NFL Championship Game Previews and Predictions

Later today the NFL will showcase its best four teams, as the fight against each other for a chance to take home the Lombardi Trophy. This years match ups are intriguing as they include one of the oldest and most hated rivalries, as well as a game between one of the most successful franchises versus one of the original glory franchises. The NFC bout will be played at Chicago as the Bears play host to their longtime rival Green Bay Packers. The AFC match is an intriguing one that pits two of the strongest defenses in the league, as the New York Jets take trip over to Pittsburgh, where Big Ben is looking to go to his third Super Bowl in only seven years. Previews and predictions to these two match ups are as follows:

GB @ Chi (+3)

Preview: The oldest rivalry in the National Football League will write another memorable chapter, this time for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 45. The   Green Bay Packers will  strap up for another grudge match in the NFC Championship Game, as they travel to Soldier Field to face Chicago Bears.   Most people are still lively about the performance that quarterback   Aaron Rodgers  and the Packers put together in the Divisional round last Saturday, crushing top-seeded Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. Except for an early fumble, the Packers dominated the Falcons defense with nearly 500 yards of total offense and zero punts en route to the 27-point victory on the road. The Bears did almost just as well, putting together an equally impressive performance against Seattle in their Divisional round game Sunday, winning 35-24. The Seahawks scored a couple of late touchdowns to make the final score look a lot closer than the game actually was on the field, as quarterback   Jay Cutler  and the Bears ran out to an early lead, and never looked back.

Everyone and their brother saw what the Packers offense and Rodgers are capable of during the beat down last week against Atlanta. This will not be easy for Rodgers and the Packers to duplicate, as the Bears defense will provide much more of a challenge. The key for the Packers offense will once again be the running game, as Green Bay must find a way to get James Starks and Brandon Jackson room to run in order to get the Bears defense off balanced. They also need the run to keep linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs honest on the run fakes, allowing Green Bay’s receivers to get behind them in the middle of the field.

Although the Bears scored 35 points last week, they will need to step up their game against an opportunistic Green Bay secondary. Seattle dropped several potential Cutler interceptions, including a huge one on their own goal line in a 7-0 game. That could have changed the whole outcome of the game, as the Bears scored a few plays later to go up 14-0 and Seattle never recovered. Another interesting angle between the Bears offense and the Packers defense will be along the line of scrimmage. Cutler was pounded by the Packers pass rush in both games this season as the Packers collected nine sacks in the two previous meetings. If the Bears cannot protect Cutler he will be forced to throw early and into tight windows, and the Packers secondary will jump on these occasions.

Prediction: GB 20 Chi 21

I believe that Cutler and company will surprise many people and beat the Green Bay Packers and move on to Super Bowl 45. The Green Bay Packers may be the better and hotter team, but Brian Urlacher and the Bears defense are playing some inspirational football. I think this combined with key special teams play will help lead the Bears to victory, as I expect a close game, maybe coming down to a key return touchdown, either by the explosive Devin Hester or one by the defense.

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 NYJ @ PITT (-4)

Preview: The road to Super Bowl 45 that everyone thought would go through New England will instead be played tonight at Pittsburgh, as the   New York Jets  hit the road one more time for showdown with the   Pittsburgh Steelers  in the AFC Championship game Sunday on CBS.

The Jets and their head coach Rex Ryan talked all week about defeating the Patriots as nobody gave them any sort of chance. Then last weekend they came out and backed up their words as they pulled out a remarkable 28-21 upset of the top-seeded New England Patriots. Quarterback   Mark Sanchez  threw for three scores and protected the ball, and the Jets defense beat up a scared looking Tom Brady, as Patriots offense could not get into any type of rhythm.

Pittsburgh defeated the Baltimore Ravens in their rubber match game last Saturday as they barely escaped with a 31-24 victory. The Steelers went down early, but a raucous crowed at Heinz field helped fuel the Steelers to a 24-to-3-point second-half. The Steelers now get another chance to play at home as they play a Jets team that certainly won’t be intimidated by having to play at Pittsburgh. The Jets have gotten the job done on the road thus far in the playoffs by beating Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in back to back weeks and look to beat their third consecutive Super Bowl winning quarterback. The Jets are familiar to this tough road game situation as they have already beaten the Steelers, 22-17, in week 15 of the regular season.

The Steelers are a little bit more of a threat for the big play with   Ben Roethlisberger  and his deep threat Mike Wallace able to strike so quickly. Big Ben also has Heath Miller and veteran Hines Ward at his disposal to hit on quick over the middle routes that will help move them up the field. The Jets are probably the only team in the league able to negate most passing threats as the corner tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie will continue to lock down receivers. The Steelers would love to lean on running back Rashard Mendenhall more this week as he gained 99 yards rushing against the Jets in their week 15 match up. If Mendenhall can keep pounding away at the Jets on the ground, the big plays generally follow for Big Ben.

The Jets offense will be facing its toughest test in the playoffs against a Steelers defensive line just doesn’t allow teams to run the ball against them. Sanchez and his ability to pick up blitzes at the line of scrimmage will determine whether or not the Jets will convert enough third-downs to keep the Jets defense fresh and off the field. If the Jets can keep Sanchez clean and not on his back for most of the day than the Jets have a great chance of knocking off the Steelers.

Prediction: NYJ 10 Pitt 20

The New York Jets have been a wild ride all season long and I think its time for the story to end. The Steelers defense is just too stout and experienced to allow the Jets offense to get anything moving, and I believe Pittsburgh will run away with the game. If the Jets can get a few good bounces on special teams, and force turnovers by Big Ben, than New York may have a different say in the outcome. Other than that I just do not see the Jets being able to get up mentally to defeat the Steelers after their unbelievable win in New England.

By Jason Stein
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer