It's the biggest Bears/Packers game ever. Image via Wikipedia
As we get to the playoffs, we won’t just make our picks – we’ll engage in a little preja vu by talking about how we expect games to go and by predicting final scores for each playoff game. Here we go…
Green Bay over Chicago – We were very, very tempted to pick the Bears here because we believe that the Bears can slow Aaron Rodgers. They’ve already done so twice this year, holding the Pack to 17 points in their first meeting and 10 in their second. Likewise, we believe Clay Matthews and company can slow the Bears’ offense. So in a low-scoring game, it’s going to come down to a joker play. And well it’s entirely possible that joker play could come from Devin Hester – Hester returned a kick for a touchdown against the Packers in the first meeting, and Green Bay gave up a kickoff return touchdown last week – our sense is that it’s more likely to come from the Packers D. The best play in this game is the under, but we’re also going to give points and take the Packers on the road. Pick: Green Bay 17, Chicago 12
Pittsburgh over N.Y. Jets – We discussed Mark Sanchez in some depth yesterday, and given that view we believe that Sanchez won’t make enough big plays to lead the Jets over the Steelers. Much has been made of the Steelers’ injuries on the offensive line, which could prove problematic if the Jets pin back their ears to rush Ben Roethlisberger, but Sanchez is vulnerable too, because the Jets are playing with a backup right tackle. And when the Jets won in Pittsburgh earlier this year, they beat a Steelers team that was without Heath Miller or Troy Polamalu. Both are back for this game. Pittsburgh is simply better, and on top of that they have a more experienced quarterback in Roethlisberger. That’s going to be a recipe for yet another time that Pittsburgh’s going to the Super Bowl. Pick: Pittsburgh 24, N.Y. Jets 13
Last week: 2-2 (straight up and against the spread)
Playoffs: 3-5 (straight up and against the spread)
Season: 55-62-3 college, 58-67-5 pro, 113-129-8 overall
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