Predicting The Results Of The 2011 NFC and AFC Championship Games

Now that the conference championship combatants have been decided, I can predict who will be meeting in the Super Bowl. The Steelers won a shootout against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz field and the Jets surprised the world by knocking off the top seed in the AFC, the New England Patriots. In the NFC, the Bear polished off the surprising Seattle Seahawks and the Packers finished of the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.

With both top seeds eliminated, the Super Bowl berths are once again wide open in this season of parity.

AFC Championship Game: New York Jets Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers hold up signs in support of the Steelers after they won 23-14 against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo b

Like the last game at Heinz field, this is predicted to be a defensive slug fest. Both teams have elite defenses which stifle the run game, pressure the quarterback with complex blitz schemes and feature a superstar who anchors the secondary.

However, like the Ravens-Steelers game yesterday, I think this could turn into an offensive battle.

Each offense ticks in the same way. A smash-mouth running game to keep possession and wear down the defense, and then explosive big play wide receivers who thrive off play action passing. It will be interesting to see whether the Jets stick to their smash-mouth identity against the vaunted Pittsburgh run defense. Baltimore passed too much in my opinion, and lost rhythm in their offense.

The Steelers corner backs will have a tougher assignment keeping the ball out of Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards hands. Unlike the possession wide receivers of the Ravens, the Jets wide outs will try to run past them.

One of the largest differences between the teams is quarterback play. While Mark Sanchez has a great playoff record, he has yet to win a game with his arm. Ben Roethlisberger on the other hand, has. His heroics against the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII places him a cut above Sanchez. His ability to avoid and prosper against blitz pressure could also cause headaches for Rex Ryan.

The final important battle ground will be the trenches. New Yorks offensive line is not the elite unit that it was last season, but it should still be able to hold its own aga'inst the pressure that the Steelers apply. Conversely, the Steelers line has been ravaged by injury, and could be over matched by the Jets. Their communication and blitz pick up could decide the course of the game.

In all, I am picking the New York Jets to win and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Their running back committee is should have more fuel in the tank, and Holmes and Edwards should be too fast and big for the aging Pittsburgh corner backs to cover all game. And just one blown coverage could decide a game like this.

Score: NYJ 24 : PIT 17

NFC Championship Game: Chicago Bears Vs. Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: A Chicago Bears fan holds up a sign previewing next week's NFC championship game between the Bears and the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Although they have made it to the NFC Championship game, the Bears do not look in the same league as the Steelers, Jets and Packers. They had a bye in the wild card round, and then drew the lucky straw by facing the Seahawks AWAY from Qwest Field in their last game.

The Packers on the other hand have done it the hard way. After be decimated by injury at the start of the season after being the pre-season Super Bowl favourites, they have rallied behind Aaron Rodgers and the Dom Capers lead defense to make the playoffs as the sixth seed.

They then survived a late scare to top the Michael Vick lead Eagles in the wild card round, and crushed Matty Ice and the Falcons at Georgia Dome in one of the most dominant playoff wins in recent memory.

The main point of interest will be the performance of the two quarterbacks. Both are young players who are having their first goes at a deep post season run. While Aaron Rodgers has already established himself as one of the premier young quarterbacks in the league, Jay Cutler has been the picture of inconsistency. When he gets it right, he is lethal in the run influenced Mike Martz system. When he gets it wrong he is a turnover machine who can single handedly lose a game for his team. I get the feeling that the elite Green Bay defense could force the latter to turn up on game day.

The aforementioned Packers defense is a big reason for their playoff run. After all, they are the second ranked defense in the league. It is well schemed and coached by Dom Capers and has its fair share of play makers. Clay Matthews, BJ Raji, AJ Hawk, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams are all pro-bowl calibre players. They should be able to dominate a developing Chicago offense and pick on the weak offensive line.

On the flip side, the elite Bears defense (seems to be a trend), lead by Brian Urlacher, have a chance to even the standings by shutting down the Packers running game. If they can do this, then they have a better chance to get the Packers in 3rd and long positions where they can put hits and heat on Rodgers. If this does not happen, then the game is as good as lost.

Julius Peppers will also be a game changer if he comes to play. A few big plays from a stud like him are what the Bears need to shift momentum their way.

The Bears could also gain the upper hand through special teams play. Devin Hester has regained his lethal returning form from 2006, and if he gets on top will give the Cutler a short field to work with all day. He could also add seven points to the scoreboard. If it turns out to be a defensive battle, that could tip the scales in favour of the home side.

In short, the Bears are out classed by the Packers. It would take some explosive plays from Hester, Knox or Forte, or a super human defensive display to win the game. It should be an easy game for the cheese heads.

Score: GB 31 : CHI 10