New York Jets (13-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4)
Sunday, 6:30 pm ET
Yeah, I’m previewing the late game first. Last week, the Jets shocked the Patriots in New England, while Pittsburgh got past Baltimore in the final moments at Heinz Field. New York made it this far last year, but fell short. Last year’s playoffs, however, were found money for Coach Rex Ryan and company. This year, the expectations were steep, from their coronation as Hollywood “It” team by HBO through all of their brash talk, YouTube misadventures, and 45-3 ass stompings, all the way up to this past weekend when Braylon Edwards scored a touchdown and celebrated with a Triple Lindy (which was penalized). The Jets are right where they told us they would be, and they want to take it a game further, to the biggest stage in America, when billions of people plus Jerry Jones will be watching. God help us.
The Steelers have been here before; this is old hat for Pittsburgh. The team has been to seven Super Bowls and won six. In fact they lost their 1974 trophy the other day – have you seen it lying around? Probably in the basement somewhere. The Jets have only won one Super Bowl, way back in 1969. Shaggy-haired Joe Namath was quarterback for that team, playing against stodgy Johnny Unitas. The whole world changed that day. Jimi Hendrix opened for the Beatles at halftime, who told us all to turn on, tune in, and drop out. I’m pretty sure Lyndon Johnson was coaching the Colts. Ho Chi Minh and Jane Fonda could be seen canoodling in the stands. Neil Armstrong watched the game from the moon. “60 Minutes” premiered after the game in its entirety, except on the West Coast.
I keep picking against the Jets, and they keep winning. They have been impressive, I will admit. I had Sanchez pegged as a mediocre quarterback, but he’s made the big plays when necessary. The Jets defense has been formidable, first holding Peyton Manning and the Colts to 16 points, then Tom Brady and the Patriots to 14 until a garbage time touchdown. At times, Brady was stuck in the backfield, scanning his blanketed receivers, and cursing his wretched life, Lombardi-less for six seasons now and counting.
Pittsburgh, however, is a different animal. The Steelers have one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Ben Roethlisberger, one of the biggest defensive playmakers in Troy Polamalu, and a team and coaching staff that knows how to take care of business, having won the Super Bowl following the 2008 season. The Steelers are like that big bulldog from the Warner Brothers cartoon; Ryan’s Jets are the tiny, yippy auxiliary mutt that bounces around obnoxiously.
It’s telling that the Jets shifted from trash-talking versus the Patriots to kowtowing to the Steelers. New England was fool’s gold in 2010, winning 14 games with a suspect defense and average receivers. Pittsburgh will be a much sterner test. I’d like to see the Jets’ run continue, and they’ve proven me wrong twice now, but my head tells me that the Steelers are equally determined, and more talented. Pittsburgh by four.
Green Bay Packers (12-6) at Chicago Bears (12-5)
Sunday, 3 pm ET.
President Obama vowed this past week – in the middle of a visit from the Chinese president, no less – that if the Bears win on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl, “I’m going, no doubt.” Evidently Vice President Biden talked to him earlier about it, saying, “F— it, dude. If they win, let’s just drive to Dallas. I know some people who will let us crash on their couch for a couple of days.”
As for the two teams, perhaps you’ve heard, they are the NFL’s oldest and most embattled rivals. The Packers and Bears date back to pro football’s infancy, perhaps even its fetal era. If you consider that uber Bear George Halas helped found the NFL, I suppose they even date to its conception. The Packers and Bears are direct descendants of ancient Mongol warriors. They’ve been playing against each other for so long, they’ve forgotten why. Perhaps some day there will be peace in the Middle West, but not this Sunday.
You may have also heard that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on fire. He lit up Atlanta last week for 366 yards on 31 of 36 passing. At least four times, Rodgers escaped near-certain sacks by Atlanta defenders only to complete huge gainers for Green Bay. Rodgers is the main reason so many are leaning toward the Packers, even though they play on the road for the third straight game.
His counterpart with the Bears, Jay Cutler, is far more mistake prone, though he can play just as well when he gets hot. Chicago backs him up with a terrific defense and special teams. So who has the edge here?
Green Bay, because the Packers pass so well, force opponents into so many mistakes and negative pass plays, and have shown amazing resiliency in four consecutive must-win games. For Chicago to win, Cutler will need to play flawlessly, and the Bears will need to force Rodgers to make some mistakes. It is well documented that Aaron Rodgers would rather take a stick in the eye than throw an interception.
On the right day, especially if the winds really pick up and affect the passing game, I could see the Bears winning this one. Sunday’s weather looks to be peaceful, cold but little wind. Packers by 7.
Yep, if I’m right it will be a Packers-Steelers Super Bowl. If the football gods permit.
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