SGN Writers Give Their View of the Two Conference Title Games

Al Gordon

Packers 24 Bears 19 – While the Bears defense has done a pretty good job handling Aaron Rodgers in their two matchups this year, this is a different Aaron Rodgers. He may be playing the best of any player right now. Although Lovie will have the Bears ready at home on Sunday they will not bea able to overcome Clay Matthews Jr. and the Packers D. Enjoy it while it lasted Chicago.

Scott Johnston – www.RaidersGab.com

Packers 34 Bears 10 – This one won’t be close. The Bears have been winning with mirrors all season long. Well, this time, when they look in the mirror, they’re not going to like what they see. The Bears secondary is no match for Aaron Rodgers and his core of receivers. I don’t trust Jay Cutler in a big game. Packers in a romp.

Steelers 31 Jets 13 – Mark Sanchez played a nearly perfect game last week in Foxboro. I don’t think he can do it again. Unlike the Pats, the Steelers will be able to pressure Sanchez, and pressure equals mistakes. New York will be playing a week after winning the “2nd most important game in Jets history.” This has let-down game written all over it, despite the fact that’s it’s for a trip to Dallas. The Jets beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh last month. It won’t happen again.

Troy Ballard – www.EaglesGab.com

Green Bay 31 Chicago 21 – It doesn’t matter who Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are playing, they are going to win. This team is simply on fire. The Packers have already won two road games this season and have just been nearly unstoppable. Any team that goes into Atlanta and blows out the Falcons is Super Bowl bound. Also, Chicago has been able to dodge a bullet and play the Seattle Seahawks at home, in the first round, essentially walking into the Championship Game.

Pittsburgh 13 New York 20 – I honestly did not expect the Jets to down the Patriots at home, but Rex Ryan showed everyone that New York is there to win. Pittsburgh is a good team with an excellent defense, and they are even more deadly at home. But New York, much like the Packers, have shown that they are road warriors. Winning both of their playoff games on the road against tough home crowds. The Jets have the momentum, and Ryan provides the Jets with just the right amount of Swagger.

Adam Warwas – www.VikingsGab.com

Green Bay 21 Chicago 17 – Everyone talks about how great the Bears defense has been… but the Packers defense has been even better. Jay Cutler has been playing well, but Aaron Rodgers has been even better. Despite all of the injuries, the Packers are just simply playing better. Home field advantage will keep the Bears in it, but I suspect the Pack is just too much for them… which pains me to say, as a Vikings fan.

Pittsburgh 23 New York 17 – Steelers have home field advantage. They have a quarterback with a pair of rings. Much of their team has been here before. The Jets had much of world rooting for them to tank in the middle of the season, but they kept fighting. That fight should keep this game close, but in the end I have to side with the Super Bowl winning coach who has a Super Bowl winning quarterback who’ll be surrounded by a bunch of Super Bowl winning players in front of a crowd who are used to seeing Super Bowls won by their home team.

Jeremy Fuchs – www.GiantsGab.com

Packers 21 Bears 14 – Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the playoffs right now, and even though the Bears defense is very good, I think Rodgers gets the best of them. Plus, not sure that Jay Cutler is to be trusted in a big game like this. He’s too mistake-prone.

Steelers 14 Jets 10 – This will be a hard fought, defensive struggle, good football game. I think the home field advantage, and a costly mistake by young Mark Sanchez will give this game to Pittsburgh.

Alex Weston – www.CowboysGab.com

Green Bay 28 Chicago 17 – It is going to be tough for Jay Cutler to get going against an aggressive Packers defense. No one in the playoffs is hotter than Aaron Rogers, and Chicago won’t cool him down. The Pack have what it takes to go into Chicago and knock off their bitter rivals.

Jets 21 Pittsburgh 20 – It is going to be a close, tough fought game but I think the Jets will surprise many people. Their defense will shut down Rothlisberger and the Steelers offense. While the Steelers defense will confuse Mark Sanchez for most of the day, in the end the Jets will score a late touchdown, with Santonio Holmes making the winning TD catch for irony.

JC Lombardi – www.PackersGab.com

Packers 20 Bears 10 – The Packers defense can limit QB Cutler and the low rated Bears offense. Meanwhile, the West Coast offense should finally score big against the Bear defense. While the game may see surprises on both sides, home field advantage will not be an advantage for the Bears. The Packers are headed to the Super Bowl.

Cody Benjamin – www.EaglesGab.com

Packers 24 Bears 21 – Part of me wants to take the Bears, because everyone’s been doubting them all year, and they’ve been successful against Green Bay this year already, but there’s too much determination and chemistry flowing in the Packers’ favor right now. They’re on a roll, and I don’t think they’ll be stopped this weekend against a division rival in what’s sure to be one of the best (and most important) games of the season. Packers edge their way into this year’s Super Bowl.

Jets 20 Steelers 16 – The Steelers have a ton of recent playoff experience. They also have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and one of the league’s best defenses. Home-field advantage is something else Pittsburgh has for this weekend’s AFC Championship against the Jets, but I can’t bring myself to pick against New York. Rex Ryan is leading a confident bunch of physical, yet explosive players, and I see the J-E-T-S coming away with an upset victory and earn a ticket to Dallas for the league title game.

Matt Jergensen – www.RavensGab.com

Packers 21 Bears 17 – Aaron Rodgers is the hottest quarterback of the four remaining in the tournament. But as the old adage goes defense wins championships, and the Green Bay defense often gets overlooked. They are one of the best in the league at turning quarterbacks over (24 INT) and they should produce some costly turnovers this weekend.

Steelers 17 Jets 10 – I’m still amazed at how much Troy Polamalu means to his defense. The Steelers were without his services and the Jets won a regular season match-up at Heinz Field. New York actually ran the ball with some success, which has been just one of the reasons they’ve made it back to the AFC Title game and why they won that game. With Troy back this weekend the Jets become one-dimensional and won’t be able to generate enough offense.

Eric McMackin – www.BengalsGab.com

Jets 24 Steelers 21-The Jets are starting to display that “destiny” feel in the way they’ve been able to knock off superior talent the last two weeks. Rex Ryan is a blowhard for sure, but that style seems to work for these scrappy charges. The Steelers are certainly more experienced and savvy, and they’re at home, but my gut tells me that gang green keeps it going and makes their first Super Bowl appearance since Broadway Joe. Besides, as a Bengals fan, how can I possibly root for Pittsburgh?

Packers 31 Bears 17-Green Bay is the superior team from a talent perspective, and Jay Cutler is due for a mistake-laden performance. The Packers have found the running game to go with their potent passing attack. Look for Cutler to throw a crucial pick that gives the Pack the decisive edge.

Frank Minniti – www.BillsGab.com

Packers 23 Bears 17 – Old and bitter rivals from the Black & Blue division take center stage in the playoffs for just the second time in their storied past, and nothing like having a rubber match meeting with the right to head to Dallas hanging in the balance. Both teams won low scoring affairs at home in the regular season. Green Bay has been in survival mode for more than month, and Aaron Rodgers is just playing out of his mind. In just three playoff starts, he’s thrown 10 touchdowns. His counterpart, Jay Cutler, has led a renaissance in Chicago this season. Not much was expected of the Bears in 2010, but all they’ve done is win eight of 11 games since a 4-3 start. Even though the Bears will have home field advantage and on a bad playing surface, I don’t think that slows down the Packers. I like Rodgers and the Green Bay defense to propel the Pack to the Super Bowl.

Steelers 20 Jets 17 – I don’t need to insult anybody’s intelligence by playing the defense angle here. Both teams sport tough, strong defenses capable of taking over and winning games. This one comes down to two things: emotion and Mark Sanchez. The Jets have basically played two straight Super Bowl-type games against the Colts and Patriots with Rex Ryan claiming both personal conquests. New York has expended a lot of energy in both wins. What do they have left in the tank? The Steelers overcame a horrid start last week to bounce their most hated rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. No question that game and win took a toll on the Steelers. This lies in the hands of Sanchez. Will he be able to do enough on offense to get past the Steelers? Pittsburgh is the best team in the NFL at stopping the run, thus forcing offenses to become one-dimensional. Last week, aided by some poor play, they forced Joe Flacco to win the game in the second half and that didn’t turn out well for the Ravens. Look for the Steelers to march past the Jets and punch their seventh Super Bowl ticket.

Josh Dhani – www.ColtsGab.com

Packers 31 Bears 27 – In my opinion, the Green Bay Packers are the hottest team in the playoffs right now despite their sixth seed. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback, in my opinion, remaining in the playoffs. The Packers have the best offense yet and an intimidating defense. But it’s still going to be close one.

Jets 23 Steelers 10 – After the way the New York Jets have played the past two weeks, there’s no question they’ll be going even harder this week. Rex Ryan has done too much to this team make them fail now. I see them getting past with a strong running game and solid defense.