Packers-V-Steelers

The Super Bowl lineup is now set. The Packers and the Steelers got the job done today in almost similar fashion. They both looked like they were going to blowout their opponent in the first half, but slowed down significantly in the second half to let the Bears and the Jets back into the game. But they did hold on at the end to win close games by a score or less. I am not a big big-ben fan - couldn't resist the opportunity to use 2 "big" back-to-back, but you gotta give the devil it's due. Nobody clutches up like this guy and he is almost impossible to bring down. He rarely plays "pretty" or puts up big numbers, but he always seems to make plays in the 4-Th quarter. His QB rating in this game was 35.5, but there were 2 third down plays late in the game when the ball was in his hands and he completed big passes to help the Steelers kill the clock. The second one was typical Ben as he got out of the pocket and found a receiver in the crowd just past the first down marker. All Rex Ryan could do was throw down his headset in disgust.

The Jets had a shot today, but they should have scored during that long drive in the 4-Th quarter when they stalled at the goal-line. That drive reminded me of the stalled Oregon's drive against Auburn in the college championship game. Of course the other option for the Jets would have been to have actually shown up in the first half. They didn't do either and hence lost the game. If you have as bad a first half as the Jets did, you need a flawless second half to have any shot at winning. The Jets were almost there, but not quite. Rex deserves some credit for half-time adjustments, but he can now work on preparing a script for next year's "hard knocks". That show should go back-to-back with the Jets because it's going to be a letdown next season with any other team. As part of his script, Rexy should mix in a home playoff game too. He has played 6 road playoff games in 2 years and has gone 4-2. Pretty impressive in it's own right, but a home playoff game wont hurt their chances.

The Packers generated their own excitement today as they let the Bears back into the game after a 14-0 first-half lead. Cutler got injured mysteriously and the Bears took a step back from bad to worse momentarily when Todd Collins stepped in. But then they put in the third string QB Caleb Hanie and he turned the game around for the Bears. He drove them for a TD and made things interesting, but threw an interception on 4-Th down late in the game to finish things off. Apparently the Bears fans are burning Cutler's jersey for not playing through an injury which they think was not major. I guess tomorrow's MRI will reveal the damage and at this stage, Cutler may actually be wishing it shows a ligament tear or something serious. But the fans are playing doctor right now and are pissed at Cutler for not being tough enough. Controversy always seems to find Cutler or may be he finds them. He is the exact opposite of Aaron Rodgers, who seems to have managed his young career flawlessly up to this point. I sure hope he adds a Super Bowl championship to his resume.

Sport Illustrated rarely gets it right, but their Super Bowl pick this season - Steelers over the Packers. Pretty impressive though I sure hope they are wrong about the eventual champion.