I really, REALLY love this weekend’s match-ups.  Unfortunately, this also means we are only three weeks away from the end of the NFL season.  I will try to hold back tears and enjoy what should be a great final four in the Super Bowl XLV tournament.

Packers-Bears.

This is an old school match-up that features the oldest rivalry in the NFL.  However, this is the first time they have met with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.  Both of those teams dislike each other.

Despite the fact that both teams have studs at quarterback, this will be a defensive battle.  The weather is going to be horrible.  The field sucks, and that will neutralize Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ passing game.  That should allow Julius Peppers and the Bears defensive line to tee off on Rodgers, because I do not see the Packers running the ball on the Bears.

I do not trust Cutler.  He almost had a pick-6 against the Seahawks in the first quarter of the game last week. I do not see the Bears receivers getting much against a Packers secondary led by Charles Woodson.  If the Bears are smart, they will feed RB Matt Forte the rock most of the game.

While a lot of folks have the Packers winning in a rout, I think it will be a lot closer than what people think.  The nasty weather will make it that way.  In a game like this one, you go with the hot QB: Rodgers.  Either way, it should be a dandy.  Packers 17, Bears 10.

Jets-Steelers.

Two defensive teams who play football the way it is meant to be played.  Smash-mouth.  Hard hitting.  Ground and pound.  Both those teams also carry a lot of “swag”, and are not afraid to let you know it.

Sure the Jets won the last meeting, but so many things went right for the Jets that game.  Their punter kept pinning my Steelers inside their own 10 yard line.  Meanwhile, the Jets almost always had good field position the entire game.  Oh, and one more thing: my Steelers were without SS Troy Polamalu and TE Heath Miller.

Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place, and the Jets will not have another perfect game against my Steelers.  Besides, the Jets are bound to have a let-down after their emotional victory over the hated Patriots last weekend.  Nevertheless, this should be a good one.  As Bart Scott said, “CAN’T WAIT!!!”  Steelers 21, Jets 16.

Categories: NFL, sports story