NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Green Bay (12-6) at Chicago (12-5)           
Sunday 3:00PM



What if Da' Bears were all 14 inches tall?

Is there even a question as to who I am picking in this game? Loyal blog followers are privvy to my feelings on Jay Cutler, so they know what is coming here. The Pack is the trendy pick in NFL circles, and so far, I've resisted hopping aboard. But this time, I'm going all in on them.

Aaron Rodgers is playing at a level that would (if they end up winning a championship), catapult him into "elite quarterback" discussions. James Jones had a big game versus Atlanta, and if he emerges even further in this passing attack, the Pack will be tough to stop.

You could make the argument that Chicago has had the most consistently solid defense in the NFC this year, but that Green Bay's defense has been playing the best of late. I'm calling the defenses a wash in this one, and placing the game solely on the shoulders of the quarterbacks. Advantage Green Bay. Especially with me.

There is no way this guy is beating Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. Yes, that is King Douche Jay Cutler in all his glory!

This one will be hard-fought and low scoring, especially on the shores of Lake Michigan.

I thought it was a mini-Ditka!

THE PICK: Packers 17, Bears 13

NY Jets (13-5) at Pittsburgh (13-4)                

Sunday 6:30PM


All week I've been hearing the Jets fan call up radio circles and cautiously predict a Super Bowl appearance. Believe it or not, they seem to not be too scarred from previous disappointing finishes. Why?

One man - Rex Ryan - has changed the mindset of the Jets fan...

I lauded Rex's arrogant approach in my "Best in the AFC" blog, then killed it the week that they crashed in New England. Truthfully, Rex makes me want to root for the Jets to do well. Especially since I've always loved to see the Steelers go down.

I've gone two consecutive Jets blogs without mention of their greatest asset, so in this blog I'm bringing him into the discussion. There were countless calls to WFAN this week about the Jets involving this offensive weapon (not Tony Pepe...that's a different weapon)...enough to warrant mentioning him here.

BRAD SMITH!

The Jets have been bringing in the Brad Smith package on 2nd & short for most of the year (yes, that's a down on which most teams throw downfield). Some have predicted that Brad Smith would be throwing it downfield out of that set this week, but I don't see the Jets taking that kind of risk.

Will Brian Schottenheimer call this guy's number this week? Some are counting on it!

They will run the ball, run the ball, run the ball....as will Pittsburgh. The X-factor is that Pittsburgh has a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, while the Jets have a 2nd year quarterback in the process of finding his way.

Logic says the Steelers will win. An experienced, proven, playoff winner at QB. A solid running game. The best safety in the NFL healthy again, and ready to lead one of the league's best defenses.

But sometimes, you just have to go with your heart. The Jet fan deserves this one, and I will be happy to see them get it......

THE PICK: Jets 20, Steelers 17