NFL Conference Championships Recap

Game Recaps:

Packers: 21 Bears: 14

In many ways this game was the defensive clash we all expected, but only after the Packers had started crisply and jumped to 14-0 lead.

The two teams traded possessions (and the Bears traded quarterbacks) in the second and third quarters with Green Bay holding on to but not increasing its lead.

The introduction of Caleb Hanie, Chicago’s third-string quarterback (but not for much longer), gave the Bears a bit of life in the fourth quarter they pulled it back to 14-7 and then 21-14 in the final minutes.

But B.J. Raji’s pick six kept the game from getting too close and rookie Sam Shields grabbed his second interception of the day to finally quash the Bears’ comeback.

Jets: 19 Steelers: 24

The combination of a strong running game and their typical defensive stinginess gave the Steelers as good a first half as they could have hoped for.

They jumped out to a 24-3 lead on short Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall runs and a defensive TD. Pittsburgh kept the
Jets offense on the sideline for most of the half, limiting them to 64 yards of total offense and one rushing yard.

However New York roared back in the third and fourth quarters. They scored 16 unanswered points as their offense finally gelled and their defense caused some Steeler turnovers.

The game's turning point was a huge stop by the Steelers D on 4^th-and-1 at their own one yard line which prevented the Jets from making it a one-possession game halfway through the fourth quarter.

And even though New York forced a safety on the very next play, they were unable to trim Pittsburgh’s lead under five points.

Five (Not So) Quick Hits:

1/ How about the opening drives of both conference championship games?

In Chicago, Aaron Rodgers was crisp and efficient right out of the gate, immediately leading the Packers on a 7-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that ate up a little over 4 minutes of clock.

But in Pittsburgh, the Steelers had a even better opening drive (if that’s possible). They slowly and methodically drove down the field, converting three straight third downs, and basically running the ball down Rex Ryan’s throat.

There were 15 plays on that 66-yard touchdown drive that lasted a remarkable nine minutes.

2/ You have to say, Green Bay emphatically proved that they are anything but than a one-man team, with a number of other players

coming up big at Soldier Field and picking up the slack for a sub-par day from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

3/ I’m still lovin’ that B.J. Raji touchdown celebration.

4/ If there was one guy who didn’t deserve to end up on a losing team on Sunday it was Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Urlacher was huge against Green Bay, registering 9 solo tackles and one assisted tackle, a sack, and even picking off a Rodgers pass.

All things considered is was a great comeback season for the middle linebacker who missed almost all the 2009 season.

5/ That first half injury to Maurkice Pouncey almost had a huge impact on the AFC title game when Roethlisberger and backup center Doug Legursky muffed an exchange in their own endzone in the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh gave up a safety on that play (the second Roethlisberger-Legursky flub of the game) which allowed the Jets back into it.

Stud of the Week:

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall: Blew the AFC Championship game open with a scintillating first half display. He established the Steelers run game in a big way by consistently moving the chains.

What made his performance all the more special is that Rex Ryan defenses don’t usually give up that many rushing yards.

He cooled off in the second half, finishing with 121 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, but he had already done his share of the damage to the scoreboard.

Dud of the Week:

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: Leaving the “was-he wasn’t-he” injury controversy aside for a moment, let's not forget Cutler wasn’t that good when he did actually play.

He was inaccurate, overthrowing a number of open receivers early on and then underthrowing a deep ball to Johnny Knox that Sam Shields picked off.

He completed only 6-of-14 passes for 80 yards and an interception, finishing with a quarterback rating of 31.8 when he left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter.

As for the injury, none of us can do anything more than speculate about whether he should have kept playing. The fact that such a large number of players and ex-players spoke up about it says something though, I think.

Rookie of the Week:

Packers cornerback Sam Shields: The rookie out of Miami has been exceptional all season opposite Tramon Williams in Green Bay’s secondary, but he had perhaps his best day as a pro against Chicago.

He picked off two passes, including the interception that iced the NFC championship, but added two defended passes, four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble to his Sunday statline.

That’s a “Charles Woodson-esque” performance.

Play of the Week: This play epitomizes everything that makes the Steelers defense great.

Ridiculous Play of the Week: Try avoiding the shoelaces, Aaron.