. It’s all about 2 p.m. on Sunday and about beating the Packers.
The field will be frozen, the crowd, however, ought to be louder than ever before. There is no excuse if it isn’t. None. People have been to “cold” games before, so the conditions shouldn’t be a factor whatsoever in that regard. There is no reason why the crowd shouldn’t be in a frenzy before the game, during the singing of the national anthem and hopefully throughout the game as well. The team needs this kind of support as it embarks on the most important game in the history of the franchise. The team needs it to overcome a better than good Green Bay team and it’s “can’t miss a receiver right now” stud quarterback. 
Standing across the Bears will be a Green Bay team peaking at the right time and if the Bears are going to win this game it will take all four facets of the game: offense, defense, special teams and the Soldier Field crowd. Jay Cutler and Lovie Smith will hopefully take care of the first three but the good people of Illinois need to step up and deliver the fourth.
As for what will happen in the game, there are several keys that should determine the outcome. One of the keys should be stopping Green Bay’s new found ground game – James Starks. Starks had a great game against the Eagles but did not come up as big in Atlanta as Aaron Rodgers took over and picked apart the Falcons. Starks did, however, carry the ball 25 times even if only for 66 yards. What that does tell me is that they are committed to the running game even if it’s not working like they would want it to. The Bears must stop Starks to have a chance in this game. Making Aaron Rodgers and the Packers one dimensional will go a long way in stopping Green Bay’s well oiled machine, something the Bears have already done twice this year.
Aaron Rodgers will get his numbers. That’s a fact. He is too good of a quarterback and he is playing at too high of a level right now to be completely stopped. That being said though, it is possible to limit his big play ability. The Bears did that in the last game of the season for majority of the game, the only blunder being a huge completion to Greg Jennings down the right side of the field. Other than that play, the Bears did a fantastic job containing Rodgers and his explosive receivers. The Bears need to stay in their gaps and tackle well; they need to trust the defensive scheme. It’s gotten them this far and it will get them to the Super Bowl as long they execute the game plan.
On the Bears side of the football it isn’t all up to Jay Cutler to take the Bears to Dallas. Matt Forte needs to have a better game than James Starks and enable Cutler and Mike Martz to effectively use play-action. Forte has been really good in the 2nd half of the season as well as the playoff game against the Seahawks. Forte rushed for 80 yards and caught additional 54 yard proving yet again how versatile he has become to the Bears offense. In my opinion if Matt Forte runs the football effectively the Bears will win the game. Cutler needs to protect the ball, like he has in the past couple of games but he can’t play too cautious. He is at his best when he plays freely and exudes confidence, something everyone could see in the win against the Seahawks. Jay needs to take what the defense gives him and occasionally take 
his shots down the field. Whether Mike Martz designs the right game plan remains to be seen, he certainly has done so as of late.
The wild card remains Devin Hester. NFL’s most elusive return man ever took one back against Green Bay in the first matchup and almost had a couple more in the regular season finale at Green Bay. The Packers will most likely kick it to him, albeit directionally trying to pin him in the corners of the field. They succeeded in Week 17 but one little mistake will result in another Devin Hester gallop towards the Hall of Fame and Dallas, respectively. Hester could prove to be the reason why the Bears go to the Super Bowl and here is to hoping that the Packers decide to punt to him every single time.
I think the Packers have the edge offensively at the quarterback position. The Bears have the better special teams while the defenses should cancel each other out. The difference to me is the running game. The Bears have the edge in that department and that should, in my opinion, be the difference between the two teams. I know that Aaron Rodger is playing out of his mind. I know that the Packers defense is phenomenal. I know all that. I simply believe that the Bears will find a way to squeak this one out. It’s just a gut feeling. I just hope that I can review the game on Monday and talk about the Super Bowl instead of a long offseason. Hope – it’s the only thing that we can all rely on until the ball is kicked off on Sunday.
Bear down Chicago.
PREDICTION: Bears 24 – Packers 20
Finally it is here. The game that the whole Chicago has been waiting for is here. The Bears welcome the Seahawks in the “least attractive game of the weekend”, according to many experts. That, however has no bearing how important this game is to Bears fans. The Bears will attempt to avenge the loss in Week 6 and if they do so will host the NFC Championship next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Pittsburgh and Green Bay posted impressive victories last night and are awaiting today to see who they will face next week in the championship games. Steelers overcame a 14 point deficit against the Ravens while Aaron Rodgers went to Georgia Dome and destroyed NFC’s top seed Falcons.
Here is a preview of today’s games:
Seahawks @ Bears – on FOX @ noon
It’s the rematch of the Week 6 game where the Seahawks came in and won 23-20. In that game Jay Cutler was sacked 6 times while Matt Hasselbeck didn’t get sacked at all and only got hit once. That right there needs to change for the Bears today. Hasselbeck needs to be pressured and at the same time Jay Cutler needs to be protected better.
Bears’ best defensive player, Julius Peppers, was shut down completely in the Week 6 loss by the talented rookie left tackle Russell Okung. The sixth overall pick has been very good all year but his best performance of the year came without a doubt in that game against the Bears. His performance today will be crucial in determining the outcome of the game.
As for the Bears it always starts and ends with Jay Cutler. When Jay plays well the Bears are a very scary team. When he is off his game and throwing off his back foot, the Bears are very beatable. Yes the defense is very good and the special teams are the best in the league but it’s the offense that sways the pendulum one way or another. If Jay is careful with the football and doesn’t turn it over the Bears should win this game. The Bears are the more talented team in this matchup and if both teams play up to their ability the Bears should come out a winner.
Chicago has to be able to stop the Seahawks running game of Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. If they can do that and make Hasselbeck HAVE TO beat them through the air, this should bode well for the Bears. Another key is Matt Forte who didn’t do anything in the first game between the teams. Forte has been very good as of late and I believe he will show up today.
In my opinion the Bears will find a way to get to Hasselbeck and Matt Forte will rush the ball way better than he did in the first meeting. The Seahawks will get burned if they do decide to kick the ball to Devin Hester. All of these factors amount to a Bears victory however, in a closer game than the people think.
PREDICTION: Bears 27 – Seahawks 20
Jets @ Patriots – on CBS @ 3:30
The trash talking is finally over and teams can take their anger to the field after a long week in front of the cameras. The Jets are hoping to be better prepared this time around as they are still licking their wound from the 45-3 beatdown they received in Week 13. The teams have been jabbing at each other long enough now and at last it’s going to be determined on the field who trully is the real bully of the AFC East.
For the Pats the game plan is pretty simple: Tom Brady throws the short routes while they mix in some runs and deep plays. 
The Pats have the best turnover ratio in the NFL at +28, the best ratio in the league since the 1983 Washington Redskins and they will hope it continues today against the blitz happy Jets defense.
For the Jets, the key is to run the football effectively and take the pressure off Mark Sanchez while at the same time keeping Tom Brady and the Patriots offense off the field. They did this successfully last week in their win against the Colts and there is no doubt that they should follow the same gameplan this week.
Antonio Cromartie talked all week how much he hated Brady and one has to wonder whether Brady and Belichick will target Cromartie, whilst at the same time avoiding Darrelle Revis. Cromartie said he hopes that Brady will throw his way and I have feeling that this will happen over and over throughout the game.
If Brady can be pressured by the Jets defense the game will be close or even won by the Jets, especially if they can run it successfully and keep Brady off the field. If, however, Brady has all day to throw the ball and the Jets are unable to run the ball it might be a long game for Rex Ryan and his trash-talking team.
I think that Brady and Belichick prevail in the end and with the added motivation of the war of words they will not let this one slip away.
PREDICTION: Patriots 34 – Jets 24
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