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The weekend is almost here and last week's playoff game has been dissected to the point where I don't think there is anything left of that corpse. The real NFL news over the next 48 hours will now be the two upcoming games this weekend, so I'm going to go ahead and start threads on each of those games now.
#6 Green Bay Packers (12-6) at #2 Chicago Bears (12-5)
Sunday January 23 at 3:00 p.m. EST on FOX
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will announce the game on TV
Mike Periera, Pam Oliver and Chris Myers will also report
Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross and Mark Malone will do the radio broadcast
Green Bay opened at -3 and is currently favored by 3½ points most places
Over under started at 42½ and now ranges from 43 to 44 points
The Money Line ranges from Green Bay -185 to -205; Chicago +165 to +175
Edit: Final tally of poll on front page of this site:
82% believe the Packers will win; 18% believe the Bears will win
Final score: Packers 21, Bears 14
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Aaron Rodgers is the hottest quarterback in the NFL right now. Overall, the Packers' offense has been explosive. The Bears have the right concepts on defense to slow down the Packers. The Bears cornerbacks might jam the Packers receivers to disrupt the timing in their routes. When the Packers receivers catch the ball, can the Bears limit their yardage after the catch? This will be critical. How will the Bears limit the Packers' deep passing game? Will they stay in a two-deep defense? Can Packers tackles Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga block Bears defensive ends Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije? Finally, Rodgers is dangerous outside the pocket. Will the Bears be able to keep him contained?
Green Bay defense vs. Chicago offense
The Bears have committed to the run since the bye to become a more balanced offense. The Packers like to play nickel defense even on first down. This will invite the Bears to run the ball. Can they do that against the Packers' nickel defense? Will they try in the first place? The Packers have a pressure defense. They will certainly bring pressure on Jay Cutler. They will also fake the pressure. How will Cutler and the Bears offensive line handle this?
“I’m big on the Packers. I think they’re the best team left in the postseason and I think they have the best quarterback left in the postseason. I think they’ve got the best defensive players left in the postseason in Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams, Charles Woodson. I just think they’re loaded.”
Aaron Rodgers is unquestionably playing quarterback at the highest level possible. His arm, accuracy, athleticism and attitude are all off the charts. He doesn't seem like he misses anything, and when something goes awry, it's seems to be on his receivers and backs.
He knows exactly what he'll get in the Bears' cover-2 zone scheme. They'll rely on their front four, led by Julius Peppers and Tommie Harris, to bring some heat on Rodgers.
In coverage, they'll rely on their gaggle of speedy defensive backs to come up and make tackles quickly before the chains are moved.
Rodgers studies enough and has enough film evidence to the point he can easily get the ball out for the big chunks of yards he will be given. Adding to Chicago's problem is the talent of the Green Bay receiving corps across the board. Somewhere, there will be a mismatch or favorable checkdown of which Rodgers can take advantage.
As for Jay Cutler, he was by far the most sacked quarterback (52) in the league this season. The Bears have made some adjustments -- being more dedicated to the run, changing up their protection scheme -- to help better keep Cutler upright and confident to sling the ball all over the field. But their offensive line still is a weak link for a division-winning team and must contend with a strong front three and a disruptive Clay Matthews on top of well-timed blitzes from the secondary.
The Bears had some breaks go their way to win the NFC North, including several injuries that hampered the Packers early. Green Bay is the better team, and that will show up on Sunday. The pick: Packers 27, Bears 17.
Aaron Rodgers and the GB Defense have been awesome and those games on the road against Philly and Atlanta were very impressive...HOWEVER this is a game against thier biggest rivals and quite possibly the best rivalry in NFL history...definately the longest one.
I distinctly remember about 4 years ago to this day when everyone was already proclaiming a Colts-Saints Super Bowl (which of course actually happened years later) but the Bears defense laid a pounding on Brees and Company only to lose to the Colts a week later....and that was with Rex Grossman at the helm
Jay Cutler is a QB that could look like Joe Montana one week and Bubby Brister the next week.
I think this is the week Cutler looks good and because I seriously doubt that two #6 seeds make it to the Super Bowl together and since I feel strongly that the Jets will be in Dallas then I must go with the hometown Bears to shock the prognoticators.
BEARS 24 PACKERS 21
Last edited by PATRIOTSFANINPA; 01-21-2011 at 12:59 PM..
The Bears are getting a shocking amount of disrespect going into this game. I mean let's ignore the fact that they beat the Packers once this year and the last week of the season when they had nothing to play for and Green Bay was playing for their lives they held them to 10 point, at Lambeau. These teams know each other well and I think the Bears might just take this one.
The Bears are getting a shocking amount of disrespect going into this game. I mean let's ignore the fact that they beat the Packers once this year and the last week of the season when they had nothing to play for and Green Bay was playing for their lives they held them to 10 point, at Lambeau. These teams know each other well and I think the Bears might just take this one.
Green Bay has probably the best set of wide receivers in the NFL..
How do you figure the Bears offense is equal?...I would think they are not even in the top 10 IMO
That being said,I still think the Bears win...Green Bay may be running out of gas,especially against a division rival at their place that they know oh so well - The Bears have won with defense and they will here.
Last edited by PATRIOTSFANINPA; 01-21-2011 at 01:36 PM..
DT Tommie Harris couldn't have picked a better time to resurface as a pass-rush threat. On Sunday vs. Seattle, he recorded two sacks. In the regular-season finale at Green Bay, he had a sack after going the first 15 games with half a sack. A push of some sort from the middle will be critical in the NFC championship game because of the reliance of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on three- and five-step drops on timing passes. Getting outside the pocket already will be difficult against DEs Julius Peppers (eight sacks) and Israel Idonije (eight sacks).
Harris needs the strong finish personally because his disappointing start to the season will be a reason for management to think about his future in Chicago. He is scheduled to get a $2.5 million roster bonus in the spring and clearly hasn't been the same productive player since his hamstring tear and knee problems of 2006-07. The Bears don't have a dominant 3-technique tackle to replace him, although Matt Toeaina has been a pleasant surprise. ...
The Packers targeted CB Tim Jennings 11 times in Week 17 and didn't really hit for the big strike, although they had receivers streaking open twice and Rodgers failed to connect. Rodgers likely will attack Jennings again Sunday afternoon. In Week 17, it wasn't Jennings but backup CB Zack Bowman who got burned for the 46-yarder that set up the game's only TD in the fourth quarter. Bears coaches still prefer to rotate cornerbacks to keep them fresh, just as they do safeties and defensive linemen.
Green Bay Packers
The poor field conditions at Soldier Field could slow the Packers' offense, which is on a roll. There's little question QB Aaron Rodgers and his receivers love to play indoors—their statistics in dome games are considerably better—but they'll have to deal with a sloppy turf Sunday. Rodgers should be OK if the temperatures are freezing cold because he has big hands and a strong grip.
His receivers, however, have been dropping more balls than usual outside, so coach Mike McCarthy will have to be prepared to run the ball. That means giving RB James Starks more touches. The rookie has good size and wiry-strong body, but he cuts a lot and it's questionable whether he'll be able to hit holes like he has on better field conditions. ...
Defensive coordinator Dom Capers is sure to blitz Bears QB Jay Cutler often Sunday. He did it in Week 17 and knows Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz occasionally will leave his QB unprotected. The big question is whether Capers can time those blitzes with the times Martz calls for long-developing pass routes. Martz has done a good job of leaving a "hot" receiver available for Cutler, and Capers must figure out how to handle that. ...
The Packers' run defense did a fine job against Falcons RB Michael Turner but will have its hands full vs. Bears RB Matt Forte. Backs who can run and catch give the Packers problems. If Forte is finding holes, Cutler will be better able to use his big arm to hit deep-in routes.
NFC Championship Game: Packers at Bears
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