With half of the conference championship teams determined, today’s two games will bring us to our final four in the crowning of a Super Bowl champion. Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears 8 a.m., FOX The day’s NFC matchup features two
With half of the conference championship teams determined, today’s two games will bring us to our final four in the crowning of a Super Bowl champion.
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
8 a.m., FOX
The day’s NFC matchup features two teams that very few football fans believed in for much of the year. Most probably still don’t believe in either of these teams, having seen them look awful at times during the regular season.
Seattle did the unthinkable last week and knocked off the defending champion New Orleans Saints as a double-digit underdog. It heads into Soldier Field today again getting at least 10 points from the favored Bears.
This is basically the Seahawks’ third straight week in the playoffs, playing their Week 17 game against the St. Louis Rams for the NFC West division crown. They came out with a 16-6 win in that one and got into the playoffs with a 7-9 record, the worst in NFL history.
They then put up 41 points last week and held on for the 41-36 win thanks to one of the greatest postseason runs in history from running back Marshawn Lynch. He seemed to run over every member of the Saints’ defense on his way to a 67-yard burst to paydirt in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was fantastic in that game, throwing for 272 yards and 4 TDs. He will face a different challenge today, as the Bears thrive on getting pressure from their front four, with All-Pro Julius Peppers leading the way from the defensive end spot.
Peppers and Israel Idonije each had 8.0 sacks and Peppers had nine passes defensed, two interceptions and three forced fumbles, proving his worth after signing a lucrative free-agent deal with Chicago this past offseason.
That type of physical presence up front will make life much less comfortable for Hasselbeck than last week. The Saints brought blitzes from different spots, which has not been a successful plan against the veteran QB for much of his career. He is adept at identifying hot receivers and getting the ball to the mismatch.
Now the Bears will likely be able to remain in a base defense and allow Brian Urlacher’s linebacking corps and the secondary behind it to play instinctively, rather than coming with creative blitz packages.
Chicago became a far better running team the second half of the season, getting Matt Forte more involved on the ground. The talented back has always been a strong weapon in the passing game, but has evened out the team’s attack with his legs.
Quarterback Jay Cutler is completely enigmatic. He makes some throws that are amazing because they appear impossible, then some that are amazing because they appear impossibly stupid. But he has toned down the gun-slinging a bit over the second part of the season, which resulted in far fewer turnovers and sacks. But any time playing against him, you have a chance to come up with some big defensive plays.
Seattle showed more heart last week than anticipated and appear unwilling to let this topsy-turvy season come to a close, just yet. If it can pull off another miracle, it will be hosting the NFC Championship game at Qwest Field next week against the Green Bay Packers.
However, Chicago should be able to annoy Hasselbeck with pressure while still keeping everyone covered. If he takes a couple big hits and Charlie Whitehurst is forced into duty, a distinct possibility, the Seahawks lose any chance to come away with the win.
THE PICK: BEARS 27, SEAHAWKS 10
New York Jets at New England Patriots
11:30 a.m., CBS
When these two get on the field, the trash talk back and forth might finally come to an end — though that’s doubtful.
The AFC East rivals will meet up for the third time this season, with the Jets handing the Pats one of just two losses they suffered all season in a 28-14 defeat way back in Week 2. New England is 13-1 since that game, including a 45-3 shellacking of the Jets in Week 13, which, at the time, appeared to end the Jets’ season.
Now they will tangle again with a spot in the AFC title game on the line.
New England has been so much better than the rest of the league this season that figuring out a way to beat the Pats basically includes forcing them to underestimate their competition. Their one defeat since the Jets was a 34-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns — a classic trap game situation the week before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They also sweated out a 31-27 win over the Packers while QB Aaron Rodgers was out with a concussion.
So they might take some opponents lightly if they feel they can.
That certainly won’t be the situation this week. Between comments from cornerback Antonio Cromartie, head coach Rex Ryan, past history with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the Patriots won’t be caught napping.
Tom Brady should be adding another MVP trophy to his mantle, but he has his eyes set on a fourth Super Bowl ring. He has an offense that can’t be labeled with receivers who are lethal with short pass receptions.
He also has a legitimate running back with a legitimately long name in BenJarvis Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis can pound out tough yards and do damage in the red zone, which has historically been a weakness of the New England running game.
The Jets will be back to their blitzing ways, which they smartly eased up on last week against Peyton Manning’s Colts. Now they will be trying to disrupt Brady’s timing, which is so crucial to his effectiveness.
Offensively, New York will hope its running game gets going in an attempt to keep the scoring down and limit Brady’s possessions. Tomlinson and Shonn Greene will be utilized a lot and could come up with solid days against the Pats’ front.
Jets QB Mark Sanchez did not play well against the Colts and had a nightmare of a game against the Pats last time around. The cold weather at Gillette Stadium hasn’t been something Sanchez, the California native, has handled well in the past. If it comes down to his ability to make plays in the second half, the Jets will be in trouble.
While New York will certainly be playing with an emotional chip on its shoulder, it seems to be outmatched and outclassed by New England, something that could be said about almost every team in the NFL.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 31, JETS 13
Playoffs picks record: 3-3
