On Saturday, the Steelers beat the Ravens by a touchdown, after being down 21-7 in the first half. Following that game, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers showed why they were pre-season favorites in the NFC as they demolished the 1st seeded Falcons. On Sunday, the Bears handled the Seahawks, finally ending Seattle's magical run to the Divisional playoff round. The last game on Sunday presented one of the most interesting games of the last decade, as the Jets knocked off their nemesis, the Patriots, 28-21.
This weekend has set up a pair of great conference championships. On Sunday at 3:00 p.m., the NFC Championship will contain another divisional rivalry as the Green Bay Packers come in to Soldier Field to face their rivals, the Chicago Bears. A classic clash of two historic franchises. My experience of NFC Championships has been bitter sweet. Being a Philadelphia Eagles fan, we have been there plenty of times in the last decade, but have only won once (1-4 under Andy Reid). In January of 2009, I actually attended the NFC Championship down in Glendale, Arizona. The Eagles ended up falling short of a Super Bowl birth as they lost 32-25 to the upstart Arizona Cardinals. Conference championship games are like any other game. Of course, the Super Bowl has more significance, but conference championships have a different feel to them. They signify one game away from, arguably, the most prestigious game in all of sports, the Super Bowl. Once your in the Super Bowl, your in the record books, win or lose, you were there. The emotion of being 60 minutes away from a Super Bowl birth is something that is unmatched in football. Only four teams a year get to experience it, but those four teams get to feel something unrivaled in modern sports. In the end, I, as an Eagles fan have taken NFC Championships for granted, I have come to expect to play in it every year, but its difficulty on getting their always ends up humbling me. For this game, in my opinion, it pretty much comes down to this: Jay Cutler vs. Aaron Rodgers. Although many people are not a fan of Jay Cutler, I have always liked his gunslinger mentality, but this mentality brings about inconsistency. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, is the definition of a professional quarterback. We all know both defenses are considered atop the NFC, but when it comes down to it, the quarterback that makes the most mistakes will lose their team the game. Cliche, but true. Any thing can happen on a snowy day at Soldier Field.
The AFC Championship is headlined by great defenses?...what's new. On Sunday, at 6:00 p.m., Heinz Field in Pittsburgh will once again hold an AFC Championship game, this time being between the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. My experience of an AFC Championship in Pittsburgh was a memorable one. In January of 2002, I witnessed the huge underdog New England Patriots led by an unknown quarterback by the name of Tom Brady, come into town and shock the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. After the game, my friend and I were two of the only fans to stick around in our seats as we watched the Patriots celebrate, just because we knew what a historic event had just taken place. As a huge Steelers fan, my friend was devastated but he knew the significance of what had just happened. The Steelers are on the road to their 7th Super Bowl title. Growing up in Pittsburgh, I learned to love the game of football. If the Steelers end up winning Super Bowl 45, they will go down undeniably as the best NFL franchise of all-time. For what the NFL has become, a hugely successful league, the city of Pittsburgh would be known as the home of the greatest football franchise in the world. Even if you do not like the Steelers, as many of my classmates here at the University of Cincinnati don't, you have to respect them. As for the Jets, they're the flashy team that talks the talk, but they walk the walk. I like the Jets, Rex Ryan, Antonio Cromartie, Darrelle Revis, and the whole bunch. Why not? It seems like they love what they do. Seeing Rex Ryan run down the sideline when Shonn Greene scored and pretty much ended the game was a great sight. Jets vs. Steelers, if you don't get excited for this game, you don't have a pulse.
Game Picks:
NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers 30 - Chicago Bears 21
AFC Championship
Pittsburgh Steelers 23 - New York Jets 16
In conclusion, I love football. These two games on Sunday will be what I am looking forward to all week. The magnitude of Conference Championships in the NFL is unlike any playoff game in any other sport, you have 60 minutes to reach the greatest game played in all of sports, the Super Bowl.
B-TAGG out.
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