It's been a long two weeks since we've known the Packers would be facing the Steelers in todays Superbowl, but I think that I've finally made a decision about who to pick. The short of it is, I gotta go with the Steelers and big (10 or more points) for my prediction.
My reasoning, well let's start here:
QBs - Both Big Ben and Rodgers are good to great QBs. The biggest thing is Big Ben's experience in this big game. Yes, you have to win one to get experience, but I don't think that I'm worried about the normally unflappable Rodgers. I think both of these guys are going to play well but I doubt it comes down to either of them winning the game. With that said, I have to go with experience.
Defense - I like the Packers defense because they are able to bring pressure, with the blitz, and they can cover with Williams and Woodson out there. Like my coach once told me, the quarterback can't throw if he's on his back. I expect the Packers to get some pressure on Big Ben, but for some reason he doesn't make a lot of bad throws. As good as the Packers defense is, I just think the Steelers are better. That 3-4 that they run is nasty with stopping the run and although the Packers' corners are better, I like the Steelers safeties. Polamalu will be a big difference in this game.
Coaching - Mike Tomlin exudes a confidence that doesn't even border on cockiness. He's been here before with this team and knows what it takes to be successful. He directs this Steeler ship and they've won when no one thought they would (first 4 games of the year). Mike McCarthy has done a great job with getting his team prepared to make the playoffs and then go on the road and dominate the Falcons and the Bears. I have to think that he will prepare, as usual, but I think that the experience is the factor here. He's got enough guts to take some chances with the way Rodgers and his defense are playing so that may end up biting him in the butt.
Keys to Winning (Steelers) - Lots of Mendenhall on the ground to establish the running game, but to also keep Rodgers on the bench. Look for a few big plays from Wallace and Heath Miller. The defense will have to find a way to keep these explosive Packers wideouts in front of them and they have to make tackles. Any misses can easily turn into TDs.
Keys to Winning (Packers) - Find a way to run the ball. This Steelers defense is about as dominant as you can get with stopping the run, but the Packers have had success in the playoffs with the threat of the run. The offensive line will need to protect Rodgers and keep him from taking a lot of hits and sacks. The Packers defense will have to get some takeaways and make them count (turn them into TDs). The Packers are going to need another big game from their defensive line (Raji and Jenkins), especially with Legursky starting for Pouncey.
All in all, I expect this to be a good game. Two very good teams and the game will be inside so no weather issues to worry about. Again, I am picking the Steelers and we'll see what happens.
Who you got?
Showing posts with label Cullen Jenkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cullen Jenkins. Show all posts
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
NFL 2010 NFC Championship Game Pick
From 4 to 2.......
Green Bay @ Chicago - This is it. Time to show up and play ball. The Bears get the Packers at home for the right to go to the Superbowl. The Bears come in with an offensive line that started off as terrible early in the year but has ended up being respectable as of late. That has led to improved performance by both Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Cutler has looked his best in the past few weeks, a great improvement from the erratic guy we saw earlier in the season. The key for the Bears comes down to two things: 1) Cutler and 2) Defense. Now you might say, duh, isn't that what games normally depend on the QB and the defenses? Cutler can't 'miss' against this Packers defensive backfield. He had some INTs dropped against the Seahawks and he's good for throwing at least 1 pick in this game. If Cutler limits the turnovers and bad decisions, I think the Bears win this game. Look for a big game from the diminutive Johnny Knox, who seems to play well against the Packers. On the defensive side of the ball, (Lovie please read this before gametime) the Bears CAN NOT sit back and let Rodgers complete passes in that Cover 2 with the whole 'bend but don't break' mantra. The Bears are going to have to send corners, LBs, and parachute people in in order to get hits on Rodgers. Bring out all of the plays that you haven't used all year. When they get to Rodgers, they can't be like the Falcons and miss hitting him, they have to bring the pain. If Rodgers is dinged or injured, it's game over for the Packers.
The Packers have got to run the ball. Yes, that'll be hard against the Bears defense, but they have to have a commitment to running the ball, which equates to 20-25 carries. They might actually pop a big one on the Bears. Rodgers has all of his receivers playing at a high level, so the offensive line has got to protect Rodgers from the likes of Tommie Harris and Israel Idonije. No I didn't say Julius Peppers because they are going to have to double team him, period. That leaves the Idonije's and Harris' one on one and those guys are pretty good. On defense, I'm looking for a big game from BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins. If the two of them cause problems up front, not only will they be able to get hits on Cutler, but they may force him into some bad throws and that's all Woodson and Williams are waiting on. Clay Matthews is a little dinged but he'll be ready to go. The Packers will test this offensive line to really see how well they have gotten.
In the end, the Bears are playing at home (even though the field is TERRIBLE) and I think that their special teams will need to be special for them to win this game. I expect the Packers to get to Cutler, and I even expect the Bears to get to Rodgers. I don't trust Cutler in this big of a game. So, to both Mike's (at the barbershop and at Union Station), Kevin (my Ray Lewis hater, he thinks Urlacher is better than Ray Lewis), and anyone else that I run across before the game here's what I got. Winner - Packers.
Green Bay @ Chicago - This is it. Time to show up and play ball. The Bears get the Packers at home for the right to go to the Superbowl. The Bears come in with an offensive line that started off as terrible early in the year but has ended up being respectable as of late. That has led to improved performance by both Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Cutler has looked his best in the past few weeks, a great improvement from the erratic guy we saw earlier in the season. The key for the Bears comes down to two things: 1) Cutler and 2) Defense. Now you might say, duh, isn't that what games normally depend on the QB and the defenses? Cutler can't 'miss' against this Packers defensive backfield. He had some INTs dropped against the Seahawks and he's good for throwing at least 1 pick in this game. If Cutler limits the turnovers and bad decisions, I think the Bears win this game. Look for a big game from the diminutive Johnny Knox, who seems to play well against the Packers. On the defensive side of the ball, (Lovie please read this before gametime) the Bears CAN NOT sit back and let Rodgers complete passes in that Cover 2 with the whole 'bend but don't break' mantra. The Bears are going to have to send corners, LBs, and parachute people in in order to get hits on Rodgers. Bring out all of the plays that you haven't used all year. When they get to Rodgers, they can't be like the Falcons and miss hitting him, they have to bring the pain. If Rodgers is dinged or injured, it's game over for the Packers.
The Packers have got to run the ball. Yes, that'll be hard against the Bears defense, but they have to have a commitment to running the ball, which equates to 20-25 carries. They might actually pop a big one on the Bears. Rodgers has all of his receivers playing at a high level, so the offensive line has got to protect Rodgers from the likes of Tommie Harris and Israel Idonije. No I didn't say Julius Peppers because they are going to have to double team him, period. That leaves the Idonije's and Harris' one on one and those guys are pretty good. On defense, I'm looking for a big game from BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins. If the two of them cause problems up front, not only will they be able to get hits on Cutler, but they may force him into some bad throws and that's all Woodson and Williams are waiting on. Clay Matthews is a little dinged but he'll be ready to go. The Packers will test this offensive line to really see how well they have gotten.
In the end, the Bears are playing at home (even though the field is TERRIBLE) and I think that their special teams will need to be special for them to win this game. I expect the Packers to get to Cutler, and I even expect the Bears to get to Rodgers. I don't trust Cutler in this big of a game. So, to both Mike's (at the barbershop and at Union Station), Kevin (my Ray Lewis hater, he thinks Urlacher is better than Ray Lewis), and anyone else that I run across before the game here's what I got. Winner - Packers.
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